The voodoo for perfect breads…

As rains sets in, lets warm our senses by baking your own fresh bread. So today I will be taking you through magical process that turns flour and water into heavenly food.  

I am not lying guys you will be super amazed by your creation.

The perfect setting for bread  on my mind will be cold mornings with sound of rain falling in my balcony  and super noisy little Singham cartoon on the television as it’s my son’s favourite. To break the monotony I would get up and, after having tea as only on Sundays I get bed tea by my dear husband which I love the most, I would begin to make bread.

 I would mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and enjoy kneading  as it helps me flex some muscles.

 I will stay nearby not because I am scared to burn it but  to smell the bread as it baked and I am waiting for the treat of eating the crusty end slice as  I cherish it the most.

As I say this it reminds me of  my dad because he is  an amazing cook indeed a creator, so I am grown up seeing his passion for good food and creating best of dishes and cherish with the whole family. Indeed both my brothers have  also learnt this art of creating a dish from a scratch, which is always handy to impress your wife on a gloomy day.

 Warm freshly baked bread with a dab of butter or a dip is something anyone will never forget because it tastes heavenly Sorry for little Gyan but  bread is one of the oldest prepared foods, as in olden times when lumps of dough, unleavened, were placed on hot stones in the embers of a wood fire. Bread soon became synonymous with life itself.

I cant take you to heaven but I can assure you the taste will be heavenly.

INGREDIENTS

Wheat flour 2 cup/ regular flour(use 60% wheat and $0% Maida)

2tbsp butter melted at room temp

Honey 1 tsp/1 tsp sugar

instant Yeast 1  tsp (I am not using active yeast)

Salt 1/2 tsp

Warm Water to knead 3/4th cup

Oil 2 tbsp/butter

warm milk and butter for Brushing

For Stuffing

Capsicum 1/2 finely chopped

Mushrooms 8 9 finely chopped

Cheddar and mozzarella  cheese  1/2 cup grated

Onion 1/2 finely chopped

Salt 1/2 tsp

oregano  powder 1/4 tsp

Red chilli flakes1/2 tsp

Garlic powder 1/4 tsp

Oil 2 tsp

INSTRUCTIONS

Making dough

Take 1/2 cup water in a bowl and warm in microwave for 15 seconds.

Add honey  or 1 tsp sugar ,1tsp salt in flour.

Mix it nicely and keep it aside.

add 

Take flour and salt in a bowl and mix it nicely.  

Add the yeast and knead to dough with warm water.

Now add oil and knead for 10-12 minutes till it is smooth and soft.

Cover and allow it to rise till it doubles in size.

Preparing Stuffing

In the meantime we can prepare the stuffing. It could be anything that you enjoy like cottage cheese, corn, olives etc I have used mushrooms red onions and capsicum along with cheese.

Chop the vegetables and wash them.

Heat oil in a pan.

Add the finely chopped, capsicum, onions and mushrooms sauté for 30 seconds.

Then add garlic paste or powder and sauté.

Then add the vegetables and give a quick stir.

Now remove from heat and keep aside to cool. Keep grated cheese ready.

Shaping Bread and Baking

It will take between 1-2 hours. Mine got doubled in 1 hour.

Punch the dough and knead for one minute.

Grease the baking tray with oil or butter or line with foil. I used my round cake tin as my baking tray won't rotate in oven.

Divide the dough into two parts and dust the surface with little flour and take one part of dough.

You can make  two seven inches loaf sufficient enough for 3 to 4 .Putting a picture for reference

 

Roll into long oval and mark area in the centre for stuffing.

Then add the stuffing on the top.

Cut thin strips on both sides with knife or pizza cutter.

Start by folding the top part.

Then fold each strips alternatively to form braided shape

Finally fold the bottom to cover.

Place the stuffed bread in the baking tin and allow it to rise for 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven at 180°C for ten minutes and bake in same temperature in 35-40 minutes till it browns.

Brush it with little butter/oil and warm milk as I am not using egg wash.

Serve the stuffed braided bread hot with cup of coffee/Tea.

You can choose the stuffing as per your choice like paneer, mushroom or chicken. You can choose sweet stuffing too.

If the yeast is not active don't proceed further. There can be few reasons for yeast to be inactive. Yeast is very old and reaching expiry date. Quality of yeast is not good. If you add yeast to very hot water it will kill the yeast. Proofing of yeast is very important for any bread recipes. Always allow the dough to double in size. Don't go by the timing as it will be different in different climatic conditions. Last but most important tip listen to your favourite music or you can sing too and enjoy you bakes….Love You all hope you like it and try this one and share your feedback…TAKE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF YOUR CREATIONS…