Cottage Loaf Recipes

COTTAGE MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with aluminum foil.
• In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ketchup, tomato juice, salt, pepper, red pepper, eggs, bread crumbs, onion, and mustard for meatloaf until well mixed. Press meat mixture into the prepared pan.
• In a separate bowl, combine ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar for topping until smooth. Spread brown sugar mixture over meatloaf.
• Bake in preheated oven 35 to 45 minutes, until no longer pink. Drain off fat. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

PAUL HOLLYWOOD'S CLASSIC COTTAGE LOAF

Steps:

• Tip the flour into a large bowl and add the yeast to one side and the salt to the other. Add the lard and pour in about 225-250ml of water. Mix using one hand, then add a further 75-100ml of water (you may not need it all, or you may need a little more), a little at a time, until all the flour is incorporated and the dough is soft but not soggy.
• Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 5-10 minutes, until it is smooth and silky.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise until doubled in size. This will take at least 1 hour and can take 2-3 hours, or longer, depending on the room temperature.
• Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and fold it inwards repeatedly to knock out the air and ensure that it rises upwards, rather than outwards. This is especially important in a freestanding loaf without a tin to support it.
• Tear off one third of the dough and set aside. Shape the larger piece into a ball by first flattening the dough into a rough rectangle, then rolling it into a thick oblong. Turn the dough so that the longer edge is running away from you and flatten it slightly. Now fold in the two ends to the centre and press them down, so you end up with a chunky, squarish shape. Turn the dough over, so that the join is underneath.
• With your palms turned upwards, put your hands on each side, slightly under the dough. Move the cob around, tucking the dough neatly under itself as it turns. You are gently forcing the sides of the dough down and underneath, to create a smooth, taut top and a rough underside. Avoid using too much extra flour during shaping. Place the ball of dough on the prepared baking tray.
• Repeat the rolling and shaping for the smaller piece of dough, then place the smaller ball on top of the larger ball. Flatten the top slightly, then dust your middle finger and forefinger with flour and push them through the centre of the loaf all the way to the bottom. Use a sharp knife to make 8 slashes in the surface of both the top and larger lower part of the loaf.
• Place the tray inside a large, clean plastic bag and leave to prove for 1 hour, or until well risen, and springy when prodded. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 230°C/210°C fan/450°F/Gas 8 and put a roasting tray in the bottom of the oven to heat up.
• Remove the risen loaf from the bag and dust with flour. Fill the roasting tray with cold water to create steam and put the bread in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, then lower the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/375°F/Gas 5 and bake for a further 20-25 minutes, until crusty, golden brown and the base sounds hollow when tapped. (If not, put it back into the oven for another 5 minutes.)
• Transfer the baked loaf to a wire rack to cool.

TRADITIONAL COTTAGE LOAF - OLD FASHIONED RUSTIC ENGLISH BREAD

Steps:

• Sift flour and salt into a bowl, stir in sugar and yeast. Make a well in the centre, stir in the tepid milk and water to make the dough. (If using fresh yeast - put the yeast in a jug with a little of the milk and water mixture, and allow it to dissolve and become frothy - mixing thoroughly, then add it to the flour.).
• Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 to 15 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• Put the dough in a large, clean, oiled bowl. Cover with oiled clingfilm and leave in a warm place until it has doubled in size.Then knead the dough for 1 minute and divide it into two-thirds and a third. Shape the pieces into rounds. Cover them and leave for 5 minutes.
• Put the smaller round on top of the larger one. Push a floured wooden spoon (or your fingers) through the centre of both rounds, to join them together. Take a very sharp knife and make cuts all around the top round and the bottom round - see my photos. Put the cottage loaf on a lightly floured baking tray, cover and leave for about 45 minutes, or until it has doubled in size. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 220C/440F/Gas 7.
• Beat the egg with a tablespoon of water and a pinch of salt. Brush the glaze over the cottage loaf and bake for about 35 to 45 minutes, until dark golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped beneath.
• Cool before slicing. Delicious served with butter, jam, cheese, cold meats or make sandwiches or toast for picnics and breakfast!

COTTAGE LOAF RECIPE

Steps:

• Tip the flour and salt into a bowl and add the butter. Rub the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the dried yeast.
• Pour in 300ml warm water and mix into the flour to form a dough. Knead the dough for about 10 mins, either in an electric machine or by hand, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Break off about a third of the dough. Shape the larger piece into a ball and place it on a baking sheet. Shape the smaller piece into a ball. Brush a little water on the centre of the larger ball and then place the smaller ball on top. Use a floured finger to press all the way down through the centre of the loaf, as far as possible, so it almost touches the baking sheet. Use the tip of a knife to score lines about 5mm deep through the dough, marking it into 12 wedges.
• Cover the loaf with a clean tea towel or a piece of oiled cling film and leave it to prove in a warm place for 45-60 mins, or until it's doubled in size.
• Set the oven to 220°C.
• Remove the tea towel or cling film from the loaf and brush with the egg glaze. Bake the loaf in the centre of the oven for 30-40 minutes, until it's an even, golden colour, and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on its base.
• Slide the loaf on to a wire rack to cool.

