Hot, easy, yummy, bread!

One thing that will never change with my family is the love of good bread.  The one's they want the most are the buttermilk breads.  So, I've made them, perfected them, and altered them.  This is my favorite.  It's even better the second day!

If you like good bread, Bernard Clayton, Jr.'s Complete Book of Breads is a must!  I have used this book for over 33 years (as you can see by the tattered coverlet), and because I have two kids, another..newer one, had to be purchased.  Amazon.com has them for sale for $13.95.  That's a steal!  His method of putting together a recipe is my favorite, out of all the cookbooks I have.  Pictured next to the book is the Scottish Buttermilk Bread.  It's very easy to make, though at my altitude (see my last post) it's a bit of adjustment on the ingredients for getting a nice rise with the bread.  One of the things I've discovered is you can add things!  Oh yay!  I can have a wine, cheese, meat, and bread night and not need to worry about heading all the way up to the north end of town for a good Italian bread.  Just put sliced garlic, or rosemary seasonings in when you are adding moisture to the bread, and there you have it!  A good bread to dip into the olive oil you love.

I would post the recipe, but don't want to infringe on publications rights, so I will say to you, it's the best $15 you will spend if you want a good bread book!  Check out the bread sticks, War Bread, and bagel recipes while you're at it.  My regular corn bread recipe comes from this book ("Yankee Corn Bread"), though I skip the bacon bits. 

The wine pictured is one that no one can get here in the states anymore, much to my sadness.  It is an Argentine Bonarda.  They are amongst my very favorite of all.  However, after typing this, I had to go back and look at the picture again as I had put Malbec, which also comes from Argentina and this Winery.  But neither one is shipped out of the country now.  There are many good ones out there, less so for Bonarda, but they can be found.  Big, bold, fruity, juicy reds!!!  Drink them with Spanish foods, Mexican food, and lots of other foods.  If you have a question regarding these lovely gems, I will try and find the answers for you if I don't know.

Good night, and good dreams!