Amish Country Bread
My darling friend Lindsey sent me this recipe last Fall and I just recently got around to making it this week. She sent it to me knowing that 1) I love the Amish & 2)when it comes to bread, well, we don't always work out. I need something that's simple. And to be completely honest, it is very simple. For some reason I always run into the problem with my bread not rising. On the jar of my yeast, it recommended checking 2 things: first, make sure you bring the yeast to room temperature before adding it and secondly, you can test to see if the yeast is still good by adding it to water & then adding sugar (check your labels). I decided to mix it up a little by adding some parmesan cheese & dried rosemary to the top and it ended up needing to be cooked about 5 minutes longer (could have to do with altitude, I'm not sure.) We've been eating this bread paired with Oliviers yummy tuscan olive & rosemary oil Mom brought us last time she was in town. It is a killer combination. Oh yeah, and the goblet of icy Diet Coke helped to make it complete!
Amish Country Bread
4 Tbsps Sugar
2 Tbsps Butter (melted)
3 tsps Salt
1 1/2 C hot water
2 Tbsps of rapid rise yeast*
5 Cups of flour (+ or -)*
Directions
Put all ingredients but the flour into the mixer (KitchenAid) and let sit for a few minutes so, as Lindsey likes to say, "the yeast can do it's thing". Add the flour in small batches & mix with a dough hook for 8-10 minutes. Remove & place in a bowl that has been greased & let dough rise until double in size (about 30 min). Punch down & divide in half into 2 rounds and place on a greased cookie sheet. Cut decorative slits on top. Let dough rise again. Rub an egg white wash (1 egg white + 1 tbsp water) over the top and sprinkle with kosher salt. I added the dried rosemary & parmesan here. Bake at 400 degrees for 17-20 minutes (for me it took about 25 minutes).
*I used regular (non-rapid rise) yeast and so it took longer for the dough to rise- a few hours.
**You can also use wheat flour or do half & half.
I want to do a public service announcement on Kosher Salt, but I'll do that later. I feel very strongly about Kosher salt so I'll elaborate on that another time.
We went & bought some new trainers for Henry last night. His old ones were starting to get grungy so we got these but now he won't wear them. He keeps saying "old". He just wants to wear his old shoes. I don't blame him. They were pretty cool, too. I so wanted to get him these but was trying to be practical as he usually just has 1 pair of shoes at a time. I'll probably get these for the summer, though. A little guy most definitely needs sandals for the summer. Agreed?
You guys are so funny about the bowls! I bought them at some rinky dink discount store for like $4 a few months back. Think Big Lots, but not. It wasn't a chain or anything. All 3 of the bowls have the etching inside and then they also have a little pattern on the outside, too. Wish I could be of more help.
Happy Weekend!
xoxo
Finding your website is happy accident! I found it today and you are already on my favorite list! I'm going to start a craft and cooking club for girls. And I was looking for ideas and inspiration. Thanks so much, Lili
Posted by: Lili | January 27, 2009 at 04:57 PM
Came across your site by accident and I am loving it. I plan on trying some of the receipes they are wonderful.
Posted by: Dee Ianniello | June 22, 2008 at 05:33 AM
I think the comments are turned off of your most current posts! I haven't been able to comment lately. The denim bag is adorable, I want one!
Posted by: claire | September 08, 2007 at 07:29 AM
This looked so good that we ran out to the market this afternoon for rapid-rise yeast. Julia and I thank you -- it's delicious!
Posted by: Jeanne | March 22, 2007 at 05:25 PM
You can never mess up Focaccia. That is why I love it. Yours looks delicious!
Posted by: Alyson | March 20, 2007 at 12:59 PM
That looks so good, and like something I could actually do. Too bad i just started my diet, how do you make all this yummy food and stay so thin? I love your stuff, you're very inspirational!
Posted by: Nancy J. | March 20, 2007 at 11:29 AM
The bread looks delicious! I was surprised by the short ingredients list...I thought for sure it would require more stuff. I'll definitely have to try it!
Posted by: Emily | March 20, 2007 at 09:33 AM
Just found your blog. The bread you made looks fantastic!
I will try the recipe sometime soon. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: momo | March 19, 2007 at 11:22 PM
I spy a menemsha sunset,
and all things MV!
we live on the vineyard
and i was tickled to find your
blog and photos.
Posted by: amy | March 19, 2007 at 06:09 PM
yumm! my mouth is watering! i will definitely try this out! thanks!
Posted by: leslie | March 19, 2007 at 02:45 PM
What a beautiful blog this is.
Posted by: wendy | March 19, 2007 at 01:44 AM
oh yum!!! that looks so delish!! i can see why you guys have been eating off of it all weekend!! i may have to try this..although I'm not so swell with bread either. I broke my bread machine! yikes!
Posted by: islandjen | March 18, 2007 at 07:14 PM
your criss-crosses are perfect! and the olive oil with all the goodies inside... oh my, so warm and tasty looking. perfect on this windy day
Posted by: connie | March 18, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Hey! Congrats on a successful bread venture! Good for you girl.
Hope all is well with you. Enjoy that ice cold diet coke - it sounds so good right now!
xoxo, R.
Posted by: Rebecca | March 17, 2007 at 05:18 PM
HonestlyI think we were separated at birth. And I know this because of the goblet of Diet Coke. Sealed the deal for me. And I'm all over this bread, baby. You are my carb hero!
Posted by: Heather Roms | March 16, 2007 at 10:28 PM
I am definately going to give this recipe a try! It looks so yummy in the picture. Warm bread right out of the oven....you can't beat it!
Posted by: Darcy | March 16, 2007 at 09:04 PM
i am positively salivating at this picture!!! it could only be better if there were a crazy little cartoon man sitting on top of the loaf...
Posted by: emily falconbridge | March 16, 2007 at 08:50 PM
Oh my gosh, your photo has me DROOLING! I must try this bread! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Heidi | March 16, 2007 at 08:19 PM
The bread looks awesome! I've never been able to get such a beautiful looking loaf...with the cross hatch on top and everything. Sometimes my bread tastes good, but it definitely isn't that pretty!
Posted by: Kristy | March 16, 2007 at 07:54 PM
The bread - yummy. The shoes - adorable,
Posted by: Mama Urchin | March 16, 2007 at 05:38 PM
Yum, yum, yum. I'm so hungry now.
Posted by: Megan | March 16, 2007 at 05:28 PM
Ok Miss Morgan, you are a girl after my own heart for SURE! Rosemary infused olive oil, bread, and diet coke?! That's what I call Heaven. ;)
Hope you have a wonderful weekend~
Hugs
Posted by: Kim | March 16, 2007 at 04:40 PM
Hey Morgan, I tried to email you about fabric after I read your comment this morning, but I am not sure it went through. (My email has been acting strange.) If you not can you email me through my Blogger profile?
Posted by: Sarah | March 16, 2007 at 04:23 PM
This looks SO DIVINE! I'm a sucker for good bread, especially with parm cheese and olive oil! Is that kosher salt on top? Even better!
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Megs | March 16, 2007 at 04:18 PM