No Knead Bread

For the Easter weekend  we headed up to my boyfriend's parents place on Manitoulin Island. I love it up there; it is quiet and away from all the busyness here. His mom made this bread and often does when we are there. I forgot just how easy it was and it is so delicious. I don't mind kneading bread, when I have time but this is great for those times when you just don't want to put in the work.

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

Combine ingredients in a bowl with a wooden spoon until you form a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and leave on the counter for 12-20 hours. 

**this is perfect as it gives flexibility for those busy days.

With a wet spatula dump the dough onto a floured surface. Sprinkle with flour and cover with a dry tea towel. Let rest 2 hours.

With 30 min left. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and place a covered dish in the oven to warm.

When ready to bake take the dish out. Dump the dough into the dish. Give it a shake and replace the lid.

Bake for 25 min. Remove the lid and bake for 5 more minutes to brown the top.

Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack.

Yes it is that easy and soo delicious.

Flour Tortillas

So we were out of bread, all of it including; sandwich bread, buns, tortillas, english muffins and bagels. It was late and I really didn't want to drive to the grocery store to pick up bread for breakfast and lunch in the morning. So I thought I would try my hand at tortillas. 

They were surprisingly easy. I found I did not roll them quite thin enough, but they came out great anyways. and everyone was happy. 

2 cups of flour

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup shortening

2/3 cup warm water

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in shortening until it resembles course meal. Stir in water with fork until shaggy dough forms.

Turn out onto floured surface and knead until smooth and soft (3-4 min). Portion into 8 pieces and roll into balls. Place on a baking sheet and cover. Let rest for 30 min.

Heat a large skillet over medium until hot. Roll out dough balls one at a time to 9 inch circle.

peel off counter and lay on dry hot skillet until bubbles start to form (45-60 sec). Turn over and cook another 45-60 sec until it is no longer translucent. 

Transfer to a clean dish towel and keep covered until ready to serve. 

Repeat for remaining dough.

Parmesan Herb Bread Sticks

I was looking around on the Secret Recipe Club website and came across The Slow Roasted Italian blog and had a look around. I found these delicious looking bread sticks and had to make them. The dip in the picture above is Pizza Dip, I will be posting that recipe next.

Parmesan Herb Bread Sticks

1 pkg yeast

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup warm water

3 tbsp veg oil

Topping

2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tbsp grated Parmigiana 

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 tbsp dried parsley

1 tbsp dried oregano 

Pre heat oven to 425

In a small bowl combine topping ingredients and set aside.

In the bowl of your stand mixer with the dough hook. Add yeast, flour, sugar, salt, water and veg oil. Mix on low speed, once a sticky dough forms, continue for 4-5 minutes till you get a soft dough.

Turn out onto floured flat surface. Rolls dough out to size of cookie sheet. (I have small cookie sheets so I did mine in 2 pans). Spread topping over dough

then using a knife or pizza cutter, cut dough into strips.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden around the edges.