Katie's Cottage

I WON The Big Cake Bake Off!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:04:00 +0000

Katie's Journal

Entry Date 19/10/2011

Well as you can tell from the title of this post I came first place in the Big Cake Bake Off at work, all thanks to the delicious Chocolate Cheese Cake recipe by Nigella Lawson!
There were 2 categories to win in, 'Best Tasting' and 'Best Presented', Scott's very alcoholic Gateau tied first place with mine for the Best Tasting cake and the chocolate Echidna came in Best Presented. (see pictures below)
The 'Match Sticks' received an honourable mention but didn't come in any place, I must admit I was very nervous when they were brought out for judging; and I was slightly displaced as Match Sticks aren't really a cake per say.
But I was over the moon when they called out my delicious chocolate cheese cake as first place for Best Tasting! And so many people raved about my cake, my chest swelled with pride and my hands shook for at least an hour afterwards from the excitement!

I've never won anything before, so my winning streak starts here!
If you would like the recipe for Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Cheese Cake (it's award winning!) please go to Katie's Recipes.

The cakes at the competition

Award Winning Chocolate Cheese Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:43:00 +0000

Chocolate Cheesecake

This is the recipe for Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Cheesecake, I made this scrumptious cake and it came first place for Best Tasting in a cake baking competition (see Katie's Journal for more info).

Now a few things I'd like to point out before you start making this cake, consider the size of your spring form pan; this cake is indeed very rich.
I used a large spring form pan so that the cake was thin and would serve more people (over 20) for the competition. This turned out to be an excellent idea as 1 slice was enough for one person and none was wasted, whereas if the spring form is smaller the cake will be larger in height, meaning your servings are going to be quite big.
So consider your audience and the meal your having before hand, are they going to feel over full if you serve a large slice after a roast lamb dinner?
I like to stick with the old saying 'Less is More'. Although a large slice with a cup of tea in the afternoon never goes astray!

Also I didn't put an exact measurement of sour cream in as I was half asleep baking this at midnight the night before the competition, so when I tasted the mixture before pouring into the spring form pan; it was too sour. I added extra dark melted chocolate to balance it out.
This made the cake richer in chocolate but it tasted amazing, and I noticed that Nigella's cake in her picture was much lighter in colour than mine. I felt that this was fine. So should you find your cake mixture not quite rich enough, add more chocolate and no harm done.

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE BASE

· 125g digestive biscuits

· 60g butter

· 1 tablespoon cocoa

FOR THE FILLING

· 175g dark chocolate, chopped small

· 500g Philadelphiacream cheese

· 150g caster sugar

· 1 tablespoon

· Custard powder

· 3 large eggs

· 3 large egg yolks

· 150ml sour cream

· 1/2 teaspoon cocoa, dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water

FOR THE GLAZE (OPTIONAL)

· 75g dark chocolate, finely chopped

· 125ml double cream

· 1 teaspoon golden syrup

METHOD

Serves: Makes 10-12 slices

1. To make the base, process the biscuits to make rough crumbs (or put in a zip lock bag and beat with a rolling pin) and then add the butter and cocoa.

2. Process again until it makes damp, clumping crumbs and then tip them into a 23cm spring form tin. Press the biscuit crumbs into the bottom of the tin to make an even base and put into the freezer while you make the filling.

3. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180ºC. Put a kettle on to boil. Melt the chocolate either in a microwave or double boiler, and set aside to cool slightly.

4. Beat the cream cheese to soften it, and then add the sugar and custard powder, beating again to combine. Beat in the whole eggs and then the yolks, and the sour cream. Finally add the cocoa dissolved in hot water and the melted chocolate, and mix to a smooth batter.

5. Take the spring form tin out of the freezer and line the outside of the tin with a good layer of cling wrap, and then another layer of strong foil over that. This will protect it from the water bath.

6. Sit the spring form tin in a roasting pan and pour in the cheesecake filling. Fill the roasting pan with just-boiled water to come about halfway up the cake tin, and bake in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour. The top of the cheesecake should be set, but the underneath should still have a wobble to it.

7. Peel away the foil and cling wrap wrapping and sit the cheesecake in its tin on a rack to cool. Put in the fridge once it's no longer hot, and leave to set, covered with cling wrap, overnight. Let it lose its chill before un-springing the cheesecake to serve.

