Thursday, December 27, 2012

A new bread~

The Birds Are Fed~


                   And that's a good thing~ A snowstorm here this morning~More Snow..And some said our winter would be easy peasy..not so much!


I received Mari Loggias new book for Christmas from a dear friend~ This is her second..I have mentioned her first here before..She is our local Italian Julia Child..Teaches classes..is charming ,beautiful and very talented..
I perused the beautiful book front to back Christmas day~



I was happy to discover that 2 of the recipes featured in this newest book are 2 of the recipes I learned to make in her cooking class~
I loved that class..you may have seen my post on it here~So long ago~ 2009..
You may remember that great salad Saveur published..here..or the olives  here..the polpettone..here..and a few other treats along my blogging posts..
She is definitely one of my very favorites along with Dorie Greenspan..Anne Lindsay..Jéhane Benoit..Josée Di Stasio..etc..
I also love that her books have so many local photos for me:)
Sandy Beach is there too~

In this book the first recipe I chose to make t..was her bread..w/ Anise and Bay leaves..it is wreath shaped..in keeping with the season..although it is featured in her autumn menu..(the book is comprised of menus..for the 4 seasons..)

It is lovely to look at..and I loved the taste~

My friend  Diane makes her pizelles w/ anise..and it's a taste I favor.
The recipe is different as you simmer the anise seed in water for 5 minutes prior to mixing all the ingredients..and it called for a lot of yeast! But it turned out just the way I wanted..I did make it all in the bread machine contrary to her technique..because I am hooked on the mixing and kneading in the machine..I just never bake in it..apart from the Gluten Free one:)

La Recette~

Panne all'Anice  e Alloro~

For the dough

 1 1/2 tsp anise seed
1 tbsp honey
1 cup milk
1 cup water
 7 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2-5 cups unbleached all purpose flour
6 fresh or dried bay leaves

In a small pot combine anise seed and one cup of water
Boil for 5 minutes
Pour mixture in a medium sized bowl.
Stir in honey and milk
Let the mixture cool until just warm 105 to 115 F
Stir in yeast 2 tbsp of the olive oil and salt.
set aside.
In a large bowl place 4 1/2 cups of flour
Add the yeast mixture mixing with a fork to form a soft dough.

Turn bread out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 8-10 minutes..incorporating more flour as needed.

The dough should be smooth and tender.
Oil a large bowl w/ remaining 1 tbsp of oil and transfer dough turning once to oil both sides.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap...then a kitchen towel.
Let stand away from drafts in a warm place ap 1 hr..or until doubled in size.
Punch down dough and let rise another 30-40 mins.
Preheat oven to 400F.
Oil a large baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal.
Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and roll into a 30 inch rope..twsit the rope several times and shape int a wreath tucking ends under.
Place on prepared baking sheet.
Cut 6 deep diagonal slices and tuck a bay leaf in each..
Cover dough with towel and let rest 15 minutes.
Brush bread with an egg wash (1 yolk plus 1 tbsp milk).
Bake bread center rack ap 35-40mins.or until golden and cooked through.It should sound hollow when tapped on it's side..
Serve warm   dipped in fruity olive oil~

My Notes..
I did boil the water and anise seeds..  I stirred in the honey and milk..but then put it in my bread machine..it cooled down perfectly to continue adding all the ingredients..
and chose the dough cycle.
I then shaped the wreath and let it rest in a pre warmed  then shut off  oven for the 15 mins.
And baked as directed on  baking stones we keep in one of our ovens.
It's just right.
I find my bread machine kneads perfectly..without a mess.. the dough rises twice perfectly in a controlled draft free and warm and moist environment..
Then I bake according to instructions..
It makes baking bread so easy.
The little anise flavor and the look won me over~


The whole book is filled with menus.. recipes..lovely photos.. I have made and tried her carrot and lemon salad..and the cornish hens..DELICIOSO!


Keeper book..Feel fortunate to have in my favorites collection.
I can recommend it~




She's lost her eyes..her smile..and soon with all this snow she will be invisible~:)


PS re the BirdFeeders My Daughter Made~

My daughter made me a box of the seed feeders for Christmas..
I think hers are even firmer and better than mine yet our recipes seem quite similar:)

Here is a link to hers..
From a cute blog:)Saltwater Kids..cute cute cute..My daughter made me the gingerbread girl..  and a tulip..and a butterfly..
and these were the ones I made last year..they were posted here..In a Soul Food post~

Enjoy!

35 comments:

  1. Cookbooks are such wonderful gifts that last the whole year through. Happy New Year best wishes to you and your beautiful family. I hope 2013 will be a healthy and happy year for us all.

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  2. Lovely "snowgirl" ....wish I could get some of that snow...
    it's 42 degree C here today!!!
    Love that wreath bread and cookbooks my favourite too.
    I echo Cathy's comment for your New Year.
    Love Shel x

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  3. The very same for you Cathy and Shel and families!

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  4. The look and the anise would win me over too Monique. What a gorgeous bread. Her book sounds fabulous too. Oh another cookbook for my wish list...

