Week Three already and it’s time for Bread Week, and as promised Candice wore her red for bread lipstick. Did it bring her luck? Or did she suffer the curse of the Star Baker?
The signature challenge was chocolate bread. Andrew did well with his Barmbrack while Selasi cooked his chocolate orange bread a little too much and Val didn’t cook hers enough.
The technical challenge was Damfnudel which is a steamed dough. I’ve not heard of them but they looked to me like dumplings. I’m also a little confused as to whether this is classed as a baking challenge?
Rav’s were more like raw dough while Selasi did a little overcooking again. Val came in first in this challenge.
The showstopper challenge was to make a savoury plaited centre piece. Jane was praised highly for her chorizo and bacon plaits. Val’s Noah’s Ark, did not look like an ark at all, it was difficult to make out what it was. Tom’s hammer came under close scrutiny as it looked rather like male genitals, but it was well received by Mary and Paul.
In fact it was Tom’s (fallic) hammer that won him the Star Baker prize this week.
The loser on the breadline was the youngest contestant Michael.
I always think bread week is difficult for the contestants. Not because making bread is difficult but it is extremely time consuming and I’d hate to have to make it with a time restraint.
I really wanted to join in this week so I chose to combine the showstopper with the signature challenge and I’ve made a Chocolate Chip Plait.
Chocolate Chip Plait Bread
Ingredients:
Method:
- In a large bowl place the flour, salt, yeast and stir to combine
- Add the olive oil and milk and mix together
- Add the water a little at a time until the dough comes together in a sticky lump
- Tip: The dough should be soft and pliable with no dry bits of flour but not so wet it won’t come off your fingers
- knead the dough for about 7 minutes
- Tip: I believe you can feel when the dough is ready, it will change before you and when it become really squidgy and soft you know it’s done.
- Add the chocolate chips and knead in for another 3 minutes.
- leave the dough in a slightly oiled bowl covered with cling film or a tea towel for about two hours or until it has doubled in size.
- split the dough into three equal balls
- roll each ball into a long strip, try to keep them all of equal size
- plait the strips pinching the ends together
- place on a lightly greased baking tray and cover with cling film or tea towel for another hour in a warm place
- baste the top of the loaf with a beaten egg
- bake the loaf in a pre-warmed oven at 190F gas mark 5 for 40 mins until it looks cooked and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
It was lovely…but next time I might add a few more chocolate chips (or maybe not eat half the packet, ooops!)
Your plait looks fab. I did a plait too and it took me ages, but it doesn't look as good as yours.
your plait looks so neat and tidy and had a glorious shine to it . I think making bread in the tent is very tricky, due to timings – my loaf took all afternoon! Thank you so much for linking up to #GBBOBlogers2016 🙂 great to meet you x x
Thank you. I guess I'm used to plaiting my girl's hair 😉
Yes, your loaf looks very complicated, but it's worth it for the taste. Thanks for hosting, I'm glad I found you.x
what a wonderful plait! So pleased you managed to join in. x
Lovely looking loaf but a few more choc chips might be nice too, can you have too many?. You could just buy a bigger bag then you can still eat half the packet I call that cook's perks:)
Lovely shine and a great plait too.
Your plaited loaf looks really good Anne… just wish I liked chocolate in bread!
It looks beautiful and I bet it tasted so good x
The chocolate chip loaf looks great, the plait is beautiful.
Looks like a delicious loaf!
I love chocolate chips in just about everything and I really could eat a slice or two of that right now!
Ooh that looks so tasty and I love your plaiting skills! Mine are so rubbish as it seems to come unravelled every time 🙂
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