My sister loves to cook and then upload all her photos on facebook. The thing with the photos is that they make me want to cook the same thing too.I guess that's the whole point anyway.



Lately she's been making bread quite a lot (that is before her mixer went kapuuut!). So I asked her for some advice on making bread and she directed me to some good recipes.
From reading through many recipes, I understand that you need to use strong white/wholemeal bread flour to make good bread. I think it helps to give the dough an elastic quality, if I'm not mistaken.




The original recipe for this bread, I got this from Dapur Suzi's page, who got the recipe from Mamafami.
Their photos look so much better, and their bread looks so much softer. But as this was my first ever try, I don't think I did that bad.



Also, instead of white flour, I used wholemeal flour, which might account for the bread being slightly denser than expected... also more filling though.

I tried to make a five plait bread from the same dough after watching it on a show called Bake by Rachel Allen. I don't know if I got it right but if I'm not mistaken, it should go "1 over 3, 2 over 3, 5 over 2". If I am wrong, do correct me.



Ingredients:
700g high protein flour - I used wholemeal bread flour
50g shortening - I used vegetable oil
200g lukewarm water
200g evaporated milk (I used fresh milk- simialr to Mamafami)
100g castor sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 packet instant yeast (11g) - 1 and a half packets of the standard instant yeast packets here in UK
2 egg
a bit of margarine

Method: (as per Mamafami's blog)
1. Sift flour into a mixing bowl. Add in yeast, sugar, salt and eggs. On the mixer.
2. Pour in evaporated milk and lukewarm water a bit at a time until just mixed.
3. Add in the shortening and continue kneading till a soft and smooth dough is formed. Add more water if needed.
4. Make into one round ball and leave to prove till double the size.
5. Punch down the dough to release air and make into small balls. Arrange in a greased pan and let it prove again till double the size.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 C for 20 to 30 minutes.
7. Once out of the oven, brush the top with margarine. Serve with curry or serikaya or jam or whatever to your likings.