Attempt at Inor bread

[Inor]

As I mentioned in another thread, I am going to have Mrs Inor teach me to make bread. I have no idea what I am doing. But Mrs Inor has not let me in HER kitchen in about 20 years since the kids and I tried (unsuccessfully) to bake cookies for her one Mother's Day. She was literally cleaning up after that disaster for over 2 months! But this time it will be different. (I already promised.)

So, this evening's task is just to grinder up the flour. Tomorrow or Friday I will actually take my shot at the moon.

10346

Play on the Tractor all day (digging trenches for water lines) and grindering wheat all evening... God I LOVE Coronacation!

[TJC44]

"Old McInor had a Farm,
E-I-E-I-OO!
And on that farm he had some cows,
E-I-E-I-O!

Old McInor had a Farm,
E-I-E-I-OO!
And on that farm he had some goats,
E-I-E-I-O!"

[Innkeeper]

Good to see your using your time wisely looking forward to hear about and see your journey.

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[Dwight55]

Take it from one who has been there . . . done that . . .

Want to get in good with Mama, . . . get kitchen privileges, . . .

Start out with something basic that is really hard to mess up . . . soup . . . chili . . . and ease up to something like pies or cakes. All of these are dumb stupid easy to conjure up, . . . at least to the edible plateau . . .

Once you have mastered a couple, . . . make the offer to supply "XYZ" for Saturday dinner since she will have shopped all morning and would like to be pampered with lunch on the table when she drags the loot and booty in.

Worked like a champ. Kitchen is mine any time I want it . . . and if I want to experiment . . . sometimes help comes along.

Downside??? As master pie maker . . . I get all the requests . . . same for chili . . . beef veggie soup . . . and I am THE grill person.

May God bless,
Dwight

PS: Bread is also dumb stupid easy to make . . . provided you have a kitchen aid mixer to do the kneading . . . lots of recipes out there for "easy" bread. Most important part of the whole thing is whether you use yeast (careful not to kill it with water too hot . . . use a thermometer until you "get a feel for it" . . . or you use a sourdough starter . . . which is more complicated but makes a good loaf of bread.

[BucketBack]

My Uncle Tom McDonald had a farm / stables / motel in Kentucky.

We sang that song a lot, he was not much of a fan of it.

[Inor]

So.... I made the bread 2 nights ago and I have to say, I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

Now about the adventure of how I got there...

I found the instructions on the Interwebs and it was not real clear on what order or exactly how your supposed to do each step. So I improvised as best I could. It said to mix some water and honey and yeast first. I carefully measured out the water and put it in a bowl.

We have a bunch of half-gallon jugs of honey in our bunker, so I took one of those to use for the honey. The problem was, the honey was a bit old and all the honey had crystalized in the jug. That stuff was harder than bullets! I asked Mrs Inor what to do and she said to just heat it up and it would return to liquid form. Since the jug the honey came in was too tall to fit in the microwave, I put it in the dishwasher and turned it to the pots and pans cycle. That worked like a champ, but Mrs Inor was less than thrilled when she found out what I had done. Regardless, I carefully measured out the honey, plus gave it a few extra squirts just to be safe.

Measuring the yeast, the instructions called for 11 grams of yeast. I am not sure how much that is in American so I just added 2 of the yeast packets I found in the cupboard. After I added the yeast, I discovered the yeast packets said each one contained 21 grams. But I figured what the hell... 42 grams is not THAT much more than 11 grams.

Next, the instructions said to mix 7 cups of flour with some salt in a large bowl. So, I put 7 cups of flour and the appropriate amount of salt into Mrs Inor's KitchenAid mixer. That did not work well at all. As soon as I turned it on, the flour exploded all over the kitchen. since I had no way to measure how much flour escaped, I just went with what remained for the bread. (That decision would come back to haunt me later.)

I got everything mixed together, carefully following the instructions (except where noted above). The instructions said it should be doughy, but not sticky. Mine was sticky as hell, to the point that I could not pull my hands apart without first running them under warm water. I am pretty sure the dough had formed a vacuum with my hands because there is no way anything a human might consume would be that sticky. I am thinking that was due to the exploding flour. So I added another cup or so of flour. (Actually I am not really sure how much I added because by that point I flying on a wing and a prayer and had given up on measuring.)

