25 Nov 2012

Hestia...bakes some bread

Check out my focaccia :-D
And Aiden's Village People tash!
When I read that one of our local hoteliers was setting up a bread school, I KNEW that I had to go.  I have made bread before, in my bread-maker and no one would eat it because it wasn't Real Bread (ie from a shop).

So last weekend I found myself in the warm and welcoming kitchen at Munro's Guest House with owners Andy and Joan.  Due to some boiler malfunction, the class was limited to the two local students - myself and the lovely Aidan.

I'd never met Aidan before, so wasn't sure whether he was working on a 70s Porn King vibe or taking part in Movember.  Mercifully, it was the latter.  He was a really lovely guy and we soon fell into easy conversation.

We were soon apronned up and ready foraction, with Andy explaining the science of bread-making and telling us some ripping yarns about his time as a location caterer with the BBC.  Turns out Aiden is already an experienced bread-maker.  Just me that is the virgin then.  Hey ho.  I decide to do whatever Aiden does.  Other than the moustache growing.  Although, I bet you I could give him a good run for his money if there was no such thing as electrolysis.

We pummel and stretch our dough, we let it rise, we move on to our next loaf......we stop for a very tasty bowl of soup and some chat at lunch time.  I admire Andy's chickens.  No, that's not a euphemism.  I really DO admire his chickens that are pecking around outside.

We return to our bowls.  I am really enjoying myself.  Or loaves are moulded and slashed with a craft knife.  As a left-hander, I am well-used to right-handers getting a bit 'fainty' when they see me wield a knife.  God Bless Andy.  I thought he was going to pass out as I slashed and jabbed my way through my bloomer.

By the end of the day, I have made a white bloomer, a focaccia, soda-bread .... and we make a not entirely successful foray into potato scones.  I still eat my tater scone.

I am thrilled to bits with my 3 beautiful creations as is Aiden with his.  We could not be prouder of our efforts, as you can tell from the photo.

I drive home, the car infused with the scent of fresh bread.  I hurtle myself into the kitchen with my paper bags.

'I'VE MADE BREAD' I shout to anyone who is listening.

Sonshine pads into the kitchen and inspects the bag contents as I strip off my hat and jacket.

'Can I make you a slice of toast? A piece 'n' jam?* A big chunk of soda bread and butter?'

He shakes his head 'nah, yer alright.'

Tartarus is ensconced in front of the telly.

'I'm back,' I announce, poking my head around the door.

'Want a bit of toast on bread THAT I HAVE MADE WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS?'

'Nah, you're ok.'  His eyes do not leave the screen.

'Where's Lovely Dad?'  Lovely Dad is Tartarus's best friend and he and his daughter came over to visit us the previous day.  They have clearly gone home.

'Away back up the road.'

I am crestfallen.  'THEY might have wanted to taste my bread.'  I am aware that I am sounding like a sulky teenager.  I am also aware that I am again harbouring stabby throughts about Tartarus.

'Nah, Lovely Dad is currently carb free.  He's not eating bread at all.'

'Right.  So no one wants to eat my bread then?'

They are now both sitting watching the TV.

There is silence.

I quietly wrap everything in cling film and put it in the freezer.  I am disappointed.  I am angry at myself for feeling disappointed.  But mainly I want to stab Tartarus.

I wonder whether there are workshops in Undetectable Poisoning.


To find out more about Bute Bread School, please visit their site

* 'piece 'n' jam'  is Glaswegian for jam sandwich.  I aim to inform :-D

*whispers*  I would also be very grateful if you could completely ignore the purple Fanny Pad packet that has slipped out of my back pocket and is sitting waving at you from my chair in the photo.  I didn't even NEED the accursed thing, but when you are a woman Of A Certain Age, you must be prepared for Deluge at any time.

29 comments:

  1. You've made me drool - there's NOTHING I like to eat more than a fresh crusty bit of bread with butter :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this is a world first: I have created something of a culinary nature which makes you drool. It may also be the first thing that I have created that does not involve a pound of mince :-D

      Delete
  2. All the more for you then. They are crazy to have passed up an opportunity to eat your freshly baked bread.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think so too, Patience! More fool them, that's what I say :-D

      AX

      Delete
  3. Don't worry Ali, you are appreciated here, your Focaccia looks gorgeous if Geography was not an issue I would have willingly come round to sample a slice.