RECIPES

Steps:

• Step 1:MIXMix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a big bowl. Using your fingertips rub in the butter until only fine 'crumbs' are left. Mix in the water with a cutlery knife.Step 2:KNEADTip onto a lightly flour dusted surface and knead for 10 minutes (or use the dough hook attachment on your mixer). Step 3:RISELightly grease the mixing bowl with some oil. Put the dough back in, cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and leave to rise until doubled in size.Step 4:SHAPE Knock back the dough by gently kneading just 5 times to get the air out. Separate the dough into one-third and two thirds. Shape each into a round ball. Dust a baking sheet with a little flour, and sit the largest ball on it with the smallest ball sat on top. Flour the handle of a wooden spoon and push it down through the centre of both balls until you hit the tray below. How to shape a cottage loafStep 5:PROVECover the dough with a clean tea towel again and leave to prove until doubled in size again. Preheat your oven to 200°C (fan 180°C, gas mark 6).Step 6:BAKELift the tray onto the middle oven shelf and bake for 30-35 minutes, until when you tap the base of the loaf it sounds hollow. Cool on a wire rack.

SEED & GRAIN COTTAGE LOAF

Steps:

• Heat the butter, honey and 300ml water in a saucepan. Set aside to cool to hand temperature.
• Mix the flours, yeast and 1½ tsp salt in a bowl. Pour in the warm liquid and mix with a wooden spoon, then with your hands. Tip onto your work surface and knead for 10 mins or until springy. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film and leave somewhere warm to rise for 2 hrs or until doubled in size.
• Flour a large baking tray. Tip the dough onto your work surface and knead to knock out the air bubbles. Remove ¼ of the dough so that you have 2 pieces. Shape both pieces of dough into smooth balls, put the large one on the baking tray then sit the smaller ball on top. Using a well-floured handle of a wooden spoon, push through the centre of the 2 balls of dough to stick them together. Cover with oiled cling film and leave to rise for about 45 mins or until doubled in size. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and put a cake tin on the bottom shelf, with an empty shelf directly above for the bread.
• Remove the cling film from the bread. Brush all over with the egg, then sprinkle generously with seeds. Slash the edges of the loaf a few times with a sharp knife to create a pattern. Open the oven and pour a cup full of water into the cake tin - this will create steam and give the loaf a crisp crust. Put the bread on the empty shelf and bake for 20 mins, then turn the oven down to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and bake for another 30 mins until crisp and hollow-sounding when tapped on the base. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 mins before eating.

COTTAGE MEATLOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine first 12 ingredients. Mix until thoroughly blended.
• Add bread crumbs and rice. Mix again.
• Line a 9 x 5 in loaf pan with foil. Press in beef mixture and shape.
• In a seperate bowl mix topping ingredients, mixing well. Spread over top of meatloaf.
• Bake 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.
• Drain off fat. Let meatloaf rest for 5 minutes before serving.

COTTAGE CHEESE ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, eggs, vegetable oil, soup mix, walnuts and cereal. Spoon into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes.

COTTAGE CHEESE MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Press into an ungreased 8-in. square baking pan. , Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until meat is no longer pink. Drain; let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

COTTAGE DILL LOAF

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix 1 cup of the flour, the sugar, 1 tablespoon dill seed, 1 tablespoon onion, the salt and yeast. In 1-quart saucepan, heat water, cottage cheese and butter over medium heat, stirring frequently, until very warm (120°F to 130°F); stir into flour mixture until blended. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
• Place dough on lightly floured surface; gently roll in flour to coat. Knead about 8 minutes or until smooth and springy. Grease large bowl with shortening or cooking spray. Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover; let rise in warm place about 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size. (If using fast-acting yeast, do not let rise 1 hour; cover and let rest on floured surface 10 minutes.)
• Grease large cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray. Shape dough into oval loaf, about 12 inches long and 4 inches wide, tapering both ends slightly. Place on cookie sheet. Cover; let rise in warm place 30 to 45 minutes or until double.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Brush water over dough; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon onion and 1 teaspoon dill seed. Make long slash, 1/4 inch deep, down center of loaf with sharp knife. Bake 10 minutes, spraying 3 separate times with water (use bottle with fine spray). Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack; cool.