So then, the instructions called for it to sit in a large bowl and rise for 20 minutes. So I put it in the biggest bowl we have. (This bowl is big enough to bathe a 5 year old child in!) The dough ball looked ridiculously small sitting in the bottom of this big damn bowl. After about 5 minutes, the dough had done nothing so I retired to my garage to smoke part of a stogie and listen to the radio. When I came in about 15 or 20 minutes later, the dough had overtaken the big monster bowl I put it in! This damn thing looked like it was not just rising; IT WAS INVADING!!!

The instructions said to "punch it down, then let it rise again". I didn't just punch it, I beat the shit out of it! I then put it back into the monster bowl to rise for another 20 minutes. After decontaminating my hands again, I went back to the garage to finish my stogie. That time, it did not go quite as crazy but it still grew a LOT.

After 20 minutes, the instructions told me to divide it up into thirds and put it into 3 bread pans for a final rise then baking. The problem was, Mrs Inor only had 2 bread pans. So I put the last one in a frying pan... What the hell, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

After baking them, they look pretty retarded. But they taste surprisingly good for bread made from just fresh ground whole wheat. The honey really took off the sharp taste that fresh ground whole wheat usually has. Also, they were much lighter than usual whole wheat bread. So I am calling this one a qualified success.

10377

10378

P.S. When i cut a piece for Mrs Inor to try, she said it tasted good and then she quit talking to me for half a day. She must have forgiven me because she is talking to me now and even laughing about the whole effort.

[Innkeeper]

You know you can put the honey jug into a pan of water on the stove and bring it to a boil to heat it up......just saying.

The bread looked good if strange shaped lol nice work sir.

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[MountainGirl]

Congrats on your first go at breadmaking!
They look pretty good all things considered - and a big thanks for sharing the story of the making! Funny as hell!
The dishwasher? Really?? Couldn't scoop a little honey out to nuke in a dish?? The potential for disaster there is off the chart.
Glad it all worked out. You going to bake more anytime soon? :)

[Inor]

Congrats on your first go at breadmaking!
They look pretty good all things considered - and a big thanks for sharing the story of the making! Funny as hell!
The dishwasher? Really?? Couldn't scoop a little honey out to nuke in a dish?? The potential for disaster there is off the chart.
Glad it all worked out. You going to bake more anytime soon? :)

If I could have gotten it out of the bottle, there wouldn't have a problem to begin with! :biglaugh:

As far as baking more, it might be another 20 years before Mrs Inor even lets me near her kitchen again!

[Dwight55]

That looks really good, . . . and I'm not a fan of whole wheat bread, . . . even though it is what is usually in the kitchen these days.

It does not go south as quick as does white bread.

But we have kind of gone to the idea that I'll just gin up a stack of bread sticks or she'll make biscuits or cornbread if one of us really gets a hankering for bread.

Only thing I miss with the white bread is my PBJ sammiches.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Prepared One]

Note to self: Honey in the dishwasher, don't tell wife.

[MountainGirl]

If I could have gotten it out of the bottle, there wouldn't have a problem to begin with! :biglaugh:

As far as baking more, it might be another 20 years before Mrs Inor even lets me near her kitchen again!

Bottle?? In this house, honey never goes in any container that a spoon cant access - for that very reason.
Mrs Inor is a smart woman :biglaugh:

[Box of frogs]

I knew if I looked I would find a thread started on bread.
I’m going to ride along on this post Inor. Hope you don’t mind.

We made our scratch bread for the first time today.
Simple recipe
Flour- salt- yeast -water.
Cooked it in a Dutch oven. Turned out better than I expected.
Good survival skill to have learned.

21986

BoF

[Sasquatch]

You know they sell that stuff at the store, right?

[SOCOM42]

I was making bread 20 years ago and back, every day as a matter of fact, with a bread machine.

Made several kinds, used General Mills "All Trumps" and "Full Strength" bread flower.

Loved the raisin bread.

What is good about the machine is that you just fill it and forget it, except if you are adding raisins or other goodies to it.

The problem was that I started getting fat from it, big belly, had to stop.

I have made bread in a Dutch oven and regular oven also.

OK, now I have to dig out the machine and start again, have plenty of bakers yeast in the 30 below freezer.

Just need to get off my dead ass and do it.

[Slippy]

Inor is the modern day Renaisance Man! :beerchug:

[MountainGirl]

I knew if I looked I would find a thread started on bread.
I’m going to ride along on this post Inor. Hope you don’t mind.

