Sunday, November 23, 2014

Farm House Breads

Farm house breads are made with all local/NYS flour, have added yeast and are baked in a 8x4 bread pan. (unless otherwise described) Prices and availability are subject to change, inquire at macera44@live.com for the most to date information. A three day request would be greatly appreciated!


7 Grain WW Molasses  1# $6.00  This is a hearty loaf with a 50/50 blend. Bring the best of All-purpose and wheat together. Then add in the crunch and nutritional factor of  7 grains and kiss it with a slightly dark & smoky sweetness from the molasses, well lets just say : ham, Swiss cheese and mustard never had it so good!!

Black Bean Raisin   1# $5.00  Black Beans are slowly cooked in a cast iron pot, then pureed for this loaf. The nutritional value is increased with the use of the cooking liquids and a blend of 50/50 wheat flour and all- purpose. This is a moist dense loaf with a hint of sweetness from the raisins.

Brioche  1.5# $7.00 This loaf once again highlights the use of local ingredients from the farm fresh free range eggs to the raw local honey to the local butter. Each component of this loaf changes seasonal, which is highlighted in the color of the slice, which can range from a light golden yellow to a deeper golden color, based on the season of the eggs, honey and butter.

Cinnamon Honey Wheat Raisin  1.5# $8.00 Again the use of local honey in this loaf brings just enough sweetness, to this 70/30 loaf (70% bread flour/30% ww flour). Loaded with just enough raisins for that perfect balance of nutty ww and sweetness.

Colonial Oat   $5.00 This loaf is a staple loaf like no other in my line up. A beautiful blend of local bread flour , wheat flour and oats. This is a 60%/20%/20% loaf, that as its name shows, has been around for good bit of time. With the slightest addition of brown sugar (just a 1/4 c or so) a wonderful hint of a caramel brings out the local honey flavor. (this is loaf that has always been done by hand, as it produces 6 -1.5# loaves per batch, I love making this bread!)

English Muffin Bread  $5.00 This is my husband all time favorite bread! Toasted and buttered or jammed, this bread has all those nooks/crannies of a English muffin. A definite hands down best loaf for grilled cheese! This is a 100% bread flour loaf, with barest of bare use of honey, for feeding the yeast.

  Ethiopian Spiced Honey  $13.00 2# or $7.00 1#

Pictured is a special order loaf, that came in around 3#. A great addition to a table for some wow factor and flavor!

But no mater what size, this bread offers a flavorful blend of how local flours, raw honey and Coriander, Cinnamon and Clove can play on your palette well.





Finnish Pulla   $8.00 2# or $5.00 #1 This is another beautiful braided loaf. This is a cross between a Brioche and a Challah texture loaf, that I learned from my friend from...right Finland! This is a sweet bread, that uses one of my favorite spices, Cardamom. French toast, bread pudding, chicken salad sandwich, croutons, bread crumbs (used on top of a winter squash gratin...a must try) or grilled, then add some soft goat cheese, fig jam and prosciutto, you have a great appetizer.

Focaccia Rosemary  $6.00 This Italian bread, I learned how to make from friends Grandmother, who at the time was in her 80's, still working with hands to produce some of the best Focaccia I have ever had, even to this day. (not to mention all the other breads, pasta and pastries!) This when I learned about "00" flour. This is a 13x9 loaf, that can be used for Panini's, croutons, grilled etc. This a crispy exterior that highlights the olive oil used, with a soft chewy middle. Fresh rosemary studded through out and again on top with a generous sprinkle of Celtic Gray salt. 

Focaccia Rosemary Orange Currant  $8.00 Same as above, but with the addition of orange zest and currants. I love this one for when I make a panzanella salad...just yum!

Honey WW 7 Grain   $6.00 This is a  hearty 60/40 loaf of wheat bread that offers a little extra crunch from the 7 grain and sweetened with just enough honey to keep this light and moist. I love this bread with some sliced corned beef, Swiss and a generous smear of a good, whole grain beer mustard!

