Friday, November 25, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Baking Artisan Bread
Just as the name implies, artisan bread is crafted by hand in small, specialized batches. Artisan bakers provide special attention to the ingredients, equipment and processes used in baking their own type of bread, often compared to master sculptors albeit they work with flour and water instead of marble and clay. Then, contrast artisan bread with its commercial counterparts in supermarkets and bakeries. The latter are often filled with preservatives and additives and manufactured in assembly line style, thus, taking away the joy of eating into bread with its savory flavors intact.
And lest you think that baking artisan bread is difficult since it appears to require advanced skills, think again. You can apply the following tips to start baking your own artisan bread to serve during special occasions.
Weighing
You must follow the recommended measurements when baking this bread. This is because it contains no preservatives and, hence, changes in the measurements can affect the shelf-life of the bread. As you gain experience, you may be able to tweak it to suit your tastes and add other ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes. Also, it is best to use the metric system in measuring the ingredients with the exception of small quantities of yeast and salt.
Kneading
You have to knead the dough after the basic ingredients of flour and water, yeast and salt have been combined but before it is made to rise. Kneading maximizes gluten formation that contributes to the texture of the artisan bread. You can use either your hands or a machine for this purpose, with the windowpane test as a common factor.
Pre-fermenting
You also have to allow the bread to ferment since it builds on the flavor of the artisan bread. Most artisan bakers will use a preferment for this purpose, which comes in names like biga, chef, levain and sponge. Quite simply, it is a mixture of flour, yeast and water that has been allowed to ferment on its own for several hours or days and then mixed into the final batter.
Shaping and Slashing
Any artisan bread is only worth its salt when it looks the way it is supposed to look. Thus, baguettes must be long and narrow with a crusty top, a boule must be round and crusty, and a Vienna loaf must be oblong and tapered at the ends. Of course, the bread's unique appearance is due to the shaping and slashing techniques used, which you can learn as you go along.
Baking
Now comes the moment of truth. You have to bake the kneaded, fermented, shaped and slashed dough in the oven with the right temperature at the right time. Keep in mind that each type of artisan bread has its own cooking time, thus, following baking instructions is a must to come up with excellent artisan breads.
Cooling
The final step in the process of making artisan bread is to cool it. Although it would be nice to be served piping hot bread, there are instances when cooling it on a wire rack is best. This allows excess water vapor to escape, thus, preventing a soggy bottom and the flavors to mature.
And now, you are ready to serve your artisan bread! You can serve it with coffee or tea or even juice depending on the flavors of the bread itself.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
KHM920 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer - White
!±8± KHM920 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer - White
| Price : Post Date : Nov 12, 2011 22:48:08 | Usually ships in 3-4 business days
KitchenAid's 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer features a comfortable soft grip handle for extended mixing, whipping and kneading. The nine speed electronic control with digital LED display makes tasks easier. You can go from slow stir with soft start feature to high whip-with the touch of a finger. Also included is a whisk to get perfect egg whites into fluffy peaks. The Digital Hand Mixer allows you to knead yeast effortlessly. Mix ingredients for your favorite desserts efficiently.
Locking swivel cord locks to the right or left to avoid your mixing path No-tip heel rest; non-clogging air vents Includes - hand mixer, turbo beater accessories, liquid blender rod, dough hooks, whisk, and accessory bag
- Features -
- Efficient, lightweight DC motor delivers more power while using less electricity
- Digital control with LED display allows you to easily see and adjust the nine speeds-including soft start feature for delicate mixtures-with a touch of a finger
- Stainless steel turbo beaters and stainless liquid blender rod
- Easy beater eject button
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Use of a Mixer in Artisan Bread Baking
In Artisan Bread baking, kneading the bread with your own hands is very advisable. But if you are the kind of person who finds kneading a pain because of numbing arms and hands and would prefer using a mixer without compromising the quality of the dough, read on.
In kneading the dough with a mixer, you use a dough hook. You will know if it is already time to stop mixing by the texture of your dough. Below are the basic steps of kneading using a mixer.
* Start slow. Turn the notch to number two and let your dough mix in frenzy. Slowly add the ingredients one at a time. At low speed, you are sure that the mixer will not toss away any ingredients off the bowl. Although to be sure, you can put a protective plastic or rubber lids on the sides.
* The dough should have a smooth texture. If it is rough that means the ingredients are not well combined. Use the mixer until all the ingredients have thoroughly blended. The mixing will take about five or more minutes. Different dough for different purposes yields different textures. Some can be very sticky, but oftentimes the outcome is smooth.
* Let it rest for about two to three minutes and if you have to add more ingredients to the dough, now is the time to add it. Mix is again for about five to eight minutes at the most. If the dough is soft and the consistency is smooth, you've done a great job.
* Let the dough rest. At this point, the dough will rise. Place the dough in room temperature and wait for about an hour or two until it had risen. By that time, the dough will be smooth and shape forming. The tricky part about this is to wait for the yeast or the starter to activate. Getting the water and the room temperature right is the key to this.
* Sprinkle flour on a pizza peel, turn the dough and knead it by hand for a few minutes. Shape it according to your preference, slash the top, and glaze it. Place it in the oven, and you're done!
Although some bakers argue that it is better to use the hand in kneading, it is not really a bad thing to use a mixer. It all depends on your preferences.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Is the Vita-Mix Professional Series Juice Blender For You?
The Vita-Mix Professional series has been getting some positive notoriety through blender reviews recently. There are many reasons for this quality brand to be showcased among the many others out there. If you are searching blender reviews for the best option for your 0 to 0, have you taken a serious look at what Vita-Mix has to offer?
Before you delve into blender reviews, consider the company itself. A lot can be said for an organization that can last through decades of change. When you spend money, make sure you are doing so on not just a product, but a company that will last. Vita-Mix blenders come with:
• A long 85 year company history
• Decades-long history with the Better Business Bureau
• Manufacturer's warranty
• A website that offers live assistance whenever you need it
• Recipes and nutrition information found on the website
These benefits may not be listed on the box, or in blender reviews, but they are benefits nonetheless. When you need assistance or have questions, it is good to know you can find the answers you need through a strong company offering a solid product.
What you will find in blender reviews probably focuses more on the blender itself, which is also very important. Vita-Max has designed a high tech appliance that offers a number of handy functions. With your Vita-Max blender you can:
• Make soup
• Blend fruit smoothies
• Grind nuts and grains
• Juice entire fruits and veggies
• Chop salsa
• Combine dips and sauces
• Mix frozen drinks
• Chop potatoes
• Make coleslaw fast
• Crush ice
• Make gravies and fruit syrups
• Whip creams
Blender reviews do not do the Vita-Mix justice. This handy kitchen appliance has many uses and can help promote a healthier diet in your household. Try the many nutritious recipes on their website and see for yourself how the Vita-Max Professional series blender can help you live better.
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