    What is Movember? This is the second time today I have seen it on a blog...with no explanation, I thought it was a typo but now I feel I am missing out on something.
    X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Movember is when men grow moustaches to show support for men's cancer charities - so there is a fund-raising element. I shall put up a photo of my butchers. They are all growing facial hair and they look VERY unhappy about it, but are managing to raise hundreds of pounds for charity!

      Thanks for the kind thoughts about my bread!!!

      Ali x

      Delete
  4. Miserable so & so's. I would have made soup to go with your fabulous bread, it looks amazing!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Butterfly. I am an under-appreciated asset in this house, lemme tell you :-D

      Delete
  5. Ali, it looks delicious! Proper FANCYPANTS homemade bread.

    I can't believe they wouldn't eat it. Will I send you Dave? He'd have it all eaten in ten minutes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Send me Dave. Tell him to bring a screw-driver. I shall make good use of him while he's here :-D

      Ali x

      Delete
  6. Some more stabby thoughts from me, on your behalf. :-(

    Once you know you are going to be alone for a couple of hours, go out and buy some lovely creamy cheese, and olives, then fry some bacon and onions, pile it on your magnificent bread, and mop it all up by covering the crusts in sundried tomatoes with lashings of good olive oil. Seriously ... if they insist on losing out they may as well lose out totally.

    Then finish your feast off with a slice covered in jam and clotted cream. Yum.

    You will no doubt feel too ill to cook dinner for the family that evening. They may have to resort to eating bread.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Anonymous - keep those stabby thoughts coming. I can certainly use them! I am looooving the suggestion with the cream cheese, bacon etc. I am defrosting focaccia tomorrow and will do exactly that! Stand by for photos!

      Ali x

      Delete
  7. OOh that comment above with the olives etc ? Do iiit :-)

    Pssssst


    I can tell you aaaallll about poisons :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am on my 2nd husband .... ;-)

      Delete
    2. I am on my first, but he is very well behaved ;)

      Delete
    3. Yeah but the first one isn't, like, DEAD - is he?! IS HE?! *eyes like saucers*

      Delete
  8. I try not to eat much bread, but I would definitely have given in to a slice of your fresh focaccia! The scent of freshly-baked bread is one of the most delicious in the world, and I love the look of those swirls - what was in there?
    :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here, but when you've made it yourself - you really want to eat the whole shebang! The swirls are red onion slivers - delish!

      Delete
  9. What kind of person can resist perfect fresh focaccia. My first attempt at baking it was my best, and I am forever trying to recreate it and chase that focaccia-high again. Have you got a good recipe that works?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, mine was tasty - but was a bit liberal with the olive oil! I'll get the recipe and put it on here :-)

      Ali x

      Delete
  10. Oh your bread looks gorgeous - the big sillies are missing out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Weren't they silly?! But all the more for me!

      Delete
  11. just serve it up and don't offer them anything else for supper.......they don't know what they're missing!!x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was all frozen and eaten a little at a time, because I didn't want it all to go stale. The focaccia was delicious, as was the soda bread! Bloomer is still i nthe freezer!

      Delete
  12. I see your lot are as unappreciative as mine! Their loss I say, it looks delicious. I'll definitely have a go at that foccacia when you put the recipe up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll get the recipe up by the end of the week :-D

      Delete
  13. What fools! It's one of the loveliest bread going, and homemade is the best by far. Me and Trina stuffed our faces with it in London earlier this week. Oh well, that's the average dour Scot for you!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Don't know how I missed this.
    I can't resist fresh bread, so I won't publish what I think of the two wasters in front of the telly.
    I bet it tasted delicious xx

    ReplyDelete

I'd love you to comment, but I get a phenomenal amount of spam comments on here for some reason - so everything is moderated. But only for spam. Any other comment will be posted :-D

Explore the ruined citadel of m'blog: