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Date: Nov. 21st 2007
Category: Bread
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Remember No Knead Bread?
Remember when everywhere you turned, it was all you could read about? Since I’ve been blogging (December 2005), I can’t think of another food item that was so talked about and written about in both print and on-line.
Unfortunately for the Cream Puff, I had to sit and watch as the No Knead Bread craze passed me by. I felt like the kid in gym class that never gets picked for the team.
You see, even though I have a house full of baking pans and various other baking utensils, the one item I didn’t own during that memorable period of food history was a vessel with a lid that would be able to withstand the heat at which the bread needed to be baked.
It’s hard to believe, I know, but it’s true.
So while the rest of the world No-Kneaded, I just sat idly by. I salivated as I read post after post about the success of this incredible bread. And I wondered when, if ever, I’d get to share in the joy of eating that crusty bread.
Well I must have been a very good girl in 2006 because Santa gave me a gift certificate for one of my favourite kitchen stores. Of course being the disorganized creature that I am, I prompty put the gift certificate away for “safekeeping” and naturally forgot about it.
A few weeks ago, as I frantically searched for one item through the piles of paper on my desk, I of course ended up coming across another item, my gift certificate. Noticing that it was about to expire, I made my way over to The Main Course, surely one of Toronto’s most beautiful stores. And there, I set my eyes on (and did not take my eyes off of) an Emile Henry covered pot that you can use both on the stovetop and in the oven.
And get this. It withstands high heats.
Clutching my gift certificate, I walked right up to the first salesperson and pointed delightedly at the pot. Within half an hour, I was on my way home thinking of one thing and one thing only: No Knead Bread.
After getting home, I began searching for the recipe and once again I ended up finding something else in the process. I found a recipe for Chocolate-Cherry Pecan Bread, based on the No Knead Bread foundation, from the King Arthur Flour Web site. As you may have noticed, I’ve made the King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion my Flavour of the Month as it’s one of my very favourite cookbooks. When I came across their version of the No Knead Bread studded with chocolate, dried cherries and pecans, I had to try it.
The fact that the loaf on the King Arthur site was baked in what appeared to be the very same pot that I had purchased was only confirmation to me that the baking gods wanted me to make this bread.
Alas, I had no dried cherries, but I had plenty of chocolate and pecans and so I proceeded with the recipe. As so many people had experienced previously, it was a wonder to make and fascinating as well. I can hardly believe that I was able to get such a crackly, artisanal-like crust on a loaf of bread that I baked. Wow!
The bread was delicious! It had a beautiful crumb and everyone in my family enjoyed slathering (and I mean SLATHERING) loads of butter on it. The only problem I encountered was that the bottom crust burnt ever so slightly. Not that it prevented us from eating it, mind you, but I may try baking the bread at a slightly lower heat next time to ward off an overly blackened bottom.
Finally! I am a member of the No Knead Bread team and no longer sitting by myself in gym class!
Ciao!
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11/21/07 at 7:08 pm
The pot looks pretty and the bread yummy. I have to admit, though, that I had never heard of the No Knead Bread before. Now I am curious.
11/21/07 at 7:18 pm
Congratulations on your new pot. I have been wanting one for years. But just to let you know I have been making the on-knead bread in my large calon. It is soo big the bread does not touch the sides but it always turns out beautifully. Enjoy your new pot. Clarice
11/21/07 at 7:50 pm
Your new pot is beautiful! Such a pretty red! And your bread looks yummy. I’ve never tried the no knead bread either, but I plan to.
11/21/07 at 8:05 pm
Isn’t that a coincidence….my boss gave me this recipe juts last week. She bakes hers in a big bean crock in the oven.
11/21/07 at 9:43 pm
A very nice way to use your newly acquired lovely cocotte. Emile Henry rocks!
11/21/07 at 11:20 pm
I have been wanting one of those forever! It actually makes me feel better to know that you just got yours because I assumed you had everything and maybe ten of them already! Now, I don’t feel so bad…Not only do I want it for bread, but I also want it for baked stews and casseroles.
Happy Thanksgiving, reading your blog had been a delight since day one!
11/22/07 at 1:07 am
What a gorgeous pot!
Now I think I am the only person lef to make the bread.
11/22/07 at 1:34 am
Beautiful pot! You MUST bake a chicken in it - I’m not sure why, but chicken turns out amazing in a cast iron pot.
11/22/07 at 2:12 am
I have this very pot! It’s absolutely brilliant but you’ve just opened up a whole new world of possibilities for its usage
11/22/07 at 2:39 am
Congratulations on your new pot!
The bread looks gorgeous with pecans and cherries! I have to admit that I still havn’t done the no knead bread. I’ve been planning to in ages but I always forget….
11/22/07 at 2:45 am
Hi, 1st Happy belated DB bithday! I completed my second challenge last weekend, and can’t wait for Nov. 26th to post & read everyone stories.
