No-Knead Bread
by fattydumpling
Last summer, my sister and I made frequent trips to the library. We’ve visited the library so many times in the past 11.5 years since moving into our present home that the librarians and security guards know us by name and many amusing conversations have been had. We’ve discussed daughters going into high school, noisy people disturbing the peace in the library, finding meat in my university dorm washroom in first year… I look forward to paying the library a few more visits once I get home after finals.
Although these people have been in my life for over half my life, I have to embarrassingly admit that I do not know their names. They cheated though! They know my names from holding my library card to check out my books.
Was that a weak argument? Would it have been common courtesy for me to ask for their names? Is it too late after 11.5 years? Maybe if I just smile at them and titter at their jokes, they’ll never know.
On one of our trips to the library, among our huge stacks of novels, magazines, cookbooks, movies, and CDs, I borrowed Jim Lahey’s book, My Bread: The Revolutionary, No-Work, No-Knead Method. Then, I fell head over heels, heart-stoppingly, dreadfully, and blindly into…infatuation with the book.
I’m still a noob at bread-baking, and don’t get me wrong, I adore the work that goes into making bread. I mean—I get to pound the dough! With my FISTS! For minutes! It’s too much fun for my eager (seemingly) violence-driven soul.
Jim Lahey’s breads just looked so pretty. He had pretty words too, and pretty promises that swore awesome bread if only I mixed flour and water and then abandoned it in a dark corner for hours. When I come back to the bread, I must toss it into a hot dutch oven and then cruelly shove it into a hot oven to bake. I felt up to it and was already practicing my evil scientist cackle to screech as my creation rose in the oven. There was only had one issue: no dutch oven. Oh, fiddle sticks.
I kissed the book goodbye and returned it to the library.
A few months later, I bought myself a dutch oven as an early birthday gift for the sole purpose of baking bread. I carried it in my arms for the long walk home and then proceeded to dance with it in my room. And then I promptly forgot about it.
Another few months later, I finally baked Jim Lahey’s basic no-knead bread, evil scientist cackle and all. And…my infatuation may have grown into love.
Now…would you dear people mind suggesting a few other uses for this new dutch oven of mine?
It sounds like an amazing recipe. I love lazy recipe with tips and short cut…and I just love homemade bread. This really sounds like a great way to do it :)
Oh, you’re a fellow library lover! :) The sweet ladies at my local library were some of the first people I met when we moved to our town. They continue to be some of my favorite people.
Your bread looks perfect. Wish I had a nice warm loaf to go with dinner later.
Don’t worry. Even after 2 years working together in the same room, I still don’t know my co-workers’ names. My excuse is that the room is too big to know the names of everybody (4 ppl) working there and we’re programmers so call each other with cooler names: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Omega.
I like how you frequent the library. Reading is a life-long process!
BAHAHA. i like those names.
That looks wonderful – so airy and light! I MUST make this soon :) too funny about the pretty promises and the pretty words.
Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
oh I also made a carrot bread from Jim, divine, divine, super easy recipes with great results…congrats on your new dutch oven, I use mine ALL the time..stews, soups, beans, beans, beans, did I say beans..lol
i adore the lady who check my griceries out in my hometown, have know her forever and I still do not know her name, nor does she know mine, but theres love!
sweetlife
I loved making this bread too – so simple and so yummy! And I’m with you about the library staff- there are many people in my life who know my name (Barista at the coffee place, or other restaurants where they ask for your name when you place an order) and I haven’t had the opportunity to ask theirs without feeling weird because it’s been too long now.
Tes: Lazy recipes, I like how you’ve put it, it’s sweet when mellow work can create fantastic stuff.
oneordinaryday: Same here! My librarians were one of the first that I met as well. I recently came home and visited again and was able to catch up with one of them. Like old friends.
dowhatwhen: Bwahaha, I like your big room excuse, and your attack plan to overcome that excuse.
Devaki: It is so airy, I just made it again and I just had to point out the bubbles to everyone. I hope that they were just as excited as I was over them.
sweetlife: Yes! I will remember beans for my next dutch oven usage! I also like how you’ve put it as well, there’s love…yes, despite no names, there is indeed love there.
mybakingempire: Haha, the feeling is too awkward. So we smile and nod.
So nice and airy on the inside. Looks great!