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| Best of Bread Vol. II, Elektra Records, 1974. |
No, not that Bread.
So perhaps you're wondering what's up with me posting every day except Friday? (Or not). At school Friday is and has been for a very long time, our day to make bread. Rather than doing an art project, I mix up some dough and let each child knead and work a small piece. Sometimes they come up with beautiful creations like bird's nests and eggs and other times, it's a "pancake." To make our rolls a little tastier, since they're pretty basic, we add different dried fruit or, on special occasion, chocolate chips.
I thought I'd share our bread recipe with you. It's very basic, but makes nice fluffy rolls and is pretty easy for the kids to manipulate.
PS.
Another really wonderful bread activity.
And some music to sing along to while you make your bread.
materials:
6 cups flour (plus extra flour for work space and hands)
1 packet of yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. brown sugar
pinch of salt
2 cups warm water
dried fruit of your liking
get to work:
1. Pour the water and yeast into a large bowl and let sit for about 10 min.
2. Once the yeast is somewhat foamy, pour in oil, salt, brown sugar and mix.
3. Slowly pour in the flour and mix.
4. Knead the dough.
5. Cover with a cloth or damp paper towel and let sit in the sun for about 30 min. to rise. (You can also put it in the microwave for roughly 8-10 seconds and let it sit in the microwave while it rises).
6. Sprinkle flour onto your work space and hands. (I like to sprinkle it onto the kid's hands and tell them it's snowing, they somehow still giggle at this joke even months later.)
7. Work with small pieces of the dough making various creatures or objects. (Some favorites are: bird's nests, eggs, pizza, snakes, snails, snowmen, pancakes and my personal favorite - rock). Don't forget to use your dried fruit or chocolate chips!
8. Bake in the oven at 375 for 15-20 minutes.
