Who would have thought one batch of dough could do so much?
I know that I’ve raved about this book before, but seriously—four different baked goods from a single batch of dough?? It’s ingenious!
On Saturday, I can mix up a batch or two of dough, leave it on the counter while we go on a family outing, and return home hours later to dough that has risen and started to deflate. Then, I just pop the covers on my containers and slip the dough into the fridge until I’m ready to use it.
So, let’s say that I’m making soup for dinner on Monday. I snag a lump of dough, let it rise on the counter for an hour or so, and then bake it up while the soup is cooking. Tuesday might be leftovers, so I lop off another hunk of dough and bake up a second loaf to go with that soup.
Wednesday might be grilled veggie pitas, so I shape another pound or so of dough into rounds and let them rise while I heat up my pizza stone in the oven. Fresh pita pockets for dinner!
Thursday morning, we can have fresh bagels, hot out of the oven (although, I have found that the bagels typically improve after resting for a day after baking and then getting toasted), and Friday can be pizza night.
Seriously, if I can pull it off with my writing schedule and two little ones underfoot, anyone can put fresh, healthy, inexpensive homemade bread on the table. Now, I’m not saying I’m above buying a loaf of sandwich bread at the store. I like a soft, fluffy store-bought loaf as much as the next all-American girl, but if you want something hearty and delicious that’s really going to hit that soft spot in your family’s heart, there’s nothing like homemade bread…
or bagels or pita or pizza!
The Baking-in-Five-Minutes-a-Day phenomenon is more than a fad. I swear, this book has changed my life! I can’t recommend it enough to busy homemakers and the busily home-at-heart.
I absolutely adore my copy. It's already taken on that floury patina of love that a baker's cookbooks tend to after years of adoration and use.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the time on the weekend when Brian's around, try the wheat stalk loaf. Or serve it when you have guests...talk about oohs and aahs!
This reminds me...I need to get a new batch of dough groovin'!