Pain

J’ai goûté au pain de Tim dans un Potluck où nous fabriquions des affiches pour une manif. Et c’était cruellement bon. Je lui ai donc demandé la recette qu’il m’a envoyée après plusieurs supplications:

INGREDIENTS:

* 6 to 7 cups white flour
* 4 tablespoons sugar
* 1 tablespoon salt
* 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
* 4.5 teaspoons quick acting yeast
* 2 1/4 cups warm water
* Some vegetable oil

PREPARATION:
Mix 3 1/2 cups of flour with sugar, salt, shortening and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Add very warm water.  Mix until all water is integrated (I use a whisk for this, but getting your hands dirty is fun too), then add another cup of flour.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead, adding more flour as necessary to keep it from sticking, until smooth and elastic.  This will take about about 8 to 10 minutes. I use a timer to make sure I do it for that long because its important to have everything mixed in.  Place dough in a large oiled mixing bowl. Turn dough over so greased side is up. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled.  The sun works well, but I often use a desk lamp and shine it over the covered dough.  When dough is touched, an indentation should remain.

Punch dough down and form it into the shape you want.  For two good sized loaves, cut the dough in half with a knife.  Shape into a tube, then fold the ends underneath so that the top and sides are smooth. Place loaves, seam side down, in loaf pans (approximately 9 x 5 x 3-inch). Brush each loaf lightly with oil. Cover loosely with clean dish towels and let rise until double, or the size you desire. Preheat oven to 425°. Bake loaves on a low rack, so tops of pans are at the center of the oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Bread will sound hollow when lightly tapped.

Makes 2 loaves of bread.

Sauf que ni moi, ni Mariane appellée à la rescousse n’avions jamais fait de pain, ni de recettes en anglais. Après un échec (même pas vrai) dû à un oubli de “yeast”, la levure, nous avons pu fabriquer le meilleur pain du monde. C’était délicieux, moelleux, délicieux, moelleux. Snobs que nous sommes, nous avons dégusté la chose avec un gargantuesque fromage.

C’était même pas difficile!