Broken heart bread

Well i decided that I wasn't going to be prejudice in my tribute to Valentines day and include people who, should we say, are less than enthusiastic about the love sick holiday. So in todays post i'm including one of my favorite bread recipes that can be baked up by one of those mournful souls that have been hurt and just want to take their aggressions out on something that won't try and get revenge back!

Broken Heart Bread

1 cups warm water (110 F/45 C)
32g (3 tbsp) sugar
3/4 tbsp (1 pkg*) active dry yeast *edited to say 1 pkg of yeast
3/4 teaspoons salt
2 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
360g (3 cups) bread flour (i've used AP flour with very good results too)

I do this all in my kitchenaid which makes it all that much easier, but it can be done just as easily without one.

Dissolve sugar, warm water, and yeast in mixing bowl cover with towel and let sit for 10 minutes. It should have a nice foam on top. It means the yeast is working properly.

Add oil and salt and set on lowest speed with paddle attatchment. Gradually add flour about a cup at a time until approx. a cup remains. Switch to dough hook. Add remaining flour and mix on speed 2 for 4 minutes (if not using a mixer this is where you would turn it out onto a floured surface and knead by hand for 7-10 minutes incorporating the last cup of flour).

Scrape down sides and I usually make sure I have the counter very clean and I dump the dough out onto the counter and add a touch of oil into the bowl and put the dough back in the bowl. Turn to coat, making sure to coat the sides of the bowl also. Cover with a kitchen towel and set in a warm, draft-free place. I like my oven with the light turned on. Let proof for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Punch down dough(again another good way to get aggressions out :). Dust counter with flour and dump dough out onto counter.

Roll dough into log about 12" in length. place on oiled cookie sheet, fold in half and pinch bottom into point.

Cover and place in a warm draft-draft free spot until doubled in size for approx. 1 hour. Again I like to use my oven with the light on.

preheat oven to 350 F (175 C) but remember to take out the bread first if you are proofing them in the oven!!!

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and hollow sounding when thumped. for soft crust rub outside with butter or margarine right after taking it out of oven.

You are now ready to get out all of your pent up aggression and rip apart the heart of the person that did you wrong! with out actually having to go to jail, hehe!

On a side note, this works perfect as a nice gift for loved ones on valentines day while still intact :D