Homemade Bread

I have always wanted to make my own bread, nothing like the smell of it baking and how soft and delicious it is fresh from the oven. The effect of paying upwards of $6 for a decent loaf these days is further inducement.

Some of the lovely ladies in my mother's group make their own bread and have been bringing it to share at our get-togethers. It is absolutely delicious and they promised me it is also easy, cheap and relatively quick to make. 

This inspired me to finally give it a try, so I asked for the recipe and last night I attempted to make my first loaf of bread. And what do you know? Success!!! 

I was so proud of my first little loaf. It reminded me of scones, particularly fresh from the oven.

For this one I used basic wheat flour, but even if you use organic spelt flour or any other specialty flour it works out at about $1.20-$3.20 a loaf. The recipe:

300grams of wholemeal flour

200grams of plain flour

300mls room temperature water

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of brown sugar

1 x 7gram packet of Tandaco brand dry yeast

* Mix all dry ingredients together

* Add tepid water gradually and turn mixture out onto a lightly floured bench to knead

* Knead well.

* Form dough into a ball, place on a breadboard, cover with a clean tea towel and then set in a warm place to rise for about 30-40 minutes.

* Knead dough again and place into a greased loaf tin (butter or olive oil), score the top with a sharp knife diagonally a few times and brush with butter or olive oil.

 * Leave to rise in a warmish place for at least another 40 minutes (can be much longer though).

* Place in a pre-heated 200-210 degree Celsius oven for approx 20-25 minutes or until top is golden and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

* Turn bread out of tin and place on a wire rack to cool.

* Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting the end off and slathering with butter :)

The type of flour you use is all up to you, this is just a standard wholemeal loaf. 

I am actually really excited to try a few variations, like spice and dried fruit or olives and chilli flakes, the options are almost endless!!

Have a great time making this, I have really enjoyed it and will be making plenty more of my own fresh bread in future! Mmmm....

We recently took a fantastic mini-break to Central Victoria and stayed at the beautiful Hurlstone Homestead.

As you can see below the Homestead is gorgeous, surrounded by lovely gardens featuring mature trees, ponds, a lake and plenty of lush green lawn. It seems incredible that this oasis was little more than a dusty paddock 25 years ago.

Our extremely personable hosts Marg and Kerry Atley were happy to share the history of the property's transformation and to tell me about HelpX, a program that I'll certainly be making use of the next time we travel.

HelpX or Help Exchange, is a program which links B&B's, farmstays, lodges, ranches and sailing boats with travelers. The general idea is a that of a cultural exchange, whereby travelers work for 4 hours per day in exchange for meals and accommodation. The exact conditions and length of stay can vary from place to place, but you can view host and traveler profiles on HelpX's website and get in touch to sort out all of the details before you even arrive.

For anyone starting a new venture, farm, hostel, etc, it is a great way to get some helping hands on the scene if you have a room to share.

Every time I have traveled I find that it is the experiences which bring me into close contact with the local community that provide the richest experience and the best memories, not the overnight stays in homogeneous 5 star hotels.

If you feel the same way then you might want to consider checking out HelpX before you plan your next trip.

Enjoy!