Everything was a mess, so I made some bread.

Thank you guys so much for all the support over at Venus. It's so exciting just to be nominated with such wonderful company alongside me!

My whole apartment (bedroom, studio, etc.) is messy right now, so I'm being the slightly-bored straightening-and-cleaning-fairy. You know how all of a sudden...after a few house-guests...some willful ignoring...your home is suddenly not in the least tidy. It has exploded with clutter.  And then it's a few days to set it to rights.

This weekend was nice and quiet and was mostly the aforementioned slow cleaning and being a bit of a hobbit. And I finally read the September Vogue that weighs at least as much as Miette.

Also, on Sunday afternoon I thought that the smell of fresh bread a-baking would give a nice homey-ness back  to the place, so I rustled up the really good recipe that began as Alicia's and is now a little different (due to my experimental cooking nature). It is so easy and really, really addictive when it is finished.

Really Tasty Rosemary and Olive Oil Bread
(The foundation of which is Anne's No-Knead Bread, courtesy of Ms. Alicia Paulson)

Combine and set aside:
2 C King Arthur White Whole Wheat flour (or similar...this particular pale whole wheat is really tasty, has just a tiny bit of nuttyness and is a little more nutritious than its white counterpart)
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon + 1 pinch Salt
2 packages of dry yeast (1/4 oz packets)
2 Tablespoons fresh Rosemary (or dried, if it's what you have access to)

Warm lightly on the stove:
1 C Water
1 C Milk
1/4 C Olive Oil

Have on hand:
1 Egg
2 C. White Whole Wheat flour
Greased loaf pan (6"x9" or 5"x8")
1-2 Tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove liquids from heat, and add egg. Stir this mixture into the dry ingredients. Blend slowly (with your mixer, or your wooden spoon) and then a bit more vigorously for 3 minutes. Stir in the other 2 cups of flour with your good ol' trusty spoon. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 50 minutes (it should be about doubled). Stir down and then spoon into greased loaf pan.

Bake for about 35 minutes, and then test with a knife or skewer for done-ness. It may take another 5-10 minutes if you're using a 5"x8" loaf pan. Take care to not overcook, it should be lovely and golden all around. Brush/spread top with a dollop or two of softened butter, and you should have a crust resembling this:

Let it cool for at least 30 minutes (but preferably a bit more) before turning it out. Let cool a bit more, whilst cutting slivers absent-mindedly for yourself to snack on. After it's mostly cooled, unless you have enough people to devour the whole loaf right away, cut off some slices for yourself and those deserving, and wrap it in foil (It's very moist and soft and wonderful, but seems to get a hardness/staleness creeping in very quickly).

If you're feeling peckish, you can make yourself some tasty (but crumbly) chicken and/or tomato sandwiches for lunch the next day:

Happy Monday, Applets!

Comments

[gina]

this recipe is very user friendly. i mixed things up a bit and added rosemary, thyme, and lavender. served it with a delicious citrusy extra virgin olive oil from italy that my friends bottle and sell in their shop, oliva bella and the local farmers' market in lexington, ky.

this was my first time baking bread. it won't be the last.

[Banana bread recipe]

Looks yummy. I love homemade bread :)

[EmilyR]

Hi Emily! I've been reading your blog for a few months now but haven't commented before. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I made this bread Tuesday and it is FANTASTIC! I've been using it for chicken sandwiches for lunch yesterday and today. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Oh, and I love your site! You always inspire me to get into the kitchen and bake, or to try some new crafty thing I've been wanting to experiment with. So...thanks for that!

[tara]

Thanks SO much for the bread recipe, I made it this weekend and it was just overwhelmingly yummy (with rosemary from the garden).
Thanks!

[Rhonda]

Your dress is so adorable. And that bread looks DIVINE!!!!!!!! Yummy!

[jen]

i LOVE your outfit in the above photo. it's GORGEOUS!! where did you find such an ethereal dress?!

and thanks for sharing the recipe for buttercream icing a while ago... i'm going to make a pink cake tonight, i've decided.

[gracia]

Afraid my house is suffering from the very same explosion hence my being on the computer... I have turned my back on ze mess.
see you, grache

[britt-sparkled vintage charm]

yum!!! that looks so good!

[britt-sparkled vintage charm]

yum!!! that looks so good!

[Laura]

Hi from Barcelona,
Since I first saw your blog, I'm looking forward to open it and see your new pictures, and things. Everything's so beautiful!!!
If you ever need something from Barcelona, or there's anything I can do for you, please tell me (you make my day.
Thank you

[Anna]

Crazy about that tiny pink teapot!

[Rhian Dennis]

The bread looks so yum, I might have to have a go of that myself.

[Kylee]

O.k. so I love your stuff. You are so creative and all your stuff is so freaking cute!

[cassie]

It's nice of you to take the time to write the recipe out for us, thankyou!

[Erika]

Lovely photos. The bread looks and sounds yummy. Glad you took the time to make it. :)

[Bee Dazzles]

Hi Emily . . . I've been lurking for a while but wanted to finally jump in and say it seems like you are feeling better lately (have the rowdy 4am neighbors moved elsewhere?? lol). Your posts are very enjoyable, and though I doubt I'd find the time to make the recipe you offered, it sounds (and looks) delicious!!! Congrats on the nomination!!! and good luck :) ~ Bee

[Strange Bird]

Wow, thank you for posting this recipe! I have been looking (albeit half-assedly) for a good, simple rosemary bread recipe for a bit now. I will be trying this one out in the next couple of days!

[tiffany]

I love a good tomato sandwich. Looks delish. Good luck with the clean up.. we just did one around here. We bought this wool rug for the playroom and you just wouldn't believe the 10 foot high dust bunnies that thing can kick up.. (ok slight exageration.. but only slight)

[kim*]

sheesh i remember when i used to eat healthy....

[Hilary Glime]

ohh I like your dress Emily

[Lauren]

mmmm I make this bed all the time!(the regular) it makes great toast and sandwiches!! :O)

[A Fanciful Twist]

You are the loveliest home-maker of them all! I know you have a love, but I have to say, isn't it wonderful to be a single girl, and still be able to be a home-maker?

I mean, I consider myself a home-maker and I do have a boyfriend... But, home-maker was more for a wife with kids in the 60's or even later... Now, if you are single you can have a lovely well tended too, sometimes messy, lovely scented kitchen home. I think that is magic. Really.

I love being home alone sometimes, cooking and cleaning.. and just being me... A single home-maker... I think that if you are a happy single home-maker, you will be an amazing married home-maker... It has to be a love... That comes from within...

Back to my own messy abode... xoxooxox