Breads

Buns near the oven

homemade bread,baking,fireplace
Bread time

At least once a week, its bread making time. During the winter, with the fire in full use, the floor around the firebox is always toasty warm. A good place to let the dough relax and rise.

Next step after the first and second rise it to get it into pans. I then use a simple proof box to keep the dough warm and slightly moist for a proper rise. I recently started using a thermometer to monitor temps, to make sure the box does not get too hot or cool. Similar one by same company seen here on Amazon.  Getting too warm is the problem as its difficult to reverse from that if left too long. The comfort zone is 95-105ºF with humidity just enough to form moisture on the sides of the container, yet not allowing the moisture to runs down (too damp).

bread making,homemade recipes
making bread using a proof box

The thermometer comes with a probe so that the temps can be monitored. This thermometer is also ideal for cooking meats in the oven, slow cooker or bbq.

I’ve used it once so far to check on a turkey when it reached 170ºF and stayed there for about 10 extra minutes. After the turkey was out of the oven, I let it set for 20 mins, covered in foil, then cut the turkey up. Not only was it the juiciest turkey I ever had, but the leftovers in the fridge for days afterwards we equally amazing. Never dry.

Well I got the bread out and put in a white Yogurt Cake. While that baked I make a batch of chocolate peanut butter pocket cookies and made a batch of cinnamon rolls. Cake came out and before I could get the cinnamon rolls in, the bottom element in the stove blew up.

Kenmore eletric range,oven element replacement DIY
Stove element burned out

It would take an hour and a bit to get into town, buy a replacement and come back home. I would lose the cinnamon rolls (baking powder). So I turned on the broiler and using my thermometer I controlled the temperature of the oven to bake the cinnamon rolls.

cinnamon rolls,home baking
cinnamon rolls

They turned out ok.  A little overbaked on the top, picture above shows the bottom side.

Then off to town to find an element replacement. First stop was Canadian Tire and they had a few there, $46 tax in, but I wasn’t sure as it was not an exact replacement. It was some foreign brand and all it said was 3000 watts. I left and went to the local business, Robertsons Electrical. They had a whole wall of elements and the fellow there pointed one out and said it would do but not an exact same shape. He said if it were his stove he would use it. Price $28 tax in. That was good enough for me.

So now I’m back home, element clipped back in place and the final batch of chocolate peanut butter pocket cookies is out of the oven.

All is right with the world. 🙂

A Newfoundland born Canadian with a life long interest in woodworking, baking and anything else that peaks my curiosity.

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