Baker Baker Bake Me Some Bread

Dyad bread cooling on Imagine

It began this winter.  I decided to try baking bread using a yeast-based starter when we ran out of bread on Imagine.    In theory, adding basic ingredients every few days would keep the starter alive and always ready to make bread.  This bread is sometimes called Amish Friendship Bread because starter is shared with friends.  The first few loaves were hit and miss.  The day the starter spilled over in the refrigerator, I decided my bread making days were over.

The husband had other ideas.  Ed loves fresh baked bread.  After a conversation with fellow cruisers Dave and Kathi, the bread baking experiement began again.  The couple, who sail with doggie mate, Danfort, live abaord a large aluminum catamaran named Dyad.  Kathi assured me that they had the perfect recipe for an easy fail safe, quick rising bread.  The recipie could be found on their website BigDumBoat.com.  What the heck?  It was worth a try.

As promised, the recipe was quick and easy.   It requires no milk or eggs… a plus for cruising cooks.   I first made Dyad bread in January and have been baking our own bread every since.   Each week I make two loaves, one for sandwiches and one for dessert or French toast.   Every other week I make extra for pizza, stromboli, or pepperoni bread.   Ed says that I can never buy store bought bread again.  The verdict is out on that.

Some people buy wheat bread. Some people buy rye bread.  On Imagine we make Dyad bread.   If I start the yeasty mixture by 8:00 a.m., the bread will be baked and out of the oven by 10 a.m.  In addition to being easy to make, it is versatile.  It can easily become raison bread, coconut bread, cranberry orange bread, wheat bread, multi-grain bread or plain old white bread.

The recipe is simple.  I double it from the original Dyad recipe. To make one loaf, loaf, use one package of yeast; add three tablespoons of warm water and two teaspoons of sugar.   Set aside and wait until yeast mixture becomes foamy doubles itself.  While waiting for the yeast to rise, mix three cups of flour into a large bowl along with two teaspoons of salt.   In a separate bowl mix one cup of warm water (not hot) and three tablespoons of olive oil.   When yeast mix is ready, use a wooden spoon and mix all ingredients together in the large bowl.  When mixed, cover and set aside for 45 minutes.   Knead mixture for about 10 minutes using just enough flour to keep hands from sticking to the dough. 

When finished, shape a loaf and place into slightly greased loaf pan.  I use a burst of quick non-stick spray.  Let the bread rise until dough reaches top of loaf pan (about 30 minutes).  Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.  On Imagine, the oven runs hot so I can only bake it for 25 minutes or the bottom gets over brown.   To ensure a soft crust, brush warm bread lightly with olive oil or butter after removing bread from pans. Don’t over do it!

After smelling the delicious aroma of bread baking on the boat, it’s hard to wait until the bread is cool enough to taste a slice.  Ed has dubbed himself the quality control technician and has to taste each loaf while still warm.  Most times, he eats it plain.  Other times he adds butter or honey.    Everywhere he goes, Ed tells people about Dyad Bread.  One would think he was making it himself.

The favorite bread on Imagine utilizes a multi grain flour mix, which produces nutty textured bread.  For dessert breads, I spread dough into a rectangle and add raisons, coconut, cinnamon and other fruits and spices.   The rectangle is rolled up and ends pinched together before adding to the pan.   One can even roll hotdogs and bake until lightly brown.  The hotdog wrap is one of Ed’s favorite lunch specials.

The utilization of the basic Dyad recipe can result in endless varieties of bread.  We’ve heard of cruisers who have made conch bread, jalapeño bread, and corn bread.  Others have made muffins and cinnamon rolls.  Yummy!  For those who haven’t made bread recently, now might be the time to stop and smell the aroma of fresh baked bread.  I can guarantee that your friends and family will appreciate it.  The only thing I haven’t been able to do is cut out the calories.   Every good thing has a flip side.

On the next rainy day, bring out the sunshine.  Try the Dyad recipe.  I would love to know what you’ve come up with.  Baker, baker, bake me some bread… please.