Gosh I can’t tell you how many nice comments I got from you folks about our recent weather situation. We lost power for a few days. Words of encouragement were a little light in the cold darkness during those days. Our situation was nothing, I mean nothing, compared to what is happening in so many places north of us. The Red Cross is collecting donations to assist the folks of the Northeast in their recovery which looks to be long and heartbreaking for so many. I am humbly aware that we were lucky and that our luck was not shared.
Given the relative brevity of our power outage and the lack of damage to our health, hearth and home, I have to admit that there were parts of our little house in the prairie experience that I didn’t mind so much. I’m down with lantern light, going to bed earlier, more blankets and cooler temps at night, and less noise from the outside world in my home through screens and such. I did learn some lessons, a few of which are relevant to our food related endeavors.
First and foremost, when a major storm is predicted in your area, follow each and every dishwashing/kitchen cleanup with a resounding and thorough round of garbage disposal running, no matter who is already in bed. Run that puppy until rocks would be gone. Several days worth of sticking my hand in there to get whatever was still blocking the holes and clogging the sink was gross and became more so as time marched on. Secondly, I learned that I use the oven to cook far more than I realized. We are lucky enough to have a gas stove, so with the old fashioned magic of a match we were able to cook the food that was on the verge of spoilage, but I kept walking to the oven to turn it on.
And so, in celebration of having power (and I don’t mean to brag if you don’t have it yet and are only online through some sort of bizarro iPad WiFi hotspot like we had rigged), I’m spending this week on comfort food. And with the news of a Nor’Easter getting ready to power its way up the coast on Wednesday, I admit to a desire for a little comfort and a ready supply of deliciously simple food. Today I offer you a rustic expression of my eternal devotion to the carbohydrate. Say what you will, but I believe in bread, bread with limitations (whole grains, no dairy), and maybe not so very much bread all the time, but I believe in bread. They don’t call it the staff of life for nothin’ friends.
While trying to choose what to bake, I remembered a super yummy loaf that I made last year, when I still ate a lot of cheese, and began to wonder… and play. I dug out my cookbook to find the recipe that prompted the previous yum and a few hours later (in time, not effort, this is the joy of homemade bread) yum again, and this time with no ill effects for me. Yay!
Peppery Cheeze Bread – inspired by Peppered Cheese Bread in Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone(yes, you should get it)
1 1/3c warm water
2 1/4 t active dry yeast
1 1/2 t salt
1 t fine ground pepper (I used white in a foolish attempt to hide it)
Pour warm water into large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) and stir in the yeast. Allow to sit about 10 minutes or until slightly foamy. Add salt, pepper, pepper flakes, all but 1 T of the egg and all but one cup of the flour. Mix or stir until smooth. Add sunflower cheese. Mix or stir to incorporate. Add remaining flour in bits and mix until incorporated or stir until too heavy for the spoon. For stand mixer, change over to dough hook and knead for about 5 minutes. If mixing by hand, add the rest of the flour and knead by hand to incorporate. Continue to knead by hand (folding the dough in on itself repeatedly and pushing it flat) for about 5 minutes. Put the dough in an oiled bowl, turn over once, cover and place in warm spot to rise for about an hour (until doubled).
Push the dough down, turn it out onto the counter or a floured surface. Shape into a ball. Cover until doubled, another 45 minutes to an hour. Preheat to 375 during the last 15 minutes of rising. Slash an X on the top, brush with olive oil. Bake on a preheated stone or pan for 45 minutes and cool on a rack. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before you cut in and devour it, wisely dipping it into some amazing soup I’ll share in a few days. Delish. Warm, flavorful and deeply comforting.
Love it! And no kidding on the sink. Yuck, oh yuck!! I used to hate it when I lived on an island, a week without power was common. We kept a pool in the backyard in winter for water, just so we could flush the toilet (on a well, so no water). It was sad indeed…..and you’d be ecstatic to have flushing toilets and running water when it came back on 😀
I’ve tinkered with some low carb breads, and while they are ok….there is NOTHING like grinding your own wheat, kneading/proofing/et.al. then that first bite of buttery yum….ahhh…
Garrison Keillor stated in a radio show that as a child he always admired his mother’s bravery when she would stick her hand into that little catchment basement in the sink and swoop out the contents. Savin’ a little snack for later, were ya? The bread looks divine – with hubby doing better, thinking we might hit some gluten some time soon- this looks like a great place to start. You rock!
I love Deborah Madison, but have never really looked at her bread recipes. My husband is bread guy, so I’ll have to wave this recipe under his nose. Sounds delicious.
I just love that pepper and cheese, this is a fabulous bread! Hope you have a fantastic weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
that bread looks so dense and soft. 2 things a good loaf of bread should be 🙂
thank you for sharing your post with us at the Wednesday Fresh Foods Link Up! I hope to see you again this week with more seasonal and fresh/real food posts 🙂 xo, kristy
Hopping over from On The Menu. This breads sounds fabulous. I am always in a baking mood when the weather is cold. I am so glad you have power back and that you were able to cook some with the blessings of a match! I was interested to read about the disposal too. We learn so much from each other. Thanks.
