The Bread Exchange Experience

How do I know about the Bread Exchange, Malin and friends asked me. Well, I think the first time I read about her and the project was in a blog back in 2010, and at that time I think, she wasn't as big as she is now.. In the recent years she became more recognized and is featured in many magazines and newspapers. 

But what is the Bread Exchange all about and why was I interested in one of her breads? Malin Elmlid, Swedish, but living in Berlin is fascinated by the craft of bread making and was curious about how to make bread without any yeast, only salt, flour and water, pure and traditional. As you might know, I am baking my breads with yeast because I do not have the time to knead the dough all day. Additionally, I've never tried sourdough before, therefore I was curious about the taste of her breads because she does actually take her time (maybe 24hours) to knead and bake breads. Her project is about trading in her bread for special things or experiences, but not money. I recommend you to read her About & FAQs to learn more about it.

So this wednesday, when I was doing some email & blog stuff, I saw on facebook that she posted that she's having a break from bread making until the end of July, but has right now a rosemary bread in the oven. Who is interested? Definitely, I was! (I am right now in Berlin and spending some weeks here before I take off for a big journey). I thought about what to trade in and let her know :)

This was it. I traded in some chili powder and spices from the Sudan and self-grounded organic rye flour. Yeah, crazy, my boyfriend just bought a flour mill and now, we're making our own flour by hand :D Yes, it takes a long time, but it's fun and worth it ;-) Malin was really nice when we met and I was amazed about the shape and the look of the bread with its imprint of leaves on top, never have I seen such a beautiful one!

How did it taste? :) I brought it home and couldn't wait to share it with my friends, it tasted a bit sour, different from mine, but really delicious and hearty. My friends enjoyed it with some butter and I had it with avocado, but this bread can be also enjoyed plain. 

So if you're a breadlover as I am and want to have such a delicious-and-yummy experience, subscribe to Malins Blog or FB Page and maybe you'll be the next one who gets the chance to trade in something for one of her unique breads :) 

P.S.: Malin is also bringing out her first book 

about the Bread Exchange in the US and in Europe in October ;-)

Food Friday: Rye x Whole Spelt Flour Bread

Oh boy! I've just checked the Bread Recipes and the last one I've posted was in August 2013!!! Really need to post more of them because I'm always baking new ones with different ingredients or specialities :) This time, I've tried out a mixture of two flours, whole spelt flour and actually rye flour. I don't know why I've never done this before, but since I'm adding more rye flour to my breads (oh yes, I've tried this one out a severeal times, didn't want to give you a-never-tested-recipe), the result is more rich, dark and delicious!!! We've tried out only rye-flour before, but the bread was too dense and too heavy on the stomach. This is the perfect mixture now :) Have a try!

Ingredients:

250g whole spelt flour,

250g rye flour,

2 cups (150g) different seeds'n nuts

like almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds etc.

500ml luke-warm water,

1 package yeast,

2 teaspoons salt,
2 tablespoons vinegar (balsamic, cider).

1. Mix the flours in a big bowl, form a small hollow (dt.Mulde) in the middle of the flour mixture and place small parts of the yeast in that. Add salt and vinegar. Pour the water gradually in the bowl while mixing the dough with a spoon, or hands (how you prefer).

2. Step by step you can add the seeds and nuts, keep on mixing until all ingredients are evenly distributed in the dough. This is the step, at which you can add anything you want :) Chia? Thin Carrot or Zucchini slices? Pesto? I've tried it! Go for it ;-) But be aware that you might need less or more water, see how it turns out. The dough should be a bit moist, but not too much.

3. Prepare a baking sheet and form a bread ;-) Have some oats on top if you like. Put it in the not-preheated!!! oven for 60minutes at 400°F (200°C). 

Et Voilà :)

Your freshly baked, homemade and superhealthy bread is done! Enjoy with hearty or sweet spreads, I promise you'll love it ;-) And baking bread was never that easy!!! ♥ 

More Recipes to come under Breadlove :)

Bread x Seeds x Nuts x Quinoa

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe, maybe one day I'll open up a health-store selling my own bread and health-foods like green juices and stuff! Haha! Anyways, super easy, super fast, use this signature recipe:

3 and 3/4 cups OR 500g whole-grain flour

2 cups of different seeds (pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds) and nuts (almonds)

and I'd say 2 small cups of uncooked red quinoa

1/2 liter water

1 package active- dry yeast

2 regular teaspoons salt

2 regular tablespoons vinegar.

Just wanted to try out some quinoa, more seeds and nuts in my bread. Friends and I loved it! You should go ahead, make some bread and experiment with different add-ons!

Enjoy some Breadlove! ♥

Food Friday: Whole grain bread x dried tomatoes

So, apart from all the fashion week shows and events, I've just needed a little break to calm down. What to do? Grab your longboard, even if it's just to the supermarket, take a little ride and enjoy the wind and fresh air! What's next? Get some healthy ingredients and start cooking! :) And no worries, in the next few days I'll post something about what I was up to this week!

As you can see in the pictures above I'm having an affair with bread!!! With hearty-whole-grain-delicious bread! It is called: Breadlove. I think I should ask for a new word in the dictionary. Do you think I could do that? The love for making bread?! :) Whenever I make it, it's so easy and super fast! This time I'll present you my signature one, everyone loves it and I cannot stop eating it. I always use this Whole-grain bread recipe as my base and then I'd change the add-ons. 

More bread woohoo!

I baked some more bread :-) but this time I used a different recipe and whole- wheat instead of spelt flour. It's so easy making your own bread!!! On the left I've tried to make a ciabatta- kind of bread with oregano. Both are whole grain. I'm telling you I have so much fun baking and trying out new recipes! And you know what? My hostfamily just bought a bread machine!!! I am so excited :-D Although I prefer baking in the oven because of the look of the bread (I don't like the square- shape of the bread machines) I'll give it a shot and see if it's really convenient!

Green- tip: Forget the white wonder bread! It's processed and unhealthy, instead bake your own! At least you'll know what's inside and adding different grains and spices will make it tastier! Mix different types of flours, spelt flour or rye flour. Flax seeds will add lots of protein, try adding rolled oats, quinoa, barley and whatever you like :-)

Here is the recipe for this one:

Baking my own bread #2

I'm in love with this bread!!!!! ♥.♥ It is so good!!! Just pure love!!! :) 

Guys, you have to try out this easy- peasy recipe!

I was looking for a 'Vollkornbrot' recipe but couldn't find an American good one, so I just took a German recipe and converted the measurements.