8. To make the chocolate glaze, very gently melt the chopped chocolate, cream and syrup. When the chocolate has nearly melted, take off the heat and whisk it to a smooth sauce. Let it cool a little, and then Jackson Pollock it over the chocolate cheesecake on its serving plate. Use the remaining glaze as an accompanying sauce.

Big Cake Bake Off 11/10/11

noreply@blogger.com (Katie's Cottage) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:35:00 +0000

Katie's Journal

Entry Date 11/10/11

I received an email at work today that there will be a big cake bake off this Friday!
Apparently each team has to nominate somebody to bake the best cake with chances of winning, and my team nominated me!
I'm SO excited, a thousand cake recipes whirled through my head at the thought of a baking competition; should I do the traditional Victorian Sandwich?
Or A big fat Chocolate Mud Cake?
Or one of my own creations, the Cheese-less Cheesecake?
My sister highly recommended I do her famous Mars Bar Cheesecake, it is rather devilish and extremely rich so I'm thinking maybe not this time, if the judge has a slice of that cake they wont be able to try any others. Although on the other hand? hahaha no that's a bit evil and I'd like to win on my own merits.

My partner strongly urged me to make the Victorian Sandwich which is his favourite, due to the fluffy texture and the home made strawberry jam. But again I really want to wow the judges and do something no body else will think of.

http://missyeshref.wordpress.com/tag/nigella-lawson/

With melted chocolate and cheesecakes swirling in my mind I went to my old favourite Nigella Lawson, who is the master artist of deserts amongst many other things. And of course Nigella did not let me down, I'm going to bake Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Cheesecake. The smooth rich creamy taste of cheesecake with the tingling sense of chocolate delighting every bite! mmmm I think this one will be the winner!

I'll post photo's and keep you updated!

Wish me luck!!

Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime Cider

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:58:00 +0000

Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime Cider

For all us unit dwellers who haven't quite mastered the art of home made cider yet, I have come across REKORDERLIG!
A Swedish cider range sold here in Australia, Rekorderlig is to best describe it:
Like being punched in the face with a punnet of strawberries!

Once you pop the top, a mouth watering flavour of strawberry like you've never known before; fills your nostrils and excites the senses!
A strong and sweet strawberry kick with a slight (and only slight) twist of lime, I have tried every strawberry cider available at the liquor store and this by far, is the most spot on with real strawberry flavour. It doesn't taste artificial, it's not too over powering and leaves your taste buds wanting more!
I highly recommend the Rekorgerlig range as no label has brought me disappointment, for cider lovers and even those who aren't; this is a drink worth trying before you die.

Recommended to serve with ice and several fresh mint leaves, is especially nice after a hot day working in the garden!

Mealy Bugs

noreply@blogger.com (Katie's Cottage) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:32:00 +0000

Mealy Bugs!

http://www.homehelp4u.net/tipsandplanning/australian_garden_pests.php

Mealy Bugs are my number one garden enemy!

The just love to much on my tomato stalks and other vegetable plants.

You can spot a Mealy quite easily, they are white and fluffy, about half a centimetre in length, they breed very fast and in large numbers on the under side of leaves. They feed on the stalks of your plant and eventually kill it, a good indication of having a Mealy infestation, there are almost always tiny ants around helping them. Joined forces! Completely evil I know!

Now I'm no backyard expert but when you find one I urge you to kill it immediately! Either squish it with your thumb or spray it with some white oil.

I tried using a home made mixture of chilli, oil and garlic in a spray bottle; but this failed on my poor tomato plant. The nozzle clogged up with garlic and chilli and then it went off because I left it outside for a couple of days. I went to empty it and wash it out, it was such a horrible smell! It was like sick with garlic! Blagh! I'm sure a non-forgetful person would have thought to put it in the fridge rather than leave it outside.

My Dad recommended I use dish-washing liquid with some warm water, I haven't tried this yet but I'm assured this works brilliantly!

Instead I opted for White Oil, I sprayed it right on the little buggers and they died, the next day only their fluffy little corpses were left behind MWAHAHAHAHA!

Welcome To My Garden!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:46:00 +0000

I've had some great triumphs and some sad disappointments in my garden, one of my biggest enemies is the weather.
Living in Darwin Australia, we have 2 different weather types here; Wet and Dry.
From blasting heat to severe down pour, and every day I'm battling through it to keep my garden running, it's not all bad though; it's exciting when I can get something to start growing and enjoy the fruits of my labour.