We made our scratch bread for the first time today.
Simple recipe
Flour- salt- yeast -water.
Cooked it in a Dutch oven. Turned out better than I expected.
Good survival skill to have learned.

21986

BoF

Nice loaf! Simple recipes are the best, imo.

Any chance that Dutch Oven was on a bed of coals ?

22004

[SOCOM42]

Forgot to include this in last post.

Inor, you should try the bread flour that I listed in my last post here.

They make all the difference in the world in the end product.

[Box of frogs]

Nice loaf! Simple recipes are the best, imo.

Any chance that Dutch Oven was on a bed of coals ?

22004

No. The Dutch oven was preheated in the stove with the lid on before adding the dough.
I want to try this recipe outdoors on a wood fire with the Dutch oven just to check out how it does.
BoF

[MountainGirl]

No. The Dutch oven was preheated in the stove with the lid on before adding the dough.
I want to try this recipe outdoors on a wood fire with the Dutch oven just to check out how it does.
BoF

Good plan, and something I need to do also.
Having to learn, during a sideways situation, can only add to the stress.

[Michael_Js]

I love how easy the no kneed Dutch oven bread is too make! Too easy! :) I make that and then a garlic, onions, oil & spices marinade to dip it into. Yum...

[Box of frogs]

Good plan, and something I need to do also.
Having to learn, during a sideways situation, can only add to the stress.

100% agree.
Stress test your preps before SHTF so you can work out the bugs.
We pulled the plug on the breaker panel and ran the house on the generator for a day just to figure out how much of what could be run without killing the generator. Not to change the subject.
No back to bread…
I was pretty happy with the outcome texture and ease of making.
I want to try adding things for more flavor on the next batch

[MountainGirl]

I love how easy the no kneed Dutch oven bread is too make! Too easy! :) I make that and then a garlic, onions, oil & spices marinade to dip it into. Yum...

Recipe handy? And for the marinade too if ya have one LOL

[Inor]

Forgot to include this in last post.

Inor, you should try the bread flour that I listed in my last post here.

They make all the difference in the world in the end product.

I know the bread flour would help a lot. Mrs Inor uses it when she makes whatever it is she is baking. The problem is, I have over 300 pounds of hard red wheat put back and need to use it for something.

I do not particularly care for the taste of red wheat. Though mixing it with honey or even 50/50 with normal flour makes it MUCH better. I like the white wheat. But stupidly, I had already bought the red wheat by the time I discovered that. (Nobody ever accused me of being the sharpest crayon in the box.)

[SOCOM42]

I know the bread flour would help a lot. Mrs Inor uses it when she makes whatever it is she is baking. The problem is, I have over 300 pounds of hard red wheat put back and need to use it for something.

I do not particularly care for the taste of red wheat. Though mixing it with honey or even 50/50 with normal flour makes it MUCH better. I like the white wheat. But stupidly, I had already bought the red wheat by the time I discovered that. (Nobody ever accused me of being the sharpest crayon in the box.)

To justify the red, It is for SHTF, you are supposed to live off of it not really having enjoy it.

That is the price of long shelf life products.

[MountainGirl]

I know the bread flour would help a lot. Mrs Inor uses it when she makes whatever it is she is baking. The problem is, I have over 300 pounds of hard red wheat put back and need to use it for something.

I do not particularly care for the taste of red wheat. Though mixing it with honey or even 50/50 with normal flour makes it MUCH better. I like the white wheat. But stupidly, I had already bought the red wheat by the time I discovered that. (Nobody ever accused me of being the sharpest crayon in the box.)

What do you use to grind it?
I've always wanted to find a hand grinder -
And an elec one for while we still have da juice.

[SOCOM42]

What do you use to grind it?
I've always wanted to find a hand grinder -
And an elec one for while we still have da juice.

You can find a grinder that can go hand manual, electric, bicycle or gas for power.

The multi power type has a large crank wheel that is machined for a "V" belt, can go for gas to.

Double reduction on a gas job is needed to do the job right.

If you want the best cutters, get one that uses stone elements, steel is next in line.

Make sure that you get two or three sets of cutters, they do wear and you can break them.

You do have to run the grain through several times.

Try to avoid grinding on rainy days, the stuff will cake like hell.

