Basic Bread
Contrary to what you may think, baking bread is a really simple process that is fun, easy, and makes your whole house smell wonderful! Vegetarian or not, everyone should add this most basic skill to their cooking repertoire.
At the most basic, bread is simply flour, yeast, and water. A pinch of salt helps the taste, and a spoonful or two of sugar helps the yeast to grow. To make a very basic loaf of bread, start by mixing a teaspoon of yeast with a spoonful of sugar and some warm water. Let it sit for five minutes or so. Pour a cup or two of flour into a mixing bowl, add a bit of salt and the yeast/water/sugar mixture and start kneading. You will probably need to add more water to get a nice dough. A as you knead the dough slowly add water until the all the flour is moistened. If it gets really sticky, add a bit more flour. Continue kneading until the dough is consistent and spongy. Cover the doughball in flour and leave it in a warm spot to rise for an hour or two. Bake it at 350-400 degrees until nicely browned and you’ve got bread!
Knowing this basic recipe, you can make all sorts of delicious baked goods. For pizza, add a bit of olive oil to the dough while kneading, as well as whatever spices you like (for example, oregano, Parmesan cheese, chopped sun dried tomatoes). Flatten and top with sauce and cheese, or fold it over for a calzone.
To make garlic knots, simply roll bits of dough between your hands and tie into a knot. Bake as before, then brush with a mix of melted butter and chopped garlic.
For cinnamon rolls, take the basic dough and roll it out into a big flat rectangle on a floured surface. Spread it liberally with butter, cinnamon, sugar, and raisins or nuts if you like. Roll the flattened dough into a big tube, then slice into 1-2 inch rolls. Put the rolls sideways in a buttered baking dish and bake until browned and wonderful!
Now that you know the basics of making bread, go and bake up a loaf right now!