LET’S BREAK BREAD TOGETHER – A SIMPLE HOME RECIPE

Let’s try a simple bread recipe at home. What else do you have to do?

Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner or don’t want to have to run out to the store to buy Hamburger buns, this recipe is for you.

As you are probably aware by now, I am French, from France but live in Montreal.  Bread plays an integral part in our daily lives and culture.  Therefore, you can’t be surprised that I’m writing an article about it.

Bread is what defines and characterizes the French. 

Abdu Gnaba, Anthropologist

According to a survey I stumbled upon somewhere on the internet, 98% of the French eat bread, 83% of which do so every day.

The French Revolution

According to many historians, bread was one of the primary causes of the French Revolution. 

You see, in the late 18th century in France, there was a shortage of grain which made the price of bread rise.

The working class spent up to 80% of their wages on bread.  So the lack of it, famine, increased population and class inequalities sparked what we refer to as the French Revolution.

Let there be bread

My best friend sent me the following recipe over the week-end.  I think it’s because she thinks I’m bored with nothing to do during Covid (sarcasm).

Well let me tell you something.  The following articles will prove otherwise:

• Playdough with Jello
• Homemade crayons
• Tuna pasta recipe

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect as it was during our Canadian Thanksgiving week-end and I had a turkey in the oven.

Homemade bread with Thanksgiving dinner goes well don’t you think?  This easy recipe to make bread at home takes about a little over 1 hour to do from beginning to end.

Ingredients to make bread at home

You should have all of these ingredients at home if you bake a little.

• 5 cups of flour
• 2 tablespoons of sugar

Luckily I had just enough sugar left over.  However, you don’t have to add it.

• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon of bread yeast.

I used Instant Yeast which my mother-in-law had brought over during the first wave of Covid-19.  It was about time I used it.

• 5 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil.
• 2 cups of warm milk. 

If you are lactose intolerant you can use soy milk as a substitute.  However, it will affect the flavor and texture.

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 silicone mat that goes in the oven or parchment paper
• 2 tablespoons of milk

Simple steps to make home bread

If you follow these easy steps of this home made bread recipe, you’ll be making it over and over again. It’s that good and that easy. Heck, if I can pull it off, so can you!

• In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt and yeast.  Once this step is done, add the oil and mix well.

• The next step is to add the warm milk slowly to the mixture.

Since yeast is a living organism, accurate liquid temperature is of utmost importance as it directly influences the yeast activity.  Red Star Yeast

If the milk is too hot, the dough will rise inconsistently, if it’s too cool, the dough will still rise or not at all.

Optional:  Add some sesame seeds on top of the buns.

• Put the buns in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the bread is golden.

I wasn’t as successful as my best friend, visually speaking.  My bread buns should have been a bit smaller. So don’t do what I did!

Also, my homemade bread had to share the oven with our Thanksgiving turkey which was cooking at a lower temperature.

Simple bread home recipe review

All in all, I believe that for my first stab at this that I did a good job.

My bread buns might not have been super aesthetic and a little over sized but they were good.  They complemented well our Thanksgiving dinner at home.

See how simple this homemade bread recipe was?  For more ideas, check out my tuna pasta recipe for another easy recipe to do at home.

Update: Although I have not tried it myself, I stumbled onto another simple bread recipe that you can do at home without having to use a bread machine.

Ingredients

• 4 cups of flour
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of warm water
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup olive oil

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