Rosca  $4.00 This is a loaf that really shows why using the best local flours, is best. A few simple ingredients, flour, water, salt, yeast and cloves will have you relaxing with a strong cup of coffee mid morning. My friend from Turkey turned me on to this bread, after I said I was not a fan of clove. This is a round loaf, that is sprinkle with toasted sesame. I love this on a brunch table, to break of chunks and share!

WW English Muffin Loaf w/Currants   $5.00 This also features nooks/crannies as the regular English Muffin loaf, but brings in some earthiness from the ww flour and just a hint of sweetness from the currants.


Monday, November 17, 2014

How is my bread made



Did you know, that we have flour mills still in NYS?

Champlain Valley is located Westport, NY

Farmers Ground is located in Trumansburg, NY http://farmergroundflour.squarespace.com/

Both offer a great variety of organic flours. Believe it or not, each company has their own distinctness about them, which adds to the flavors produced in my breads, or pastries. Yes, they both offer similarly items, after a couple of years of working with both, I found which flours I like from each.

Other then an occasional addition of "00" flour (which I buy imported, I know not local, but I have used this flour for many, many years in certain breads, I just can't part with it)I only use these two brands, for my traditional breads. I always source organic whenever available as well.  My gluten free, well that is not easy to source locally, but hey here's hoping someday!

So, on average each loaf of traditional bread, is 90% local. (allowing for oil, salts etc.) Pretty good right? My local is this, if the product offered is worth the drive anywhere here in NYS, its pretty much in my zone!

I do offer a leavened bread (sourdough) and breads with added yeast. I like to have access to both, and have found many customers do as well. After all, this local thing is also about making your own choice, knowing what is in the items you purchase, etc. My yeast added breads, do a slow rise in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours, which helps some with the fermentation and developing flavors.

As I am a home based baker, I have only standard kitchen equipment, which is why I only make a limited amount of breads for markets. No big ovens, or refrigerators. This does not mean I produce a lesser quality bread, for me, quite the contrary. Each batch of dough is hand made from beginning to end. This year, I made every batch by hand (didn't even use my standard kitchen aid mixer!!)Some of my recipes will produce anywhere from 4-8 loaves per batch, so pretty much more then my little mixer could handle! But even my leaven breads, that make two loaves, I do by hand. I found for this bread, it was even better for getting a nice clean slight sour taste (which is really highlighted when toasted)but more creamy and delicate. But did you know that a true leaven bread, in part pulls must of the "wild" yeast from your hands, so only makes sense to go old school. Plus it is such a great way to relieve stress! So this is why I only bring so many of each kind and often switch up the types I do bring. It is all about time management for me to get this done!

I have developed a similar way to make my GF bread, but I do use a mixer. Over the last year, off and on, I have experimented and found, that a slow cold fermentation also benefits the GF bread. I am constantly working on my GF line (although in the height of market season, I don't have as much time) to bring more flavors to those that are in need of GF items! 

When you purchase my bread or pastries you also support the following farms/small business (and this list is ever expending as I discover so many wonderful farms and small business we are lucky to have here in NYS):

Bouchard Farm II, Little Falls
Land of Milk and Honey, Little Falls
Fire Seed Farm, Dolgeville
Kids Market, Washington Mills
Valley Side Farm, Remsen
Gaurdi Farm, Richfield Springs
Rock Hill Farm, Mohawk
Peck Farm, Sprakers
Olivers Farm, Frankfort
Jones Family Farm, Herkimer
Three Village Cheese, Middleville
Saranac Brewery
Shaw Maple, Clinton
The Mustard Seed, Little Falls
Lune Chocolate, Manulis
Farmshed Food Hub, Syracuse
and soon, many local distilleries as I sample the goods coming out of this area!!



Friday, November 14, 2014

Be patient I have begun the process of revamping this page!! Thank you!!