This is my patio where I have all of my vegetables and herbs growing, my partner loves chilli's and has 4 plants currently growing madly in pots.

My Patio

French Taragon when I first planted it in August 2011

French Tarragon October 2011

Frog Pond 06/10/2011

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:45:00 +0000

Katie’s Journal

Entry date 06/10/11

This morning while watering my garden, Ribbet our green tree frog (who lives in the tomato tower) popped his head out to receive the morning mist from my daily watering. And it got me thinking about how small his little home is, and how much Ribbet and his little family depends on my daily watering; what would happen to poor Ribbet if we went on holiday and he was left without his daily watering?

This thought saddened me, so I’m seriously contemplating building a frog pond in my garden for Ribbet and his family.

I watched a youtube video on ‘How to Build a Frog Pond’ and it gave me some inspiration, I looked into purchasing a fibreglass pond from the local warehouse but it was $200 which is much more than I am willing to spend.

So I think it will be another build-it-yourself job!

The youtube video instructions were to dig a hole, remove sharp stones and roots, lay large bricks to outline the pond, then cover the area with black plastic tarp stuff. Then back-fill any loose plastic with dirt to hold it down (not where the water will be of course), fill with water plants, climbing rocks and water and VOILA! You have a frog pond!

I’m thinking the water will need circulation to avoid it going stagnant, so possibly a pump? Also a water feature would look nice, with little solar lights etc.

Yes I do think Ribbet would enjoy this, I’ll take some pictures of where I’m planning to dig up the garden and draw up some plans, it sounds fairly simple and easy, but I’ve been known to be over ambitious about plans.

Wish me luck!

Love Katie

Katie's Lane

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:32:00 +0000

If your slightly mad but your heart is full of love, then you might find yourself walking down Katie's Lane. Read my reviews on wine, food, films, books and much more!Check out my latest column and feel free to have your say! Reviews: Wine Books Films Food ...

Katie's Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:31:00 +0000

Take a look through my cook book and find some truly delicious recipes! With handy tips and helpful guides, I can help you bake the perfect cake!

Making fresh homemade bread from scratch is not only extremely satisfying and tasty, it is also amazingly easy.

Throw away those bread machines and make it with a bit of love, it is doubly satisfying to know you haven't just lumped in pre-mix, added water and pressed a button.

This easy recipe makes approximately 2 incredible tasting fresh loaves.

Ingredients

6.5 cups plain or bakers flour
1 tbsp salt
3.5 tbsp soft/gently melted butter or lard
2.5 cups lukewarm water
2 sachet (14g) yeast
1 tablespoon caster sugar

Method

In a small mixing bowl dissolve sugar in water and add yeast, stirring gently. Allow to sit for 5 or 10 minutes until bubbles form.
Place the plain flour into a large mixing bowl and scoop out a small well to add the wet ingredients. Add the yeast mixture, salt and soft butter then mix together well until the dough has pulled together. Remove dough then thoroughly was/dry bowl to use later.
Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8 to 10 minutes or until dough has a soft, elastic feel.
Lightly grease the large bowl and place dough in it again. Cover with a damp cloth and leave in a warm, draught free place to rise for about 60 minutes or until dough has roughly doubled in size.
Punch dough down with your fist to deflate it, transfer again to lightly floured surface and divide into two equal pieces and roughly form into loaves in two lightly greased bread pans.
Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let them rise for another 45 minutes so they fill out into the shape of the bread pans.
Preheat oven to 200°C and bake for about 30 minutes or until the loaves look golden brown. The easiest way to tell if your bread is cooked is to tap the base of it with your knuckle. It will sound hollow if it is cooked.
Transfer the loaves onto a wire rack to cool immediately, don't leave them in the pan as they will sweat moisture which will soften the crust.

Katie's Cottage is currently under construction

noreply@blogger.com (Katie's Cottage) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:31:00 +0000

I apologise for any inconvenience caused, I hope to be up and running very soon!

The Cheese-less Cheesecake

noreply@blogger.com (Katie's Cottage) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:01:00 +0000

An absolute favourite of mine is the cheese-less cheesecake recipe!

You will need:
600ml Thickened cream
1/2 cup of lemon juice (for a fresher tang use freshly squeezed lemons and remove pips)
1 Can of sweetened condensed milk
1 packet of Scotch finger biscuits
1 Cadbury Chocolate Flake
Spring form cake tin
Butter

Grease the base of the spring form pan with butter first, so that it is easier to lift the cheese cake later.

Base:

You can either crush the scotch finger biscuits by hand or use a mortar and pestle, but do not crush the biscuits too fine as the base needs to have that biscuit texture.

Then add enough butter to the crushed biscuits to start forming a base in the bottom of your pan, the butter helps hold the crushed biscuits together, so the more butter the better!

Filling:
Using a mixer or beater, mix together the lemon juice and the condensed milk on a low setting until it is completely mixed (no liquid from the lemon juice should be showing).
Then blend Thickened cream until firm.
Fold both the cream and the lemon juice condensed milk together to make a thick consistency.
Pour filling on top of biscuit base and make sure it is even, so that it looks nice for when serving.

Decorating:
Using the chocolate flake but do not open the packet (to avoid mess) crush the flake whilst still in packet, crush as little or much as you like as this will be your decoration.
Open one end of the flake packet and lightly sprinkle the contents onto the cheesecake, then cover with cling wrap or foil and leave to set in fridge over night.
The longer you leave in the fridge the firmer your cake will be-so this is best prepared at least a day in a half before serving. But the reward from your tasty cheesecake, your friends will be begging for the recipe!

Note:
Always prepare the biscuit base first as this can be timely and the filling cannot sit aside for too long without needing to be mixed again.
Also the more lemon juice you add the tangier the cake will be, but be warned do not too much as the cake will come out sloppy and hard to eat. A firm cheesecake is a good cheesecake.
For more decorating ideas, I like to make chocolate swirls and designs to place on the cake.

Christmas Eggnog

noreply@blogger.com (Katie's Cottage) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 06:53:00 +0000

This recipe kindly supplied by Auki Henry.

Please note that this eggnog is a very potent alcoholic cocktail! Be mindful to drink in moderation, it goes down very easily!

Alcoholic Eggnog

( Approx 16 serves )

Ingredients:

8 large eggs
1 cup white sugar
1 cup white rum
3 cups full cream milk
3 cups whisky
2 cups heavy cream
Fresh ground nutmeg to taste

Method:

Separate the egg yolks from the whites and place into separate bowls.
Beat egg yolks with 1/2cup of the sugar, set aside.
Heat milk till it is just boiling then remove from heat, immediately add the yolk/sugar mix and whisk vigorously (this will let it cook slightly).
Set this mixture aside and let it cool thoroughly.
Beat egg-whites until stiff, then mix in other 1/2 cup of the sugar.
Pour the cooled yolk mixture into the whites and mix together thoroughly.
Stir in white rum slowly
Stir in whiskey slowly
Stir in cream slowly

Serve chilled and sprinkle nutmeg on the top.

Had a hard day at work? Try Katie's favourite relaxation tips!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie's Cottage) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:56:00 +0000

Had a hard day at work?

Feet, back and neck sore?

Frustrated and tired?

Want to know some helpful relaxation tips?

Below is a "how to relax step-by-step guide" for Parents and anyone who works!

We all know that working is the major cause of stress, and lately it seems that we have been turning the old phrase "Work to Live" around the other way.
This article should relate to everyone because everyone that works or has a family to look after, has to admit they get under the pump.
From tradesmen right down to florists, everyone has stress in their work or home-life.
As of yesterday I was a banker for nearly 2 years and I can tell you the amount of stress from just serving customers alone was enough to pull your hair out, let alone the amount of pressure put on tellers to sell products and meet their targets.
This is the kind of stress you don't mean to take home with you but sometimes you do.

You will need:

A bath
Candles (scented preferred but this can be expensive if you are having baths regularly so tea-light candles are also acceptable)
An oil burner
Essential oils
Bath salts (again an expense that may not be a luxury for you, so Epsom salts are just as good if not better!)
Bubble bath or bodywash (are great for getting bubbles which are very essential)
A glass of wine or cup of tea (what ever you prefer)

Step One:
Your first step out the door from work should be the one that makes you smile, forget your entire day. Forget the crappy customers, the deadlines and the paperwork due tomorrow and that pain in the butt co-worker. Walk to your car (bus, bike or walk), go home listening to your favourite music.

Step Two:
When you get home, take your shoes off and run your self a bath. Make sure there are plenty of bubbles and bath salts to accompany.

Step Three:
Light some candles and essential oils to get the mood to be relaxing, this may feel silly the first time you do this but trust me, you'll be wanting to do this at least twice a week if not more.
Add some music to your relaxing atmosphere, obviously something calm and soothing as not to disturb the theme.

Step Four:
Pour yourself a glass of wine (or a cup of tea if you prefer), strip down, hop in the bath and soothe your troubles away as every ounce of hot water soaks your skin.

Questions, Tips and Alternatives:

How long is an appropriate time in the bath?
It depends, you'll probably find the first time a fairly short one because your learning to do something new.
My sister believes a glass of wine is long enough time, myself I sometimes wait for my CD to finish before I get out.
You can spend as long or little as you like but for it to work you have to relax, let everything go and drift away. Some people might get bored and wonder what they should be thinking about.
I always like to think about dream holidays, I like to close my eyes and pretend I'm soaking in a bath in Tuscany, or pretend I'm in Germany in winter time and my hot bath is my only source of heat. Or you can plan your next holiday adventure just in your head, or think about someone who makes you feel happy and warm. It's all up to you!

More tips:

Turn off your mobile phone
If you have other members of your family in your home put a "do not disturb" sign on the bathroom door
Try to have your relaxation bath when no one else is home
Do not put too much hot water in the bath, this can be harmful especially if you are drinking alcohol
Be responsible when having alcohol in the bath, it could be dangerous if you fall asleep
Be careful not to fall asleep in the bath, as beautifully comfortable you may be; falling asleep can be dangerous.

Okay I don't have a bath now what?
No problem, so you can't soak your entire body in this next handy tip but it is still an excellent way of relaxing. And even for those who can't be bothered drawing bath can use this method.

You will need:

A plastic tub or bucket (deep enough to cover your ankles in water (without overspill) and round enough to move your feet around comfortably. I found one for only $8 at Woolworths, you can try Bunnings as they have a larger variety too)
Essential Oils
Bubble bath or bodywash
A towel
A book or favourite movie
2 golf balls
Bath salts or Epsom salt

Step One:
With your plastic tub, place 4 drops of any essential oils of your liking (my favourite is lavender) in the hot/lukewarm water, you can also add scented bodywash to make bubbles and mix in with the other scents. There is no harm in having several different scents.

Step Two:
You'll need to place a folded towel down on the floor on front of the couch, close enough to place you feet comfortably. Place the bucket or tub on the towel as not to cause accidental spillage on the floor.

Step Three:
Then get yourself either a glass of wine or cup of tea, put on your favourite movie or grab a book, settle yourself on the couch.
Place your feet in the tub and soak them for as long as you wish.
If your feet are sorer than usual another handy tip is to get 2 golf balls and place them at the bottom of your tub, and roll both feet on each golf ball, massaging them with as much or little pressure as you wish.

Why are Bath Salts essential?
Bath salts or even Epsom salt in particular are an essential for sore and tired feet, they contain mineral magnesium sulfate which has been known as a great relaxant, drawing out toxins and relaxing sore and tired muscles. These can be bought at your local supermarket.

Why is "me" time important?
I would be naive to believe that we all have time to do this without the exception of children as well, so your probably thinking "yeah well, she obviously doesn't have kids and a husband to feed when she gets home form work" this is true I don't have children but I do have a husband who is sweet enough to let me have a bath before cooking tea or even letting me have the night off.
No arguments need to be had over this, just simply explain that you have had a long day and need a little "me" time. And if your partner's argument is the same why not share the experience? It can be a lot more fun and still relaxing having two in the bath ;)
As for children, this I have taken into consideration, obviously running yourself a bath straight after picking the kids up from school is not ideal as they'll be needing help with homework, dinner needs to be cooked, clothes and lunches prepared for the next day.
So by the time you have finished doing all of these things for your family and putting your kids to bed, you are probably absolutely run ragged.
This is an excellent time for you to either soak your feet in a tub or draw yourself a bath, as tired as you may be it is absolutely essential that you take time out for yourself.
Pick up a magazine while soaking your feet and or have that well earned glass of red while reading a chapter of the book you got for Christmas 2 years ago and haven't had time to read.

