Focaccia

This is the perfect picnic bread.  I turned up to a picnic last week, had to go home with the baby, and then asked my husband later where the bread was.  "All gone!".  That's proof of its' deliciousness.

15g fresh yeast

15ml honey

500g (18oz) strong white flour

15g salt

1/2 pint warm water

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1.  Weigh and mix the ingredients on the dough setting in a breadmaker.

2.  Cover with clingfilm (in a sticky ball) and put on baking tray in the airing cupboard (or warm place) for 45 minutes.

3.  Take out and knock air out.  Stretch and roll out on the floured and oiled baking tray.  Cover with clingfilm and put back into the airing cupboard for 45 minutes.

4.  Sprinkle over fresh rosemary and use your fingers to punch in holes.

5.  Bake at 200 degrees C for about 15-20 minutes or until golden.

6.  Wrap in foil and take along to a picnic!

Soda bread

Are you making a soup this autumn?  This soda bread is a perfect accompaniment.

This is so incredibly easy to make.  I am really surprised about how quickly you can turn around an impressive and delicious loaf.  Thanks to Riverford for inspiration.

250g (9oz) plain flour

250g (9oz) wholemeal flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

5 grated carrots

a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans

a few sprigs of thyme

300ml plain yoghurt with a little yoghurt

125 ml whole milk

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1.  If you are using a mixer, whizz up dry ingredients.

2.  Add a grater to the mixer, and grate in carrots.  Add nuts and thyme.

3.  Mix in the yoghurt and milk until a good consistency formed for pressing into a dough.  Don't overmix or knead.  Shape into a circle and cut a deep cross (1 inch) through the middle.

4.  Cook in a 200 degree oven for 25 minutes (on a pre-heated baking tray).  You may need to cook for a little longer.  Just check by taping the bottom and listening for the hollow sound.

Wholemeal Bread for Bread Machine

We love 'grandpa's bread'.  Thank you, Dad, for introducing is to this great bread.  The girls devour it.  I have kept the metric measurements for accuracy.  Let me know if I should write out the imperial.


1 tsp dried yeast
400g strong wholemeal flour
100g strong white flour
3/4 tbsp caster sugar (or less)
1 tbsp milk powder
1 and a bit tsp salt
1/4 tsp vitamin C powder (source from pharmacists or health food shops)
25 ml sunflower oil
360ml water

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After measuring out ingredients in the order listed above into the bread maker pan, set the bread machine to wholemeal and large loaf.  I often put it on timer overnight.