    Wishing you and your family a happy & healthy new year.
    Sam

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  5. I hear you are getting your share of the white stuff this year. That book as well as that bread sounds really interesting; your wreath turned out so pretty. Hope you are enjoying this holiday season.
    Rita

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  6. I'm sitting here by a cozy fire, but no white outside our windows. We have the freezing temps without the moisture. Fun to see your snow girl. ;-)
    The book is a perfect gift for you, Monique. I'm in awe of all that you create in your kitchen. I'm still dreaming of those cute cookie presents. I shared the idea with my friend who has a catering business to pass along to his pastry chef.
    Enjoy the remainder of the holidays and my wish for you is a very healthy and happy 2013.......Sarah

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  7. This bread recipe sounds lovely. I totally agree, that preparing the dough in the bread machine is the way to go for most breads. I would die without my bread machine! :)
    Monique, I was wondering if you have a recipe for making those lovely bird treats featured in your first picture? I have lots of birdies here looking for a holiday treat! :)
    Maureen

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  8. I read a cookbook as I do a novel! The photography and the anticipation of a new recipe are so much fun. I have two waiting for me....your wreath bread delicious.

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  9. I do Maureen..

    I am going to add the link of the recipe I made..this cute doll my daughter made..and I will add that recipe too..they look the same to me..but hers are perfecto!!

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  10. Owww so sweet !! that bird angel !!..love from me...xxx..

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  11. Lovely bread! And what a cute thing you have hanging on a tree on the first photo! Is that bird food all over that ornament?

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  12. Thanks so much for the bird seed recipe link! Perfect.
    Maureen

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  13. Hi Julia..it's all Birdseed..a mix.. I posted 2 links in the body of my post..
    Enjoy..they are fun to make!
    We are being snowed under..hope the power stays on..So MUCH snow....
    Stitching..:)

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  14. The birds will appreciate their cute seed gifts with the snow you are getting :) So adorable! Sadly, the squirrels here would make short work of them and the birds would get very little. I have to keep the seeds contained and under a squirrel-proof baffle. Even then they hang like trapeze artists trying to get to the food. There's plenty the birds drop on the ground for them :)

    I love getting cookbooks! They are like novels I can't put down :) What a gorgeous bread and I love the sound of the anise in it. I must try this one!

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  15. Oh my! That anise bread just went to the top of my must-make list! ( and so did the heart-shaped birdseed cakes) - Thank you!

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  16. We are almost up to 18 inches of snow!

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  17. Oh my 18 inches??? We only got a dusting here in SE Pa. Where are you?? Wishing you a happy and hralthy new year! XO, Pinky

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  18. I'm so curious about the active dry yeast, because we use a fresh yeast (it needs almost 1-2 hours. I have to find it and see if they're the same ...have a blessed happy new year , ciao Flavia

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  19. Lovely post Monique. So much to digest here. Will be on the lookout for that cookery book. I know, some would say I don't need another one . . . but to my way of thinking you can NEVER have too many cookbooks! Many of your food heroines are the same as mine. No surprise there! A very Happy New Year to you and your family. Can't wait to see what you cook up for us in the coming months. Whatever it is I know it is sure to be delicious and beautiful. Love you much, xxoo

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  20. A pretty bread with its wreath shape. I keep thinking about getting a bread machine but every time I look at them I have no idea which one to get.

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  21. I would just make sure it has a dough cycle.. look at Consumer reports..or Google best bread machines..and then just make sure it has a DOUGH cycle..it's the only reason we have a breadmachine..:)

    I know my daughters are on local garage sale pages on the internet..craigslist etc..many breadmakers are offered I think people get them as gifts..and well if you are not going to make bread..well you really don't want one..:)So you sell it..Sometimes they are new..
    You have a big beautiful kitchen with lots of room Karen..it would be deal..
    My friend gave me hers when she moved..we still have our old one.
    The one she gave us..bakes..horizontal..(I don't bake in it) but it has a larger volume than our old one..Shop around..just remember Dough:)

    Pinky we are in QC Canada~



    It is gorgeous this morning with the trees laden with snow..and the sun shining..Froze my face off shoveling in the shady parts though..thawing w/ lunch and coffee..w/ froth:)
    Have a lovely day~



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  22. I have one book of her and I love it..she looks so natural and her dishes are the same.
    I hope you are having a good festive time with family..bisous
    Ronelle

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  23. It's quietened down..It's like it's over Ronelle:) here it is the eve and day..We keep the tree up until Jan 6th par contre..:)

    I am so glad you have one of her books!

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  24. I love the look of this bread and the flavours sound wonderful, too. I am having a ladies' night for new year's eve and I just might attempt this. It would be a hit.

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  25. Enjoy your evening Sarah..that is such a nice idea.. If I can do it..you sure can:)

    Happy 2013.

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  26. The cookbook and the bread both sound wonderful. I will be checking out the book. You've definitely had more snow than we have, and that's fine with me. :-) I'm sure you have made the birds happy. We feed them all winter and esp. enjoy the cardinals. Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  27. Beautiful book indeed and very lovely lady! I love cook books, I treat myself form time to time with a few good cook books. Very fine seed man you have here-)) Very cute.

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  28. A beautiful bread...gifts for the birdies...all beautiful...
    I love to sit and read a new cookbook, like a novel...
    A happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours my dear friend...
    Bisous...
    L xo

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  29. De grosses bises pour une fin d'année que je te souhaite très douce ...
    Hélène

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  30. Snow girl may be sagging a bit, yet she still sparkles :)

    Monique, your festive bread is one I'd hang on my front door, if it didn't look so wonderfully delicious!

    It is my wish that this season will bring you peace, and the same joy you bring to others. Merry Christmas, dear friend. And Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year!

    Warm hugs and good thoughts.

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  31. Belle et heureuse année 2013, pleine de créations!
    Bisous
    cath
    ps: Venez découvrir mon nouveau 'blog photo' weekendAbstrait! Merci à bientôt.

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  32. A wonderful bread! Those flavors are delightful.

    I also feed the birds and enjoy seeing them walking on my balcony.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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