Magda Breads

Pepper and fig bread

pepper and fig spelt bread

In primary and secondary school I used to love to read, but I guess there was no internet then, or it was really crappy one, so it was easier to find a time for it. Since I went to university the amount of books read started to decrease, up to the point when I was reading maybe a book or two a year. That got me scared, I loved reading and I wasn’t doing it at all!

Since 2013 I got myself into tracking what I’ve read. Even though I didn’t meet the goal of 12 books a year, but I started to read regularly. It’s funny how I suffered at the beginning. I couldn’t focus at first. The plot seemed to be too slow and everything was distracting me.

pepper and fig spelt bread

Last year I started a year by cheating with my list, I’ve marked a short story as read, and then a really short book, I listened to audiobooks too, but in this form or another I’ve managed to squeeze in 16 books into 2014. And I think I got my mojo back, it’s February and I’ve already crossed 5 books of my list (OK, again one short story, one book I’ve started back in 2014), but again it seems to get easier and easier. It’s such a relief. Maybe I even can read 24 books this year (knock on wood).

Inspired by Modern Mrs. Darcy I was trying to pick a book with a cover I like. I admit, I checked the reviews first and I am little embarrassed to admit that I picked such a girly cover, but it all goes to my craving of basics, while I try to establish what is really important I go back to things that were there all my life.

So while being sick I’ve started reading “The first frost”, a second book from a series (I’ve just overlooked that fact, but I’m catching up with a first book just now) and it brought me over to my teens. It’s one of those books that are like cosy blanket, doesn’t matter they are not real, but they are soft and make you feel good. There is a pinch of magic and nice quotes and of course food. Food is important and delicious and smells heavenly. And there was a recipe at the very end of the book.

pepper and fig spelt bread

Pepper and fig bread

Pepper and fig bread

Recipe adapted from “The first frost” by Sarah Addison Allen

  • 260g whole grain spelt flour
  • 325g plain flour
  • 2 tsp ground pepper
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp instant dry yeast (7g)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 360g water
  • 1 1/2 cup figs, chopped
In a large bowl place both flours and pepper. With your fingers rub in the yeast on one side and the salt on the opposite (yeast get killed in contact with salt).
Add the olive oil and water and stir it with a wooden spoon until everything combines nicely.
Cover the bowl with a tea towel or cling film and let it rest for 30 minutes until it rises a little.
Knead it until the dough is smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes). You can use a stand mixer as well. Cover the bowl with a tea towel or cling film and let it rest for a 1-1 1/2 hours or until it doubles in size.
After the dough has rested knead in the chopped figs until they are distributed evenly.
Form it into a log and place it in the greased loaf pan.
Leave it for an hour to rise or until it doubles in size.
At least 20 minutes before you plan to bake preheat the oven to 200°C.
Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden. The bread should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Cool the baked bread on the cooling rack.

 

 

“Was it really that simple? Choosing a life? …
Maybe you don’t fall in love. Maybe you jump.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s all a choice.”

“It had taken her a long time to realize that a prison sometimes isn’t a prison at all. Sometimes, it’s simply a door you assume is locked because you’ve never tried to open it.”

Sarah Addison Allen, First Frost

I’ve added this little recipe to Lucy’s movement Cook Blog Share, that is about spreading some love to brilliant blogs that around us. Feel free to join us!