Thanks so much for sharing. I love homemade bread! So glad you have your power back on 🙂 We also have a gas stove/oven and whenever the power goes out it’s nice to know I can still cook 🙂
That gas stove really makes a difference in the convenience and comfort factor, that’s for sure. I wish I’d hooked up a gas oven, but perhaps what I need to do is experiment with stove top baking – it’s got to be possible right? Cause fresh bread during a power outage would really be delightful. 🙂
Right there with you on the sink and thankfulness for gas appliances — had the same experience with our power outage from Sandy. Your bread looks lovely.
Love it! And no kidding on the sink. Yuck, oh yuck!! I used to hate it when I lived on an island, a week without power was common. We kept a pool in the backyard in winter for water, just so we could flush the toilet (on a well, so no water). It was sad indeed…..and you’d be ecstatic to have flushing toilets and running water when it came back on 😀
I felt really silly that my disposal was the thing I missed the most, well after the heat anyway.
ahhh….nice to see a fresh loaf. w/ my low carbing that is all I can do…look no touch 🙂 I do miss making bread though.
Sometimes just the smell of it baking is the best part – I wonder if you could do a bread with bean flour?
I’ve tinkered with some low carb breads, and while they are ok….there is NOTHING like grinding your own wheat, kneading/proofing/et.al. then that first bite of buttery yum….ahhh…
Garrison Keillor stated in a radio show that as a child he always admired his mother’s bravery when she would stick her hand into that little catchment basement in the sink and swoop out the contents. Savin’ a little snack for later, were ya? The bread looks divine – with hubby doing better, thinking we might hit some gluten some time soon- this looks like a great place to start. You rock!
Mmm I love the looks of this bread! And that it’s so easy to make:)
It was delightfully easy.
I love Deborah Madison, but have never really looked at her bread recipes. My husband is bread guy, so I’ll have to wave this recipe under his nose. Sounds delicious.
She is my hero. My volume has taken quite a beating the last few years.
I forgot to say that either I have your bread board or you have mine! 🙂
Great minds – and great boards. 🙂
We’re triplets then, though your board is in much better shape than mine! I love this bread recipe, it sounds fantastic!
I was thinking of you Somer, as I was smoothing the dough.
Love bread! I pinned this recipe to check out later…thanks for sharing! Blessings!
Thanks for stopping by AND pinning! Let us know if you give it a go!
I am pinning this recipe too. It looks so good. Cheers.
Thanks Karen!
I just love that pepper and cheese, this is a fabulous bread! Hope you have a fantastic weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
It really is quite delicious. Thanks so much for hosting and for stopping by!
Yummy!
Thanks Diana! And thanks for hosting!
that bread looks so dense and soft. 2 things a good loaf of bread should be 🙂
thank you for sharing your post with us at the Wednesday Fresh Foods Link Up! I hope to see you again this week with more seasonal and fresh/real food posts 🙂 xo, kristy
It was delicious, especially dipped in soup. Thanks for stopping by!
Mmmmm – nothing better than fresh baked bread.
That’s the honest truth. Thanks for stopping by!
Hopping over from On The Menu. This breads sounds fabulous. I am always in a baking mood when the weather is cold. I am so glad you have power back and that you were able to cook some with the blessings of a match! I was interested to read about the disposal too. We learn so much from each other. Thanks.
My pleasure. Thank YOU for stopping by!
Perhaps you could “recommend” purchasing the book, rather than using “should”. Too many people telling other people what they “should” do.
I suppose I could, but I’m not sure I should. What do you think? 😉
That bread looks delicious! Glad you’re all well and have your power back!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Thanks for hosting Jill! And for stopping by!
This sounds really good! I’ve never seen a recipe quite like it!
Visiting from Hearth & Soul 🙂
Thanks Tammy. It was really yummy. Thanks for stopping by!
It’s time for Merry Merry Munchies 2012. I’d love for you to come link up and check out the giveaways. http://diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-merry-merry-munchies-1-sugared-nuts.html
Thanks
Thanks Debbie! We’ll check it out!
Thanks so much for sharing. I love homemade bread! So glad you have your power back on 🙂 We also have a gas stove/oven and whenever the power goes out it’s nice to know I can still cook 🙂
That gas stove really makes a difference in the convenience and comfort factor, that’s for sure. I wish I’d hooked up a gas oven, but perhaps what I need to do is experiment with stove top baking – it’s got to be possible right? Cause fresh bread during a power outage would really be delightful. 🙂
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Right there with you on the sink and thankfulness for gas appliances — had the same experience with our power outage from Sandy. Your bread looks lovely.
Glad you made it through okay Denise. Thanks for stopping by – and let us know if you give the bread a try!
So glad to read that you fared ok in the storm. We are in SE Pennsylvania and were spared, as well, but have seen so much destruction all around us.
Thanks so much for linking up with “Try a New Recipe Tuesday.” Your recipe looks delicious. 🙂 I hope you will join us again this week! 🙂
This looks really good!
I was really pleased with how it came out.