#1 Black Bread

 

My first creation from A Feast of Ice and Fire - Black Bread. A hearty choice to kick off this journey through the culinary experiences of Westeros!  I sent this pic to the Inn at the Crossroads bloggers,authors Chelsea Monroe Cassel & Sariann Lehrer.  They posted this pic their site. I'm still smiling over that!  Sure, it's buried knee-deep in user submission pics and anecdotes, where no one goes except the users who submitted the pics and anecdotes.  But you know what?  Don't care. Me. Smiling. Ha.

 

For the beer ingredient I chose Session, a microbrew from Oregon.  Although light in color, it has the perfect robust flavor to lend to this bread.  Bonus: It's reasonable priced at about $12-$15/case of 12 here in NM.  Double Plus Good: "rock paper scissors" game under the caps!  KaChaw!*

 

The full batch of dough before rising.  Quarter is for for scale.  The recipe calls for a mix of flours, and I dove into this creation before stocking up my pantry.  I chose from my vast array of white flour, white flour, and white flour. Yeah.  I improvised (woohoo!) and substituted 1/2 cup of textured vegetable protein (TVP) thinking it would add some nutrition and texture.  Best. Decision. Ever.  TVP takes on the favors of the recipe it is in, plus adds texture similar to a soft backed sunflower seed or grain.  So good. I think I will add TVP as a standard ingredient the next time I make this bread... although next time will have more colorful flour choices.

 

Loaf 1, ready to go into the oven.  I'm not exactly a food photographer.  Or any kind of photographer.  I'm using my cell phone for these pictures, so forgive me if these snapshots don't compare to what professionals can do.  I'm just baking bread and making a big floury mess in the kitchen.

  

Loaf 2, rising before baking.  Quarter for scale. I may learn a thing or two about food photography as I go through this project.  For instance, my serendipitous choice of a holiday dish cloth for covering the rising bread was a nice contrast to the BLAH colors of the bread board, loaf, and drab white wall behind the butcher's block.  Except that's not really a bucher's block.  It's a cheap-o pressboard printer stand on wheels that I have repurposed to give me a little more counter space in my small kitchen.  It also provides a nice little food cave for my kitty's water bowl.  But "butcher's block" sounds nicer, doesn't it?

  

And here is the finished product!  Two loaves of black bread that were so wonderful, I wish I had made twice as many loaves.  They will be perfect for trenchers, when I move into stews and soups...

One recipe down.  70 to go.  Something like that.  Cheers!

*KaChaw!  I make noises as I cook. Try it.  A heartfelt "glug glug glug" as you pour the wet ingredients into the dry, or a victorious "KaChaw!" can really make the difference in your cooking.  Or, maybe not.  Don't judge me.