No Knead Bread

I have never posted a recipe for this Bread before because well

I felt the blogosphere was inundated with them 

But

I have been asked for the recipe so many times 

and I always add my additional changes

meaning I then have to write out the instructions

That I am finally succumbing and posting the recipe and method.

If you have never heard of Jim Lahey's No Knead Bread.........

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
and if you have never made it

then I cannot urge you enough to get out a bag of flour and get baking.

This is so so simple and I tell you it changed my life!!

Strong words, you say

Well after living in New York for 10 years I moved myself and family to a small village

in the middle of Ireland.

Being a lover of food and cooking I romanticised about 

growing vegetables, baking scones, making jams and chutneys

....... and well, really all those dreams came true....

What I had not anticipated was that there were things I would miss

That recipe calling for a pinch of Zatar...... hmmmm

a dash of Sumac........

a fresh baked flaky croissant and of course that Artisan bread that is 

served in every one of my favourite NY eateries

slightly sour with a thick chewy crust........

Well, when I first read about this bread in US Vogue at 11pm at night

 I upped out of my bed ran downstairs in my barefeet and nightie and got cracking

The next day, as I said ...... it changed my life.

Suddenly I felt like we had a little bit of NY here in my kitchen

Friends visited and I baked this bread

and wallowed in their oohs and aahs 

"You really made this?"

This Bread gave me more confidence in the kitchen

It encouraged me to venture into yeast territory

A strange and foreign terrain that I had never before explored with success.

(and just to add I still have a temperamental relationship with)

So, if you have never tried baking bread 

if you are scared of yeast 

if you love bread

if you live in a rural area where it is hard to source a good artisan loaf

....... then this is the bread for you 

NOTES: you will be cooking this bread 18 hours after you start 

so decide when you want to eat it and count backwards

you will need a cast iron crock pot with a lid 

like a le creuset 

you want a 6-8 qt pot

RECIPE

3 cups (430 grms ) flour (you can use bread flour but it is not essential)

1 1/2 cups (345 grams) warm water

1/2 tspn dried yeast 

1 1/4 tspn salt

METHOD*

Add water to flour, yeast and salt

mix together to form a wet dough

cover with cling film 

leave at room temperature for 16-20 hours 

an hour before you are ready to bake turn your oven on full 

which is usually somewhere around 500f or 250c

Place bottom of crock pot in oven to heat up 

after 45 mins to an hour carefully remove your pot 

throw in the dough

sprinkle with a little flour

place lid on 

put in oven and bake covered for 30-40 mins

remove bread from pot and place in oven to bake for a further 10 - 15 mins

you will need to play around with your own oven a bit to figure out what works best 

but this should be a good guideline for most 

remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting

Best eaten on day it is baked

except if you are toasting

it will keep as toasting bread for up to a week

*I have adapted the method from the Jim Lahey way as I found it didn't really make a difference if you took the dough out and folded or didn't 

This way is much simpler but if you wish to try the original then you can find it HERE

This month on Instagram

My recent life on 

INSTAGRAM

Life has become very full

very busy 

It is exciting and I will let you all know what I have been up to very soon

Unfortunately though it means I have less time to spend updating the blog

I am however still very active on 

Follow @helenjamesdesign

Creamy Fudge

This is incredibly creamy and delicious

Very simple to make but you must follow the instructions 

paying special attention to timing 

INGREDIENTS

1lb caster sugar

4fl ozs milk

1 tsp salt

1 Can condensed milk

1 tsp vanilla essence

METHOD

line a 6" x 9 1/2" tin with parchment paper

Place the sugar and milk in a heavy bottom saucepan 

stir on medium heat for 2 mins until sugar is dissolved

( stir a little longer 30 seconds, if sugar is still grainy)

Add salt and condensed milk and let it start to bubble

Stir constantly bubbling mixture for 7 mins

it should be a light butterscotch colour

if you feel it is still pale stir for 1 minute longer 

but keep watching so it doesn't burn

gently stir in vanilla essence

**NOW THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT**

pour into bowl and allow to cool for 5-6 mins

when cooled whip for 1-2 mins until thick and creamy 

quickly pour into tin to set

if it starts to set mid pour 

place a sheet of grease proof paper on top and press down to smooth it out

leave to set 10 mins

turn out and cut into squares

this will keep in an airtight container for a good few days

**whipping the mixture while it is still hot will make the fudge grainy and sandy

also transferring it to a clean bowl before you whip it helps cut down on the risk of graininess

if you follow thos 2 instructions you shouls get thick and creamy fudge**

Banana Bread

This is a simple but utterly delicious recipe for 

Banana bread

Given to me by the lovely James from Avoca

I have added choc chunks

because.........well, do I need a reason

JAMES' BANANA BREAD

3-4 small ripe banana's

1/3 cup melted butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg beaten

1 tspn vanilla essence

1 tspn Baking soda

pinch salt

1 1/2 cup flour

100g bar of dark chocolate broken into large chunks

 METHOD

Pre heat oven to 350f or 180c

add the melted butter to banana's and mash

add sugar, egg and vanilla and mix well

sift in flour, salt and bak soda and chocolate chunks and mix

transfer into a 4x8 buttered loaf tin and bake for 45 mins

(but check after 35)

or until a cake tester comes out clean

Enjoy

x

Tory Burch S/S13

I can't say I have been a huge fan of Tory Burch

BUT 

her spring/summer 2013 collection 

has me all hot and bothered

Uptown Ethnic

is what I would refer to it as

and I loved it

I am particularly swooning over the accessories

Incredible..........

I am putting my pennies aside immediately

KERRY

I have just returned from a week in Kerry in the South of Ireland

What a glorious few days 

I had forgotten just how beautiful the landscape is down there

and how dramatic the sky

BallyDavid at sunset

Inch Beach

and the incredible coastline

The kids played in the sand

made "weapons" from beach debris

there were walks

and Horses

and surfing!

and of course a little shopping

shop window Dingle

and I did get in to the water and swim 
and it was freezing  and invigorating

It was also amazing to me how a little water and sand 
occupied 7 children for hours every day 
without a complaint or whinge

Truly a great week
x  

Smarten up

I am about to embark on a new and very exciting project

I am beyond excited at the opportunity 

A side affect is that I will have to smarten up my wardrobe

I have been looking for inspiration

First stop J Crew

a bit bland but a really good basic, 

could be brightened with statement jewelry

or a more colourful or patterned blouse, 

perhaps this one

Love these pants and the teeny polka dot shirt

I already own this blazer in blue 

and it is one of my favourites 

may have to add the red in wool for Winter

I also checked out BODEN

I have always been a fan of their kids stuff

but this season they seem to be shaking off the 

yummy mummy persona for something a little bit edgier, I like it

The cords are a little casual but I like the colours and the jacket is a great cut

These pants also look like a great cut may have to get a few different colours

This Jacket and this skirt are both currently on sale over at 

Margaret Howell

Love the simplicity of this outfit from COS

Also the essence of simplicity 

-this look from

Net-A-Porter

magazine

 and while we are at Net-a-porter

why not pick up this Johnathan Saunders jacket

LOVE  IT

So wish me luck 

and I will let you all know the details as soon as I can 

x