Oldtimebread Recipes

DAN'S OLD FASHIONED WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Pour milk in a heatproof bowl, and gently warm in a microwave oven set on Low until milk is about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C), about 15 seconds. Mix in the sugar and honey, and stir to dissolve. Mix in the yeast, and let stand until the yeast activates and forms a creamy layer on the milk, about 15 minutes.
• Place 4 cups of bread flour and the salt into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer; pour in the yeast mixture, and mix on slow speed with a mixing paddle until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute; dough will be very wet. Add the butter, and mix in the remaining 2 cups of bread flour, or as needed, until the dough begins to gather itself into a ball. Change the fitting from the mixing paddle to a dough hook, and machine-knead the dough until smooth and springy, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer the dough onto a well-floured work surface, and knead until you see the surface of the dough begin to break during folding and kneading. Roll dough into a ball, and place into a lightly floured large bowl. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel, and set into a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Spray 2 9x5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray.
• Punch down the dough, remove to the floured surface, and knead for 2 more minutes; cut the dough in half with a sharp knife. Form the dough into logs, adding more flour if necessary, and place the loaves into the sprayed pans. Cover the pans with a kitchen towel, and place into a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 more hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place the bread loaves into the preheated oven, and turn the heat down to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake until the tops are golden brown and the loaves make a hollow sound when thumped, about 25 minutes. Cool the pans on baking racks for about 5 minutes before turning the bread loaves out to finish cooling on racks. Cover the loaves with a kitchen towel as they cool.

OLD TIMEY SKILLET BISCUIT BREAD RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Put the cubed butter, shortening, and flour in a mixing bowl and place in the freezer while you prepare a floured work surface* and get the skillet ready. Add the bacon fat to the skillet over medium-low heat to preheat while making the dough. (The skillet needs to be hot before adding the dough, but keep an eye on it, reducing the heat if necessary). Remove the bowl from the freezer and quickly cut the fats into the flour with a pastry cutter until well incorporated. Make a well in the center and gradually stir in 1 cup buttermilk just until it forms a ragged dough (do not overmix), adding a little more buttermilk if needed. (I ended up using 1 1/4 c). Dump the dough out onto the floured work surface, sprinkle the top lightly with flour, and shape into a circle that is about 1" smaller than the bottom of your skillet. Using a wide spatula*, transfer the disc of dough to the hot skillet. Place cover on the skillet and reduce heat to the setting between low and medium-low. Cook without lifting the cover for about 10 minutes or until browned. (Lift an edge to check.) Flip* over and cook the other side for another 5-10 minutes. Brush melted butter over the top when done. To serve, break off in irregular pieces and serve hot. *NOTES I don't have a wide spatula so here's how I managed to get the fragile dough in and out of the skillet. Just disregard if you have one. First, I floured a square of foil (a little larger than the skillet) and when I was finished patting the dough into a disc I brushed the excess flour off the foil then carefully inverted the disc of dough into the skillet. (You should have just enough bacon fat in the skillet to grease it well but not be puddled anywhere, so next time I may invert the skillet over the dough then flipping it). When I was ready to brown the other side, I slipped the bread out of the skillet onto a plate then inverted the skillet over it and then flipped it over. All this was trial and error, but it worked!! Maybe, it's time to buy a wide spatula! lol

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!

OLD TIME BREAD

Steps:

• Your best and principal bread is Manchet, which you shall bake in this manner.
• First your meal being ground upon the black stones, if be possible, which makes the whitest flower, and boulted through the finest boulting cloth, you shall put it into a clean Kimnel.
• Opening the flower hollow in the midst, put into it of the best ale-barm, the quantity of three pints to a bushell of meale and some salt to season it with.
• Then put in your liquor reasonable warme, and kneade it very well together, with both your hands, and through the brake, or for want thereof, fould it in a cloth, and with your feete treade it a good space together.
• Then letting it lie an houre or thereabouts to swel.
• Take it foorth and mould it into Manchets, round, and flat, scorcht them about the wast to give it leave to rise, and prick it with your knife in the top, and so put into the oven, and bake with gentle heat.