National Homemade Bread Day is November 17

Now that the weather is getting cooler, maybe you want to get into baking bread!

In December 2020, I wrote a blog post about the sourdough bread craze during the Covid pandemic and included some tips and cookbooks. Do you know how many different types of bread there are? Too many to list! 

Bread usually starts with four basic ingredients you may have at home: some kind of flour, water, salt, and a leavening agent. Depending on the recipe, the leavening agent can be yeast or baking powder or baking soda to make the bread rise. Do you have a favorite bread? I love quick and easy bread like banana bread (don’t forget to add chocolate chips, nuts, or both!), pumpkin bread in the fall, or corn bread to go with chili. 

It’s fun to take a few different recipes and modify them to your taste. Do you have a favorite baking cookbook? I love good cookbooks and new recipes! 

Here are some fun facts about bread:

The government banned sliced bread for 2 months during World War II in 1943. So sad! 

According to the Guinness World Records, the largest homemade bread was baked at the Milan Expo in Italy and measured 400 feet! This bread was the size of a football field. It was so large it needed to be baked in a special oven. It was served covered in Nutella - yum! 

Scandinavian traditions say that if a boy and girl eat from the same loaf, they are bound to fall in love. Sounds like a good romance book plot! 

Supposedly it is bad luck to turn a loaf of bread upside down - so don’t do it.

Do you know why the small bits of bread (and cake!) are called crumbs? The soft inside part of bread is called the crumb. Who knew? 

Here are some current bread cookbooks from our catalog.

30 Breads to Bake Before You Die: The World's Best Sourdough, Croissants, Focaccia, Bagels, Pita, and More from Your Favorite Bakers by Allyson Reedy

"This is a bread book for people who really, really love bread in all its wondrous forms--but who also might be intimidated by the word "starter." The recipes, tips, and tricks in 30 Breads to Bake Before You Die come from expert dough workers and bread magicians who've put in the hours of kneading, proofing, stretching, folding, and baking to perfect these recipes, all in the oh-so-noble name of good bread."-- Provided by publisher.

Baked to Perfection: Delicious Gluten-free Recipes with a Pinch of Science by Katarina Cermelj

“Baked to Perfection begins with a thorough look at the gluten-free baking basics: how different gluten-free flours behave, which store-bought blends work best, and how to mix your own to suit your needs. Covering cakes, brownies, cookies, pastry and bread.” --Provided by publisher.

The Big Book of Bread by Betty Crocker  

“Nothing is more basic or more versatile than bread. From a white loaf to quick-to-make muffins, bread is a well-loved staple. The Big Book of Bread is a complete resource for both new and experienced cooks, with more than 200 recipes and 100 color photos. New bakers will find clear and easy-to-follow instructions, tips, techniques, and how-to photos to bake a range of breads, from classic yeast breads to friendly quick breads. More experienced bakers will enjoy new flavors and techniques to add to their repertoire.” --Provided by publisher.

Cool Quick Breads: Easy Recipes for Kids to Bake by Pamela S. Price 

“This fun and creative title introduces young readers to baking in a format that is easy to read and use. From banana bread to monkey bread, Cool Quick Breads contains kid-tested, cool recipes that will have children baking-and loving it! Basic baking techniques, tools, and ingredients are illustrated so kids can quickly prepare each recipe.” --Provided by publisher.

Everyday Bread: 100 recipes for Baking Bread on Your Schedule by America’s Test Kitchen 

"The cooks at America's Test Kitchens help home cooks simplify the process of making bread through seven core dough recipes to use and remix, three-ingredient quick breads to put on the table in an hour, and reinvented Rustic No-Knead Bread"--Provided by publisher.

Small-batch Breads: 50 Recipes for Loaves, Buns, and Flatbreads Made with 1 Cup of Flour by Rebecca Eisenberg 

"Create sweet and savory loaves, buns, rolls, and pastries using just one cup of flour. With fifty easy-to-follow recipes, including more than one hundred step-by-step photos, you can make adorable crusty loaves or focaccia in a loaf pan, two bagels for brunch, four gooey cinnamon rolls, or a foot-long(-ish) baguette." -- Back cover.

-Jodi, Hopewell Branch