Love the idea of ‘no knead bread’ - I must have really been out of the loop as I have not heard of this. What a fabulous idea. I have added your Emile Henrey pot to my ‘kitchen shopping list’ - and to get that artisanal crispy crust is a real achievement. I though this could only be done if you had a professional steam oven. Glad you proved this theory wrong
11/22/07 at 5:29 am
By yourself? That was me behind you, providing the breeze by fanning you! Now I’m all alone without a good dutch oven. (sobs!)
Your bread looks great, btw!
11/22/07 at 6:00 am
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I know EXACTLY how you feel.. I didn’t have a dutch oven when the big No Knead craze was going on either - but I just bought one (Mario Batali’s line of cast iron/enamel dutch ovens) while Helene & Mary were here. WOOOOO!
I finally got to make the Bourguignon I’ve always wanted to try and a few other fantastic casseroles & soups.. next on my list is No Knead! WOOT!
Your bread is utterly gorgeous as well as that pot - very saucy and sexy!
xoxo
11/22/07 at 7:59 am
What a wonderful excuse for a new pot! I’ve tried this bread too, in my Dutch oven — the burnt bottom crust might have something to do with the heaviness of the pan, so playing with oven temperature and the position of the oven racks might take care of that. No matter, the bread is delicious, and I love how it looks in your bright new red pot!
11/22/07 at 8:05 am
What a delicous looking bread! I have made the no knead bread a few times before (I too was a late bloomer. My family LOVES it and it doesn’t last long. My husband tells me it reminds him of the bread his Mom used to make. I have not yet experimented with different versions. This version I have to bake. What a coincidence that I too purchased a red pot (Lagostina) to bake this bread in (actually I bought two - I lose control)!
11/22/07 at 8:25 am
Omg! You will never believe this but I just got a cast iron pot too…and the first thing on my mind was the no-knead bread! I know exactly how you felt not have the pot for the bread when the big craze hit…my thought as we dragged the pot back home, “I can finally make no-knead bread!” Yay!
11/22/07 at 9:15 am
Great bread and great pot! I like slightly burnt bread, pity I wasn’t there to taste a slice…
11/22/07 at 9:23 am
You’re so cute! I’m in university and it sucks being stuck with fastfoods. You always make me hungry with the pictures =(
11/22/07 at 12:24 pm
Hehe, funny post :)) I’ve never heard about this (maybe that was more of an American thing…) , but it sounds amazing!
11/22/07 at 1:52 pm
Oh, Ivonne… what a truly awesome bread to break your “no-knead” virginity with. It looks delicious! Congratulations.
Which reminds me… time to whip up a loaf myself.
11/22/07 at 8:08 pm
Welcome to the world of No Knead Bread! You will soon be addicted to it and want to make it all the time. Try adding some Kalamata olives and sun dried tomatoes sometime. That makes a really nice loaf. I, on the other hand, am going to make that chocolate version right now!
11/22/07 at 10:05 pm
Your crust is to die for!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11/23/07 at 12:26 am
I’m so glad you got the chance to finally try this baking method. I’ve been baking my bread this way since the New York Times article came out and I’ll never go back to the old way.
11/23/07 at 6:58 am
What a beautiful casserole, Ivonne, I’m sure it will bring you a lot of cooking pleasure. I’ve never tried the no-knead bread (still sitting on that bench), but I quite like the therapeutic kneading. And I seem to remember a post by David Lebovitz saying it only works with American style flour. I am intrigued though, especially about the chocolate bread, so I might give it a go…
11/23/07 at 7:13 am
Many happy returns to you and your pot - I know the kind of happiness it brings. I love the inspiration to make it with chocolate and nuts; that’s the kind of loaf of bread I could spend some serious time getting to know…
11/23/07 at 8:28 am
You’re not alone! I STILL haven’t tried the No Knead bread — I feel so out of synch with the rest of the foodie community. I assure you, however, that when I DO try it (which will be soon…I swear…), I will be trying this version with dried cherries and chocolate…YUM…
11/23/07 at 12:56 pm
I have yet to do the no-knead bread thing either, but I think you may have tempted me just enough! This looks good.
11/23/07 at 7:27 pm
That is just GREAT that you were finally able to join the thousands of other successful no-knead bakers. I can’t wait to try THIS version. I love the regular one, and it just seems to disappear every time I make it. You have arrived!
11/24/07 at 1:50 am
Great post, very humorous. You got yourself a beaut of a red pan. Seems like it was worth the wait. Happy brad baking and all the other things these pans do so well.
11/24/07 at 4:39 pm
Welcome to the wonderful world of no knead bread! After I made this the first time, it was the only bread my Dad wanted me to make.
11/24/07 at 6:05 pm
What a beautiful pot…. I just was handed down a small le creuset dutch oven that I would love to make this bread in, but I’ll have to check on what temp the thing can withstand. I’ll be on the lookout for more no-knead breads now that you are in the cool club!!
11/25/07 at 2:00 pm
Did it sing to you Ivonne when it came out of the oven? We’ve been calling you to join the team for so long.
King Arthur is terrific all the way: flour & cookbooks.
11/26/07 at 2:48 am
You must try my No Knead Chicken.
http://winosandfoodies.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/08/no-knead-chicke.html