Monday, November 26, 2007

Daring Bakers: Take Two


When the recipe of the month was introduced as potato bread my stomach turned. For some reason, the thought of working with live yeast has been a source of unwarranted yet persistent fear. Perhaps that is why the bread machine still lives on our floor and not in our kitchen.

This is my dad. I hope he is okay with his mug floating around on international waters but I really wanted to call attention to his apron for turkey carving. It reads: I'm still a hot babe, it just comes in flashes.

But I digress, yet again! For this is the very reason I joined this group of culinary dare devils...to face my fears come flopped flan or deflated soufflé!

So in honor of national turkey day, and the fact that I was now in my parents glorious kitchen, which as a side note is likely larger than our ENTIRE home, I decided to face my fears head on.

The recipe called for potatoes, active yeast, salt, lots of flour, and water. Easy enough, right? Um, ok. The dough was sticky. Not bubble gum sticky but more of a newly poured cement meets oatmeal. Needless to say, it was an adventure.

However, as luck would have it, this sticky lump of scariness was eventually turned into something rather edible. In fact, you might call it delicious. I know darling hubby sure did!



The outcome? One medium sized rosemary and red onion foccacia...


Rosemary and Red Onion Foccaccia (taking a nod from the bakery window!)

...and a single, perfect loaf of doughy potato-y cheddar cheese bread.


Gooey Potato Cheddar Bread (giving a nod to darling hubby who will eat anything I make with the addition of cheese)

Et voila! This last minute addition to our thanksgiving table was a welcomed one. And ironically enough, one that I would like to make again!

p.s. Potato cheddar cheese bread made for some spectacular turkey sandwiches the next day, highly recommended!

38 comments:

Manggy said...

Nice to hear from you again, Lindsay! We've missed you! Good on you for trying to be a better baker. It looks totally perfect, by the way.

Anonymous said...

Your dad looks like a character :) Beautiful job! Leftover turkey on cheesy potato bread sounds really good, right about now.

Lindsay Blau Portnoy said...

Thanks Manggy! It's nice to be back. I hope to be posting more regularly as life/work gets a bit more under control. I appreciate your comments though and hope to continue to improve =)
Happy eating!
Lindsay

Lindsay Blau Portnoy said...

Shawnda-
A character is an understatement! The apron was really icing on the cake, or I guess cheese in the bread? Anyway, it was totally delicious and I wish I had some at my house about now. Maybe it's time for a remake? Are you around for dinner!
Best.
Lindsay

Barbara said...

They all look great but I particularly like the look of your focaccia.

Lindsay Blau Portnoy said...

Thank you Barbara! It went quickly, too. Perhaps next time you will share with me how you achieved those perfect dimples in your foccacia =)

david mcmahon said...

Hi Lindsay,

Nice to see a shot of your Dad! And I hope you set a place for me at the table next time!!

breadchick said...

Great job on your challenge. Glad you kept at it despite your fear of yeast and bread making. Hopefully the success you had with this recipe will make you want to make more!

Gabi said...

Love the apron!
Beautiful bread and the cheese loaf does sound great for sandwiches!
xoxo

Bev and Ollie "O" said...

lovely focaccia, I li=ove the red onion circles, fab!

April said...

oh yum! They both look wonderful!

Peabody said...

I would call it delicious...or at least delicious looking. Well done.

Julius said...

What a great suggestion - this would make a great cheese bread!

I love what you've done with the tender potato breads. :)


Julius from Occasional Baker

slush said...

Both your focaccia and the cheesey bread look ever so good. I agree, cheese makes everything better! Great job!

Amanda Jean said...

yay, you are back!
and offering up mouth watering photos, once again. was the foccaccia bread hard to make?

hi to your dad! his apron is hilarious. :)

Gigi said...

oooh, the gooey cheddar bread looks yummy!

... said...

I love what you dad apron says... LOL. Great job on the tpb.

Anne said...

wow! I could fairly imagine how yummy the loaf turned out...you did a wonderful job :)

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

What great looking breads! Well done!

Cheers,

Rosa

KayKat said...

The focaccia seems to be the popular choice this time around - I'm definitely going to make that next week. Yay for potato :)

Thistlemoon said...

Looks wonderful and delicious! Great job on your first challenge!

Lisa said...

Looks delicious! Mmm potato bread. I've been craving more all day, and I have none left. :/

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Lindsey your breads turned out fantastic. Sorry to have cause your stomach to turn but I guess with that outcome it was OK. Delighted you baked bread with us.

Jen Yu said...

See?! unfounded fears! You conquered the dough and made some gorgeous breads. Your Dad is adorable :) Great job.

jen at use real butter

winedeb said...

Hi Lindsay! Visiting all the daring bakers today has really got my tummy talking to me. I like the one with the cheese! What great sandwiches that would make! Looks like you had a great Thanksgiving - and so does your dad!

Anonymous said...

Hi Linds, and, all you "darling bakers" out there...this is Lindsay's mom.
I have to let all of you know just how delicious both breads were, the first and second day...need more for the third/fourth, etc. days!
And, yes, Lindsay's dad, is adorable (lucky me!!!)
p.s. Lindsay and Gary prepared and served the entire and most amazing Thanksgiving feast ever!
xox
nancy b

Julie said...

Oh wow, those cheddar hunks look so awesome in your bread! Lucky hubby! I'm glad you braved the yeast and did such an awesome job with your bread!

And your dad's apron--priceless. =)

Helene said...

Well done on the challenge! All the breads look great! Well done!

Princess of the kitchen said...

Looks really good! Well done!

Radical Reminders said...

That cheese bread looks absolutely delicious, can i put an order in? ;)

Deborah said...

Now I want to make the cheddar cheese bread. That looks amazing!

Dolores said...

Newly poured cement meets oatmeal... what an accurate visual you've created of bread-in-process. And I love your gooey cheddar addition... I will need to try that next time. Thanks for sharing your saga.

Katie Zeller said...

They are both gorgeous! And your dad's kinda cute, too! ;-)
Well done on the breads....

Robyn said...

What a great entry. You bread looks fab! And your dad in that apron! Love it.

marias23 said...

Ooooh, I can only imagine how wonderful the cheddar potato bread must've been with the turkey! Droooolz...

Btw, I love how you described the dough as lumps of scariness. The phrase capturesmy feelings about it as I was kneading the dough, haha!

Christine said...

Cheesy potato bread sounds wonderful! Great focaccia, too.

Christina ~ She Runs, She Eats

creampuff said...

I think it's safe to say that you've conquered that bread fear! Great job!

LaFleur said...

Your blog name makes me feel like your sister! I'm glad to have found your blog, but sad that it appears you are no longer posting....hope you come back!