recipe reviews for:

Essence of Bread

“This is about as simple as a bread recipe can be. It's great tasting, crusty, yeasty, coarse-textured, satisfying bread. I'm a guy, and I can make this perfect every time. This bread is the exact of opposite of all the other soft, fine-textured, preservative laden, over-priced supermarket breads. It's easiest if you use a stand-type mixer with bread hooks. If you don't have one, buy one. It'll be the most-used appliance in your kitchen, next to the toaster.”

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Reviewed: Feb. 1, 2012

This was a really good basic bread recipe. I was making the Paul Bunyan Burgers from this site and this bread stood up really well to the burger. Did not fall apart. Very nice. I halved the recipe and made 6 large buns out of it. Thanks for posting the recipe.

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3 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

pelicangal

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Cooking Level: Expert

Living In: Brookings, Oregon, USA

Reviewed: Aug. 18, 2005

The recipe was ALMOST all it promised. It was easy to make, yeasty, coarse-textured, but only slightly crusty, and a bit dense. Apparently, this is just not the recipe I was looking for. Although I added the salt, it must have needed more. Before today, I had never before sprinkled salt on bread, to make it taste good! I added 1/2 cup flour, because I wasn't sure the dough was supposed to be so very sticky. I thought maybe I should really add more, but didn't since this was the first time I've tried the recipe.

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11 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

selhull

Reviewed: Jan. 11, 2005

Nice and easy - I'll use this all the time for everyday bread. If it is too yeasty for your taste, try proofing the yeast with a small amount of the water and adding a little bit of honey. The problem (if it was sticky) was probably not the yeast but the moisture content. Just add a bit of flour in and it'll come together just fine. Obviously using bread flour is important since AP really won't work here. A little butter or egg wash over the top might help the appearance a bit.

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16 users found this review helpful

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SMPARSONS

Reviewed: Feb. 4, 2003

Too yeasty, when it comes together it is very sticky and cannot be kneaded properly - the Kitchenaid could not form it into a ball, odd directions. Too simple - needs more directions to clarify process and apperance of dough.

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9 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

Ms.Rotfeuer

Reviewed: Apr. 23, 2002

I had a birthday dinner for my cousin this past Sunday. All 4 of my guest and myself included really liked everything about this recipe. I gave everyone a small loaf to take home with them. It was simple and delicious! :)

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20 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

BELEDONA

Cooking Level: Expert

Reviewed: Apr. 10, 2002

This bread was very tasty with a nice crust. It made delicious toast! Thanks.

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10 users found this review helpful

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DIEBURLY

Reviewed: Mar. 7, 2002

This bread is chewy and flavorful. I like to shape it into a dozen mini loaves and bake them on a cookie sheet. These make excellent rolls for pasta dinners.

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15 users found this review helpful