"Me" time is very good for the body and soul and you'll find that after doing this a couple of times a week you will be feeling fresh in the mornings and looking forward to your "Me" time in the evenings.

My online store will be up and running in the 2011, for all of the essentials for relaxation I have listed above; so stay updated for more news and articles.
If you have any helpful tips or suggestions or comments please feel free to leave a reply below.

Katie's Cottage encourages the responsible drinking of alcohol

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

noreply@blogger.com (Katie's Cottage) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:25:00 +0000

I’m proud to say I read this book to the end, despite it's frustrating writing style and I was bitterly disappointed.

The way it was written was confusing and annoying, the book is the only novel written by Sylvia Plath and was originally published under the fake name of Victoria Lucas as a semi biography on her own life.

She talks about her slow descent into madness, makes great detail about her failed suicide attempt and her electric shock treatment in a psychiatric home.

I found the book confusing because of the way it was written, jumping back and forth to random events and poor description of the events taking place. All in all I'd say it didn't make much sense to me.

I can only guess that Sylvia’s writing style might be presented this way to reflect what she was going through and relive minor details of her breakdown.

Sylvia Plath took her own life only a month after the US published version was released, so really she can't be blamed as her head wasn't really in the game.

I don't know why I felt disappointed when I read this book, it's not like you hope for a happy ending when you read something so depressing, but I assumed that from it's hype of being a well known classic would have made it a memorable read. But it wasn't.

Rich Chocolate Mud Cheesecake

noreply@blogger.com (Katie's Cottage) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:07:00 +0000

This one was given to me by my partner Auki, it's an old favourite of his family, and incredibly addictive, especially if you are a keen chocaholic like I am! Great served with fresh whipped cream and berries!

Ingredients

125 g chocolate biscuits, crushed
125 g chocolate chip cookies, crushed
100 g butter, melted
100 g dark chocolate, melted
2 x 250 g packet cream cheese, softened
2 x 300 g carton sour cream
extra 300 g dark chocolate, melted
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
6 eggs, lightly beaten
4 tablespoons cocoa powder

Method

Lightly grease a 24 cm spring-form tin. Line the base and side with non-stick baking paper.
Combine crushed biscuits, butter and chocolate in a bowl; mix well.
Press the mixture over base of prepared tin. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until firm.
Beat the cream cheese, sour cream, extra chocolate, sugar, eggs and
cocoa in a small bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Place the tin on an oven tray; pour the cream cheese mixture into the crumb crust.
Cook in a slow oven, 150ºC, for about 1 hour, or until filling is just firm and turn off the heat. Leave in the oven to cool slowly with door cracked slightly open.
Cover cheesecake, and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Note. The cheesecake may crack on cooling if it cools too quickly, hence leaving in oven to gently cool down.

Homestyle White Bread Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Katie's Cottage) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:20:00 +0000

6.5 cups plain or bakers flour
1 tbsp salt
3.5 tbsp soft/gently melted butter or lard
2.5 cups lukewarm water
2 sachet (14g) yeast
1 tablespoon caster sugar

Method

In a small mixing bowl dissolve sugar in water and add yeast, stirring gently. Allow to sit for 5 or 10 minutes until bubbles form.
Place the plain flour into a large mixing bowl and scoop out a small well to add the wet ingredients. Add the yeast mixture, salt and soft butter then mix together well until the dough has pulled together. Remove dough then thoroughly was/dry bowl to use later.
Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8 to 10 minutes or until dough has a soft, elastic feel.
Lightly grease the large bowl and place dough in it again. Cover with a damp cloth and leave in a warm, draught free place to rise for about 60 minutes or until dough has roughly doubled in size.
Punch dough down with your fist to deflate it, transfer again to lightly floured surface and divide into two equal pieces and roughly form into loaves in two lightly greased bread pans.
Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let them rise for another 45 minutes so they fill out into the shape of the bread pans.
Preheat oven to 200°C and bake for about 30 minutes or until the loaves look golden brown. The easiest way to tell if your bread is cooked is to tap the base of it with your knuckle. It will sound hollow if it is cooked.
Transfer the loaves onto a wire rack to cool immediately, don't leave them in the pan as they will sweat moisture which will soften the crust.