In my beginning of prepping there was no real source of winter wheat whole grain available down to 50# bags

There was no internet to search for anything, so I went the rice and bean route.

I have a grinder, its intended use is for dent corn which I have a lot of, will use for making corn tortillas, corn muffins, etc..

I have a big hand meat grinder that I can use to break up the grain to a better feed size for the stone grinder.

Real old beans can be ground up and made edible, used a thickener to.

This one is on eBay, chink but cheap. Electric only with steel cutters.

22020

https://www.ebay.com/itm/155304813130?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1yS0XcekWQty_AK1V0WWOlw53&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=155304813130&targetid=1583904486362&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9001800&poi=&campaignid=15275224983&mkgroupid=131097072938&rlsatarget=pla-1583904486362&abcId=9300697&merchantid=670100856&gclid=CjwKCAjwoIqhBhAGEiwArXT7Kzm7GdFheSXN3s0YxTh_ t0iOcPKzdKeCNkBjmbP07T6D74YzX7TL4xoCnH4QAvD_BwE

[1skrewsloose]

To justify the red, It is for SHTF, you are supposed to live off of it not really having enjoy it.

That is the price of long shelf life products.

Reminds me of Crocodile Dundee out in the bush with the gal, he says, eat this you can live off of it, she says, tastes like shit, he says I said you can live off of it not that it tastes good.

[Inor]

What do you use to grind it?
I've always wanted to find a hand grinder -
And an elec one for while we still have da juice.

We have the Country Living grain mill.

https://pleasanthillgrain.com/country-living-grain-mill-wheat-grinder?msclkid=3deee780fd661cb89bca83a20547198f

Originally, we did not have it motorized. It works, but I quickly realized in a SHTF situation, hand cranking the grain mill to make flour I would starve to death. It is a LOT of work to grinder up enough wheat to make anything. I burned more calories milling flour than I got from eating whatever it was that Mrs Inor was making with it. So about a year later I put a motor on it. That works pretty well.

[Michael_Js]

Recipe handy? And for the marinade too if ya have one LOL

There are many around: https://www.bowlofdelicious.com/dutch-oven-bread/ I do add some garlic oil to the mix, and use 1/2 bread flour and 1/2 regular flour. I also put some pats of butter on top when I take the cover off :)

The marinade is just lots of olive oil, crushed garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and crushed red - I cook it together for 10 minutes to knock the garlic bite down a bit. I don't use a recipe though, sorry.

[MountainGirl]

There are many around: https://www.bowlofdelicious.com/dutch-oven-bread/ I do add some garlic oil to the mix, and use 1/2 bread flour and 1/2 regular flour. I also put some pats of butter on top when I take the cover off :)

The marinade is just lots of olive oil, crushed garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and crushed red - I cook it together for 10 minutes to knock the garlic bite down a bit. I don't use a recipe though, sorry.

Yummmm! Hey - that'll get me close enough, just needed your spices list :biglaugh: Thanks!!

Oh - and thanks for that link. Looks like a good one. :)

[SOCOM42]

We have the Country Living grain mill.

https://pleasanthillgrain.com/country-living-grain-mill-wheat-grinder?msclkid=3deee780fd661cb89bca83a20547198f

Originally, we did not have it motorized. It works, but I quickly realized in a SHTF situation, hand cranking the grain mill to make flour I would starve to death. It is a LOT of work to grinder up enough wheat to make anything. I burned more calories milling flour than I got from eating whatever it was that Mrs Inor was making with it. So about a year later I put a motor on it. That works pretty well.

That is what they put the "V" groove in the crank for.

A bicycle or a exercise machine with pedals is a good manual source of power, do it with bungee cords for a belt.

[Inor]

That is what they put the "V" groove in the crank for.

A bicycle or a exercise machine with pedals is a good manual source of power, do it with bungee cords for a belt.

I do not know that a bungee cord would work. It takes a hell of a lot of torque to turn it.

I used a windshield wiper motor for the power source with an 8:1 or 10:1 gearbox. I do not remember the exact transmission I used for it. I got the gearbox from W.W. Granger. (Love those guys!) For a belt, I had some extra twist link belt left over from a drill press that I had at the time.

https://www.rockler.com/1-2-power-twist-plus-link-v-belt

I do recommend using the windshield wiper motor though. Since it is 12V by default, I can run it from a battery. When I want to plug it into household power, I just used a transformer. That part works great.