Bake a Happy Loaf

Sage and Onion Cornbread

Times are suddenly very tough right now and I think we all need a happier place to go to.

For me, that's my kitchen. And I'm not the only one.

According to le Figaro, sales of flour in France this week have increased 229% and in the UK an extra four million bags of flour were sold.

It seems that when the going gets tough, the tough get baking. So, aprons on guys- this month's blog is all about baking bread at home- and what to do if you don't have all the ingredients you need.

I'm starting off with a really simple basic loaf, for those who have never made bread before- and then looking at recipes which don't use yeast- or even much flour.

Easy White Bread

You will need 1 pack of dried yeast, 1 cup of warm water ( blood heat), 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, 2tbsp flavourless oil, 3 cups white flour.

1. Whisk together the dried yeast with 1 tsp of sugar and the warm water and leave to froth up for about 10 minutes.

2. Warm the flour for 30 seconds in the microwave and add the rest of the sugar and salt

3. Mix in the yeasty liquid and the oil and mix, first with a knife and then with your clean hands until the dough comes together.

4. Turn it out onto a floured surface and knead ( folding, stretching, punching, rolling - whatever makes you feel better) for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and stretchy

Knead the bread with clean hands

5. Place it back in the bowl, cover with a clean cloth and leave in a warm place ( a sunny porch or airing cupboard) to rise.

Leave to rise...

6. After about an hour, it should have doubled in size

...until doubled in size

7. Repeat the kneading process, and then shape into a log and place in a well greased 1lb loaf tin

Ready for the oven

8. Leave to rise another half hour and then bake in a hot oven ( 200 degrees ) until risen, brown and sounding hollow when you tap it with your knuckles.

Easy White Bread

But what if you don't have yeast? Well , there's lots you can do- ranging from soda bread ( using bicarbonate of soda ), baking powder dough, scone dough, potato bread or cornbread.

One of my favourites is an Irish Soda Bread, which uses wholemeal flour.

Treacle Soda Bread

250g plain flour
200g wholemeal flour
50 g porridge oats
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
150 ml natural yoghurt
250 ml milk
1 tbsp melted butter
2 tbsp black treacle ( or muscavado sugar dissolved in hot water)

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees and grease and line a baking tray
2. Mix together all the dry ingredients in a bowl
3. Warm the milk, butter and treacle then add it all to the yogurt
4. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ones and turn the dough out onto a floured board
5. Shape into a round, cut a cross in the top, sprinkle on some more flaked oats
6. Place on the tray in the oven and bake for around 30 minutes.

Treacle Soda Bread

One of the first breads I learned to make as a child were these Baking Powder Rolls. So simple to make, the kids can knock them up whilst you soak in the bath.

Baking Powder Rolls

You will need 1 mugful of flour, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder and 1 pot of natural yoghurt or milk.

1. Mix all the ingredients together, first with a knife and then with clean hands

2. Shape into 6 finger rolls or dinner rolls and place on an oiled baking tray or muffin mould

Place dough balls on a greased tray

3. Bake at 180 degrees for about 15 minutes, until risen and golden

And yesterday, I tried out this recipe for Cheese and Potato Bread and I can't recommend it enough.

350 g flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
85 g of cold butter, cubed
1 pot of natural yoghurt
4 tbsp milk
150 g assorted cheese ( I used Tomme and Emmental but any old bits will do- Cheddar, Cheshire, Parmesan..)
250 g cooked leftover boiled potato
1 tsp chopped rosemary

1. Blitz the flour, butter, salt and baking powder together
2. Warm the milk and yogurt together in the microwave for 20 seconds
3. Mix in the cheese- some cubed, some grated- and the rosemary

Mix up all the dry ingredients

4. Add the cubed potatoes

Mix in the yoghurt and milk

5. Mix in the yoghurt and milk- first with a knife then bring it together with clean hands

6. Place in a greased and lined loaf tin, decorate with sprigs of rosemary and olive oil and bake at 200 degrees for 30 minutes until lovely and golden.

Ready for the oven

Cheese and Potato Bread

Sage and Onion Cornbread

This is one for when you are short on flour and yeast.

Grease a 20cm baking tin generously and pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees.

Mix 110g of plain flour, 170g of cornmeal or polenta, 1 cup of breadcrumbs or crumbled leftover sage and onion stuffing, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 1 tablespoon of sugar, a bunch of chopped spring onions (tired ones from the bottom of the salad drawer are fine) together in a bowl with a pinch of salt. Add 2 beaten eggs and a cup of olive oil or liquid Flora and a further cup of skimmed milk. Stir all the ingredients together and pour into the greased tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes until firm to the touch, golden on top and a skewer inserted into the

the middle comes out clean.

Sage and Onion Cornbread

There are plenty of other ingenious bakes out there if you search the web. My next attempt is going to be a cider bread - but that's for another time.

Meanwhile - keep your spirits up and, even if the only glimmer of light you can see right now is the reflection of the pilot light from your oven - make the most of it and stick a loaf on to bake!

Improvised face mask- not WHO approved!