I've always loved to cook; but until I found myself with lots of time on my hands during quarantine, I never really attempted much baking.
Looking back now, baking bread was one of the most rewarding hobbies I picked up during quarantine. The act of playing with dough — kneading it, stretching it, shaping it, and watching it rise into a warm and fluffy loaf of bread — relaxes me, calms me, and serves as my own little form of therapy. It's something I'll continue even when the world goes back to normal.
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So if you're considering teaching yourself to bake bread but don't quite know where to begin, here are some recipes to get you started. And I promise, it's not as intimidating as you think.
You simply combine the four ingredients in a bowl, cover the dough with plastic wrap, and leave it out at room temperature overnight. I figured even I couldn't mess this up.
Like any good New York bagels, these are first boiled (for that extra chewiness) and then baked in the oven until golden. After boiling, you add any bagel seasonings like sesame seeds or garlic.
Now I won't say that my homemade bagels could stand up to my favorite New York bagels, but they were definitely good enough.
The process of making pita bread is similar to making naan. Mix the dough, let it rise for about an hour or until it nearly doubles in size, divide it into equally sized pieces, flatten, and bake.
I decided to bake the pita on a pizza stone, which I let preheat in the oven for about 30 minutes, and it came out great.
Making the dough takes about an hour total, and you can make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge or freezer.
Always work with room temperature dough. Stretch it into your preferred pizza shape with your hands — not with a rolling pin. Now get creative and add your toppings.
Making sourdough is intimidating, to be sure, and there's a big learning curve. My first loaf, though very mediocre, was a huge accomplishment. Your sourdough will get more and more delicious each time you bake and practice.
Timing is important when it comes to baking sourdough. When you're making sourdough, plan three days in advance.
It might seem like a lot of work, but it gets easier every time. And trust me: anyone can do it!
So if you haven't yet tried making bread during quarantine, I urge you to give it a try. You might just find your new favorite hobby!