There are few virtues a man can possess more erotic than culinary skill.
Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses by Isabel Allende


Starting in November of 2009 Michelle at the Big Black Dog formed a group to bake its way through Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Zoë François and Jeff Hertzberg. I loved Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, so I signed up with the group. Michelle first had us do a couple of warm-up assignments, which were my first attempt at blogging. The first "Official" post was on January 15, 2010, and it was followed by 41 more, on the 1st and 15th of each month. When I signed on I said I would bake the whole book, and like Horton (the elephant) I meant what I said and I said what I meant. I finished baking the book on October 1, 2011. Having completed that challenge, now I am just going to do some stuff, and post about it. As part of that stuff Michelle is posing a new, and different, challenge for us each month.

But I am still baking bread, mostly the Five Minutes a Day kind, and if you would like to try the Five Minutes a Day bread method there are some links, with recipes, in the right hand column to get you started. Please give it a try.

But first, a word from my sponsor . . .
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This day be bread and peace my lot.
Alexander Pope

How can a nation be great if its bread tastes like Kleenex?
Julia Child

Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven.
Yiddish proverb
(And some are only half baked.)

There is no love sincerer than the love of food.
George Bernard Shaw, via Sharon

Of all smells, bread; of all tastes, salt.
George Herbert

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Pumpkin Brioche

Posted by Guff

I made a batch of pumpkin brioche last Thursday using egg substitute and canola oil.  I baked 1/2 the batch on Friday, which was probably too much for the loaf pan, being over 2 1/2 pounds, but the loaf was spectacular.  It took longer to bake, of course.  I used the amount of spices recommended in the book--not overpowering, but very good.  Depends on what you are going for.  I made muffins with the dough on Sunday, and they turned out well.  Today I used the last of the batch, about a pound, to make a small cinnamon-craisin bread.   I rolled the dough out into a rectangle, mixed some sugar and  cinnamon, sprinkled it on the dough and threw on some craisins and rolled it up. 

Turned out great.  
 



17 comments:

  1. MichelleNovember 11, 2009 at 1:08 AM

    My broiche rose more then I thought it would too! Love our addition of the craisins! Looks delicious!

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  2. SavoringTime in the KitchenNovember 15, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    Your cinnamon craisin bread looks wonderful! Great idea.

    ~Susan

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  3. MeganNovember 15, 2009 at 10:08 AM

    Love the craisin bread! I made a swirl bread too but forgot raisins. You got a much better looking swirl then I. Great job!

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  4. UnknownNovember 15, 2009 at 1:04 PM

    Craisins! What a great idea!

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  5. MichelleNovember 15, 2009 at 2:36 PM

    Is that picture of aa frog with a fish in it's mouth in your sidebar? I can't blow the picture up but it sure looks like a gold fish to me. Or maybe my new glasses aren't working this morning!

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  6. GwenNovember 15, 2009 at 3:00 PM

    Great idea to add the craisins. The finished product is a thing of beauty!

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  7. Bread Over HeelsNovember 15, 2009 at 4:17 PM

    Great looking loaf... The craisins with the cinnamon and pumkin scream thanksgiving bread!

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  8. JoanneNovember 15, 2009 at 5:27 PM

    I love the sound of this cinnamon-craisin version! I will have to do that in my next loaf.

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  9. KimNovember 15, 2009 at 5:33 PM

    I too love the addition of cinnamon and craisins. I am really loving all these variations that everyone did. This would be perfect for Thanksgiving :D

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  10. Heather S-GNovember 15, 2009 at 7:19 PM

    Awesome!! It looks so pretty all swirly like that!

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  11. Cathy (Bread Experience)November 15, 2009 at 8:32 PM

    I love the swirl bread with the craisins. What a wonderful idea! Beautiful!

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  12. UnknownNovember 15, 2009 at 9:58 PM

    wow...that looks great! I wanted to copy your idea with the muffins but I chicken out at the last minute. I didn't know how long to let it rise or how long to cook it. your cinnamon craisin loaf looks wonderful

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  13. JudyNovember 15, 2009 at 11:35 PM

    The cinnamon craisin loaf looks so delicious! What a great variation.

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  14. RJ FlamingoNovember 16, 2009 at 1:21 AM

    What a creative variation! Very pretty, too!

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  15. JudyNovember 16, 2009 at 9:30 AM

    Your swirl is pretty. Looks yummy.

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  16. GA JaneNovember 16, 2009 at 10:28 AM

    Thanks for the great idea! Nice Loaf

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  17. CristieNovember 20, 2009 at 11:12 AM

    I love the craisins in this dough! It is so beautiful and fits the flavors so well- just perfect.

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