Old Fashioned Batter Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Put the cubed butter, shortening, and flour in a mixing bowl and place in the freezer while you prepare a floured work surface* and get the skillet ready. Add the bacon fat to the skillet over medium-low heat to preheat while making the dough. (The skillet needs to be hot before adding the dough, but keep an eye on it, reducing the heat if necessary). Remove the bowl from the freezer and quickly cut the fats into the flour with a pastry cutter until well incorporated. Make a well in the center and gradually stir in 1 cup buttermilk just until it forms a ragged dough (do not overmix), adding a little more buttermilk if needed. (I ended up using 1 1/4 c). Dump the dough out onto the floured work surface, sprinkle the top lightly with flour, and shape into a circle that is about 1" smaller than the bottom of your skillet. Using a wide spatula*, transfer the disc of dough to the hot skillet. Place cover on the skillet and reduce heat to the setting between low and medium-low. Cook without lifting the cover for about 10 minutes or until browned. (Lift an edge to check.) Flip* over and cook the other side for another 5-10 minutes. Brush melted butter over the top when done. To serve, break off in irregular pieces and serve hot. *NOTES I don't have a wide spatula so here's how I managed to get the fragile dough in and out of the skillet. Just disregard if you have one. First, I floured a square of foil (a little larger than the skillet) and when I was finished patting the dough into a disc I brushed the excess flour off the foil then carefully inverted the disc of dough into the skillet. (You should have just enough bacon fat in the skillet to grease it well but not be puddled anywhere, so next time I may invert the skillet over the dough then flipping it). When I was ready to brown the other side, I slipped the bread out of the skillet onto a plate then inverted the skillet over it and then flipped it over. All this was trial and error, but it worked!! Maybe, it's time to buy a wide spatula! lol

Steps:

• Pour milk in a heatproof bowl, and gently warm in a microwave oven set on Low until milk is about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C), about 15 seconds. Mix in the sugar and honey, and stir to dissolve. Mix in the yeast, and let stand until the yeast activates and forms a creamy layer on the milk, about 15 minutes.
• Place 4 cups of bread flour and the salt into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer; pour in the yeast mixture, and mix on slow speed with a mixing paddle until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute; dough will be very wet. Add the butter, and mix in the remaining 2 cups of bread flour, or as needed, until the dough begins to gather itself into a ball. Change the fitting from the mixing paddle to a dough hook, and machine-knead the dough until smooth and springy, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer the dough onto a well-floured work surface, and knead until you see the surface of the dough begin to break during folding and kneading. Roll dough into a ball, and place into a lightly floured large bowl. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel, and set into a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Spray 2 9x5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray.
• Punch down the dough, remove to the floured surface, and knead for 2 more minutes; cut the dough in half with a sharp knife. Form the dough into logs, adding more flour if necessary, and place the loaves into the sprayed pans. Cover the pans with a kitchen towel, and place into a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 more hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place the bread loaves into the preheated oven, and turn the heat down to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake until the tops are golden brown and the loaves make a hollow sound when thumped, about 25 minutes. Cool the pans on baking racks for about 5 minutes before turning the bread loaves out to finish cooling on racks. Cover the loaves with a kitchen towel as they cool.

Steps:

• Mix flour and baking powder. Add water to make a soft dough. Pat dough out on a sheet of plastic wrap to about 1/2" thick.
• Heat up about 1/4" of oil or lard to medium heat in a cast iron or non stick pan.
• Cut dough into about 9 biscuits.
• Fry on one side until brown. Flip and cook about 2-3 minutes more. Test for doneness by flaking the side of a biscuit with a fork. If it seems dry inside it is done.
• Serve with butter and jam. Can also be napped with gravy and served with stewed hamburger and onions.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, pour boiling water over oats. Stir in butter and molasses. Let stand until mixture cools to 120°-130°, stirring occasionally., In another bowl, combine 3-1/2 cups flour, yeast and salt. Beat in oat mixture until blended. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Shape into loaves. Place in two greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°. Bake 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in water, add honey and let stand until it bubbles, approx 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add salt and oil to yeast mixture, then add flour a little at time until you have a stiff dough.
• Turn dough out on a floured surface and mold into a ball shape. Place in pan and cover; let rise for about an hour.
• Punch down the ball of dough and mold it into a loaf shape to fit you bread pan. Cover with a towel and let raise again until it doubled in size.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 45 minutes. Bread is done when it is golden brown and sounds hollow when thumped.

Steps:

• 1. In large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, oats, salt and yeast mix well.2. In small saucepan, heat water, molasses and margarine until very warm (120 to 130°F.). Add warm liquid and egg to flour mixture blend at low speed until moistened. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed.3. By hand, stir in remaining 1 to 1 1/2 cups flour to form a stiff batter. Cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place (80 to 85°F.) until light and almost doubled in size, 25 to 30 minutes.4. Grease 1 1/2-quart casserole or 8x4-inch loaf pan. Stir down batter to remove all air bubbles. Turn batter into greased casserole. Cover let rise in warm place until dough reaches top of casserole, 15 to 20 minutes.5. Heat oven to 375°F. Uncover dough. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when lightly tapped. Immediately remove from casserole cool on wire rack for 1 hour or until completely cooled.High Altitude (above 3500 feet): No change.Nutrition Information Per Serving: Serving Size: 1 Slice * Calories: 130 * Calories from Fat: 35 * % Daily Value: Total Fat: 4 g 6% * Saturated Fat: 1 g 5% * Cholesterol: 15 mg 5% * Sodium: 170 mg 7% * Total Carbohydrate: 21 g 7% * Dietary Fiber: 1 g 4% * Sugars: 3 g * Protein: 3 g * Vitamin A: 4% * Vitamin C: 0% * Calcium: 0% * Iron: 8% * Dietary Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 Fruit, 1/2 Fat or 1 1/2 Carbohydrate, 1/2 FatSee Cook's Note: Where Dough Likes to Rest