BREAD

HINTS FOR MAKING BREAD AND SCONES
1. When making bread with bread soda, buttermilk or sour milk should be used; when making it with baking powder, whole milk (sweet milk) must be used.
2. Brown bread can be of a light or coarse texture, the amount of wholemeal varying according to taste. A greater proportion of wholemeal to plain flour will make the bread more nutritious; it will also produce a coarser bread.
3. The addition of bran makes bread very rich and nutritious.
4. To vary scones, add a half cup or so of grated cheese or dried fruit.
5. Always set bread or scones out on a lightly floured baking sheet or casserole dish. And keep in mind that too much flour can spoil their taste and appearance.
6. Brushing the scones or bread with milk or egg and milk, gives them a betterappearance. If egg is used in the recipe, always keep back a little, add some milk and a pinch of salt, beat together with a fork, and use this to brush the pieces to be baked.
7. To get a soft crust on bread put the dough in a casserole. Keep the lid on during cooking, allowing an extra five minutes cooking time.
8. Always set baked bread out on a wire rack as soon as it is baked or else stand it on end. This is to make sure that it will cool all around. If set out otherwise it will become soggy.
9. Bread or scones can be made in large quantities. When they’re baked and cooled, they can be wrapped and put into the freezer.

SPEEDY BREAD

Ingredients: 1lb plain or self-raising flour 500g 4 cups
2 level teaspoons baking powder (if using plain flour)
pinch of salt
10 fl oz sweet milk 275ml 11/4 cups

Method: Lightly flour a baking sheet. Sieve flour and salt into a bowl. Add baking powder (if used). Make a well in the centre and add almost all the milk; mix to a loose dough. If necessary add more milk. Turn onto a floured board and knead for five minutes until smooth. Shape dough into a circular shape; make cross-cut on surface and place on floured baking sheet, put into the oven. The bread is baked when it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom (40–45 minutes). When baked, place on wire rack to cool.

SWEET BREAD

Method: As for speedy bread, steps 1 and 2. Cut and rub butter or margarine into the flour. Add sugar and egg yolk. Add milk and mix to a loose dough. Continue steps 4 and 5 as for Speedy Bread.