It took longer to pinpoint my theme for January. I have long been waiting to do breads for the start of the new year, but that is such a broad category.
As “bread” has been a staple for the human diet since the beginning of time, it is one of the first, if not the first, man-made food. Every culture consumes large quantities of bread is some shape or form. With some controversy over leavening during certain holidays, this dish can be made simply with grain and water. Which makes sense, bread is easy to make, consume, portable, and arguably stores well. It does not take much to make some kind of heated grain mixture. Once created it is useful as an eating utensil, such as a trencher*, soft enough that almost any age or teeth situation can consume, and it is usually sturdy enough to transport, and retains its taste without spoiling quickly due to climate.
*Side note on trenchers: I have been researching Persian/Ottoman and European medieval eating habits. Several times I came across trenchers, which were described in a way that brings to mind a short baguette with the top carved out to create a canal. This canal would then be used to scoop up food rather than using the unpopular utensils. However, upon further investigating I must conclude the trencher shape is probably closer to a bread bowl than a scoop or canal. The name was later used to describe the Scottish university cap (mortarboard) possibly due to the resemblance in shape when flipped upside-down.
In order to narrow down my choices for January, I am going to focus solely on breads that have kneading as a major step in the process. While some of these breads could possibly be done without or with minimal kneading, they were selected based on their traditional procedures.
Personally, I am not a big bread fan. I know! How could I say such a thing! If I am going to consume carbs, I prefer them to be sweet and crunchy. However, I can get on board with specialty breads or anything fresh out of the oven. The next day, someone else will have to eat it.
Load up the carbs and hit the gym as we kick of 2020 with a bang.
Food of the Month 