Saturday, September 8, 2012

I baked: Raisin bread

Ah, how sweet it is to wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread...


Whenever I have some extra time on my hands, I will try to make bread for my family. My hubby always pesters me to make it more often - but since I knead the dough by hand, it can be quite energy-consuming. I try to use different fillings in the bread everytime I make them.

Recently I made raisin bread for them and they liked it very much.... actually they liked it so much that when I wanted to enjoy a slice of bread with my cup of tea for breakfast, I found only 1/2 a slice of bread left for me! However, instead of feeling angry or disappointed, I was delighted that they loved it so much! Plus mummy can diet also lah! (thanks kids! ;P)



This time, I baked it the night before so that they can have it first thing in the morning. My kids are early risers, and baking it in the morning was slightly challenging and usually if I bake it in the morning, they have it as their second breakfast or snack in the morning.

The bread was pillowy soft with a crusty exterior at the same time. I really liked the orange rind cos it makes the bread smell so good! I tried a little when it was fresh out of the oven... slathered lots of butter on it and oh my, it was yums! It was still soft in the morning too.



Now you see it..


Now you don't (well, almost)...


Raisin bread
Cooking time: 45- 50 minutes
Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients
1/2 tbsp dried yeast
225ml lukewarm milk
100g raisins
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (or if you prefer, you can use sherry or brandy)
1/4 tsp grated or ground nutmeg
Grated rind of 1 orange
30g caster sugar
1/2 tbsp salt
60g butter, melted
350g bread flour, sifted
1/2 egg beaten with 1/2 tbsp cream, for glazing


1. Stir the yeast and 60ml of milk together and let stand for 15 minutes to dissolve.

2.  Mix the raisins, vanilla extract, nutmeg and orange rind together and set aside.

3. In another bowl, mix the remaining milk, sugar, salt and half the butter. Add the yeast mixture. Then add half the flour and stir into the mixture with a wooden spoon until blended. Gradually add the rest of the flour until you get a stiff dough.

4. Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover with cling film and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 1/2 hours.

5. Punch down the dough, then return to the bowl, cover and leave to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.

6. Grease a 450-g loaf tin. Roll the dough into a 20 x 7 inch rectangle.

7. Brush the rectangles with the remaining butter. Sprinkle the raisin mixture, then roll up tightly, tucking in the ends slightly as you roll. Place in the prepared tins, cover and leave to rise until almost doubled in volume (another 1 1/2 hours).




8. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Brush the loaves with the glaze and bake for 20 minutes, then lower the temperature to 180°C and bake until golden, for about 25-30 minutes. Cool on racks. Serve with butter.

Healthy breakfast ;)


Full set of photos can be viewed on my Facebook page here. 

29 comments:

  1. Such a lovely loaf of bread..very pretty . Loved the way your baby polished off the raisins !! Great way to start the day !!

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    Replies
    1. Hehehehe he always picks the slices with the most raisins ;)

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  2. My boss just send me a pic of his fresh baked bread too! Will be nice to have some fresh bread with peanut butter. :D

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    Replies
    1. Will he be sharing the bread with you? :D

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    2. Hope he will make more today and bring to office tomorrow, hehehe.

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  3. i wouldn't mind having a few slices of your baked bread for breakfast too! hmmmm, maybe can also try a variation using cranberries? :D

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    Replies
    1. Hehe if you rmbr this blogpost, I made cranberry, walnut and honey loaf before:
      http://goodyfoodies.blogspot.com/2012/07/recipe-cranberry-honey-and-walnut-loaf.html

      Actually my kids really love cranberries, they have it like a snack during the day.

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  4. Replies
    1. It was! And it stayed soft til the next morning. ;)

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  5. Looks great! Can't wait to have a try when I come around! :D

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  6. I'm the early bird today but looks like there is no more bread left! Love your boy very much! You knead the dough by hand, bravo, Yen, bravo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always ask my hubby for a breadmaker and he always jokes, "But we already have one at home.. you!" LOL.

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  7. Hahahahaha!!! Your boy's so cute. My daughter doesn't like raisins though - dunno why. I loved them when I was a kid...like your son.

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    Replies
    1. Both my kids love all these different dried fruits, so I usually put them in the bread I make for them.

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  8. This is a beautiful raisin loaf! The kind my kids would love... Yes, agree its so heartening when they enjoy what we make for them.

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    Replies
    1. I feel more and more inspired to cook/bake for them everytime they reward me with their happy smiles and good appetites.

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  9. That's really the sweetest compliment isn't it! When they love it so much and eat lots of it :D

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    Replies
    1. Been baking them loads of healthy loafs and muffins lately and they love them all. Delighted!

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  10. Wow - you knead it yourself! I have a bread maker and think I'm doing great when I cook up a loaf. Doing everything by hand though - wow. ;-)

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    Replies
    1. It's hard work, I literally work out when I make bread! No need to visit the gym. Hehe.

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  11. Using a bread maker is much easier but the fun of kneading a bread is a different kind of fun:D

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    Replies
    1. Haha I wouldn't call it fun, but it does feel like the bread is baked with love (and sweat!).

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  12. your son itelyu... i wanna eat him like the raisin bread.. so CUTE!!! :D

    when do i get to try ur bread?!

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  13. Ahh....its so nice to bake your own bread. You can always have freshly baked ones!

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  14. That is such a soft, and fluffy loaf! I love how your kid eat the bread - start from the middle! ;) I wish I can have a slice of your bread right now!

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  15. Do you want a lodger?? I want to wake up to homemade raisin bread too!! I can only imagine how creative your kids will be when they get a bit bigger with you for a Mum.

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