Memories

I subscribe to Bon Appetite and was so pleased they featured a Boston Brown Bread recipe.  My mother used to make BBB and we'd enjoy it hot with a side of baked beans.  What I loved about the bread (beside the delicious, rich flavor) was the fact you cook it in a coffee tin.

Since I use a Kurig and do not have coffee tins in the house, I had to ask around work to find a couple.

Right now, my house if filled with a slightly sweet (molasses and brown sugar) scent of bread baking.  A perfect day for baking bread as Hurricane Sandy (my mother's name by the way, so especially apropo to make this recipe) covers our region with buckets of rain, wind, and cold.

Here's the recipe from Bon Appetite November 2012 issue http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/11/boston-brown-bread

Boston Brown Bread 

Recipe 10 servings Active: 20 minutes Total: 3 1/2 hours (includes baking and cooling time)

Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter plus more for serving, room temperature
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
1/4 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup rye flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup raisins (optional-I do not add)

Special Equipment Two empty, clean 11-13-ounce coffee cans Ingredient Info Rye flour is available at natural foods stores and some supermarkets. Preparation Preheat oven to 350°. Cut two 6-inch squares of foil. Coat insides of cans and one side of foil squares with 1 tablespoon butter. Stir milk and next 3 ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves and mixture is just warmed (do not boil). Whisk whole wheat flour and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Add milk mixture; whisk until smooth. Fold in raisins, if using. Divide batter between cans. Smooth tops. Cover cans with foil, butter side down. Secure foil with kitchen twine. Place cans foil side up in a deep roasting pan or a heavy shallow pot. Transfer pan to oven. Pour very hot water into pan to come about 3-inch up sides of cans. Bake until a skewer inserted through foil into the center of each loaf comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack. Let cool for 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of cans. Invert to release loaves onto rack. Let cool completely. DO AHEAD Bread can be made 3 days ahead. Wrap tightly in plastic; store at room temperature. Slice bread. Serve with soft butter.

Quick Breads!

My father-in-law dropped off some veggies from his garden and there was a couple of zucchinis.  In my opinion the best recipe for zucchinis is zucchini bread.  So I whipped up the recipe I found here - Southern Cooking at About.com after looking through all of my cookbooks.  Even my Betty Crocker didn't have a recipe, which I was surprised.

Anyway, I reduced the sugar just a bit, about 1/4 cup because 1 3/4 cups of sugar is a lot.  They turned out great and since I had to borrow 3 eggs from a neighbor for my last minute baking expedition and I'd made omelets for breakfast, I'll send one of the mini loaves over to them.

I love the rich cinnamony flavor and the moist texture.  I'm hoping the zucchini makes these loaves healthier. Maybe part of the vegetable group.

Pampered Chef Mini Loaf Pan

I used my Pampered Chef mini loaf stoneware. Stoneware is one of my favorite baking ware. Cleans easily, makes a nice crust and only gets better with age. 

My pizza baking stone is nearly black from use, but that just makes it better and nothing sticks.

Italian Bread

After eating bread in Italy, it is hard to find something comparable in the US.  Where I live there are numerous Italians and some great Italian bakeries, but it is hard to mimic the crusty shell with a soft chewy inside. So, I've tested so many different types and found a great loaf at my local grocery store - Wegmans in which fresh bread is made daily.

Today I grilled some Italian bread brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. So delicious! Then we slathered it with homemade ricotta cheese and chopped fresh basil.

A meal in itself and one that is so fresh for a hot summer day.