Take back the bread

Sourdoughs are one of the older kinds of breads still around. Instead of instant yeast, they rely on a yeast colony called a starter or a 'mother'. This is a container of a liquid flour mixture that already has its own yeast within it, captured from the air months or years before. This starter has been fermenting for a long time, so it gives sourdough breads a distinctive slightly sour taste which is really yummy. It also makes for great crusts and moist insides. You often run across sourdough buns in good restaurants. Now here's your chance to make this time-honoured bread at home.This recipe requires a starter, so if you don't have one, click here and I'll show you how to make one. Today's video podcast shows you how to  makes one loaf, and like all sourdoughs, it takes a while. I've timed it so you can start it before you go to work, and finish it when you come home. Your time is quite minimal - just a few minutes. The yeast does most of the work.Click here to watch the podcast:http://www.takebackthebread.com/podcasts/sourdough.m4vIngredients:2 cups of starter2 tsp of salt2 tsp sugar4-5 cups of white flour2 tbsps of vegetable oil

In this video podcast, Steve the Bread Guy shows you how to make a sourdough starter from scratch.What is a starter? Sourdough breads have been around for many centuries, and all of them start with a 'mother' or starter. It's simply some flour and water that has already been colonized by some yeast. It's kept in the fridge, and some bakeries have 'mothers' which have been alive for over a century. These starters create breads which have a lovely tang to them, and produce really crunchy crusts. Making one of these 'mothers' is easy, and will use yeast that is floating in the air in your kitchen, so your sourdough breads will be unique to your home. Homemade, indeed!To watch the video, click here:http://www.takebackthebread.com/podcasts/starter.m4v

This is a glorious loaf that looks even better than it tastes. Often served at Easter, it has a sweet rich flavour, and a beautiful appearance thanks to some simple braiding. If you've never tried to shape bread like this before ( or you just don't know how to braid), no worries, just watch the video, I'll show you how. This one takes about 3 hours from start to finish.Ingredients:1 tbsp of yeast1/2 cup of warm water1/2 tsp of sugar4 eggs2 tbsps honey1/4 cup melted butter4 cups of white flour3 tbsps of sesame seeds ( optional)Click here to watch the video:http://www.takebackthebread.com/podcasts/eggbread.m4v

Most of us think of dark rye breads as something you buy, not something you can bake at home. Think again! This video will show you that it is easy, taking advantage of the colouring of some chocolate and molasses to get a deep dark brown.So, get your ingredients together, and follow along with me on the video to make some lovely dark rye bread today. You can do it! ( oh, and we'll be using our hands, not any bread machines).Ingredients:2 tsp active dry yeast2 cups warm water2 tsp salt2 heaping tbsps of cocoa powder¼ cup of dark molasses2 cups of white flour2 cups of dark rye flour Click here to watch:http://www.takebackthebread.com/podcasts/rye.m4v