A Scottish folk song, words written by Robert Burns in 1782. I was never quite sure about it, but it is something to do with a young couple meeting up in a damp field of grain for a private kiss. And Jennie's petticoat gets wet. It was written centuries before Salinger's Holden Caulfield story. I recently bought some rye flour, and decided I should use it in my breadmaker.
The breadmaker is 6 months old, and I have got into a good routine with it. It makes three sizes of load - M,L and XL. The M size is just right for slices for the toaster, and that size loaf lasts us 2 or 3 days. I usually make a half'n'half white and wholemeal flour loaf with an added scoop of my seed mix.
I have just been reading Breadsong, a heartwarming story by a daughter and her father, Kitty and Al Tait.
‘If you had told me at 14 when I couldn’t even get out of
bed with depression and anxiety that three years later I would have written a
book I would never have believed you. But here it is – the story of the
Orange Bakery. How I went from bed to bread and how my Dad went from being a
teacher to a baker. You reading it means everything to me’ – Kitty
Tait
As well as the story of their life changing experience, these two generously share their tried and tested recipes in the centre section of the book.
The book is written in two different fonts - so you can tell which is Kitty's writing and which is Al's. I reluctantly returned the library copy, [other people had reserved it] but I am putting this one on my Christmas list.
Breadsong is the magical sound made by bread cracking and hissing as it cools...
*****
I do like rye flour, 50/50 in my bread . Our breadmaker gets used several times a week.
ReplyDeleteI'm adding the book to my Christmas list too, sounds lovely
A good read indeed
DeleteAh, that sounds lovely. For one moment, I thought you were saying Kitty had written some and A.I. had written some and was about to ask why on earth they'd got A.I to write part of it, then realised it was Al! I'll look out for it!
ReplyDelete🤣
DeleteP. S. CBC hasnt used this breadmaker for about 3 years! We really should use it again! The flour will be out of date!
ReplyDeleteAs long as it doesnt have weevils I'd use it
DeleteBeware of using old flour for breadmaking. The gluten changes and it may not rise. I tried using some old multigrain flour mixed with some new and it didn’t rise at all. I knew the new flour and the yeast were okay because i’d made a loaf with them the previous week. Old flour seems to be fine for cakes, sauces etc but they don’t need much gluten.
DeleteTHANK YOU FOR THIS WARNING! I did not know about the gluten changing!
DeleteI’ve just read this too! It’s a heartwarming read.
ReplyDeleteI love making my own bread, but have never used a bread maker. I can recommend the no -knead method for sourdough.
Thank you for the sourdough tip
DeleteLooked at up this book think it will be on my Christmas list too. We don't have a mechanical breadmaker, just me! I love the kneading process so much and that's why I stick to just me making ut. We don't eat a lot of bread so I am not baking every day but the smell when I do is wonderful. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will enjoy trying out the recipes
DeleteDH has mastered the breadmaker. We had a few bricks, it seems to work better if the yeast is activated first in the tepid water. Good bread, no UPF. We had a sack of bread flour for Christmas, a lovely present from our son in law.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the book recommendation, I have reserved it from the library.
What a gorgeous gift! We bought a sack of flour in lockdown
DeleteTheir story is so inspiring!
ReplyDeleteTruly heartwarming 💜
DeleteThe book sounds great.
ReplyDeleteWe treated ourselves to a Panasonic breadmaker recently ( having gone back to hand kneading for a while, then supermarketbread, yuk. )
This latest version is brilliant, I tend to stick to basic recipes because I'm precious about ruining the non stick pan 😆 But I do use it for dough making occasionally, then make cinnamon buns or other sweet treats. It also makes light work out of pizza dough of course.
Alison in Devon x
Mine is the new Panasonic version too
DeleteThanks for the book recommendation-I have reserved at the library. Just in from the big Swedish shop as we wanted drawer organisers for the new furniture. Catriona
ReplyDeleteAnd what else did you buy? (tea lights. Meatballs, Daim bars....)
DeleteMeatballs is the tell!
ReplyDelete🤣🤣🤣
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