Tuesday 9 September 2008

Greedy Spice (or: So Tell Me What You Want, What You Really Really Want)

You know how it is. You're in the house on your own, watching DVD boxsets with hair like a flowerpot man and making the most of your day off work, and you decide it's the perfect time to bake something warm and simple while no one's around to interrupt. Like, say, bread. Freshly baked bread; and cause it takes so long with all the rising and proving (are rising and proving the same thing? Whatever) it'll be ready right on time for your family to get back in and devour.


And then you remember that you're horribly lazy and --wait, is this just me? Alright. Then I remembered that I'm horribly lazy and slightly suspicious of yeast .

(I was one of those children who was emotionally scarred when it was explained that yeast was a Living Thing and that when you put it in the oven you Killed It Dead. I mean, emotionally scarred for about ten minutes, until I got hungry and ate a piece of toast.)

If you want to keep your kitchen a massacre-free zone (or you just can't be bothered with kneading, rising or proving (or both?)) this recipe is perfect. And it also means that what could have taken an entire day takes an hour, tops, and that's with fifty minutes baking time during which you can go back to series two of Buffy or brush your hair or something (okay, maybe most people brush their hair more often than I do. I'm told it shouldn't take fifty minutes).


But the main difference between slaving all day over a crusty artisan loaf and just baking a sweet spice bread is that the first one gives you bread at the end of the day.

The second option gives you a soft, honeyed, warm, cinnamon and ginger flavoured loaf. Right now.

Sitting in a house with it all day is probably not the answer if you intend your family to have some.

...But of course, they don't have to know you baked it...

Spice bread
Adapted from http://flagrantedelicia.com/

250 g honey
250 g bread flour
5 g baking powder
100 g dark brown sugar
100 g butter
2 eggs
100ml milk
a pinch of salt
Vanilla
Cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.

Pre-heat the oven to 160ÂșC. Grease a 19x9cm (7.5"x3.5") loaf pan and line with parchment paper.

Mix the ingredients together and pour the batter into the pan. Bake for 50 minutes.

Easiest instructions in the world? Yessir. My laziness extends in all directions.

10 comments:

Clumbsy Cookie said...

I'm sure your family will end up discovering you made it! That must have smelled just amazing! Did you just buttered that last slice for me?

Y said...

With the smell of lovely spices permeating the entire house, how could you possibly hide something as good as this, from them? :D

grace said...

you're a gal after my own heart, as lazy is my middle name. that's the moistest bread i've ever seen, and i could go for half a loaf this instant (as long as i don't have to get up for it...). :)

Natasha said...

Hmmm, I think this might even be enhanced by some raisins or nuts!

sara angel said...

Lovely pictures, deliciously easy recipe, and funny commentary?

Yes, please :]

Abitofafoodie said...

I am the laziest person on the earth so I'm all over this. It look amazing and, is it just me, but I even think I can smell it through the photos... Worrying, isn't it?!

Maria♥ said...

Wow this looks so delicious!! Thanks for sharing, I'm going to make this.

Maria
x

Rosie said...

I'll tell you what I want what I really want - a slice of your lovely Spice bread plz :) It looks amazing bread.

Rosie x

Leonor de Sousa Bastos said...

It's the first time I see one of my blog's recipe on other blog!

I feel so honoured and so happy to see your spicy bread version!!

:)
Thank you!!

Now it's my turn to try one of your recipes...

:)

essay best said...

I want this!! I really really want to make this! And I am definitely going to make this right away. Man, its like i can already smell the bread.....mmmmm