It's got a shorter and better ingredient list than any of the other loaves that I've had recently, and although it's a bit pricey at £2.95 I do think that buying better but slightly less bread could be the way forward for me.
It's absolutely beautiful on the day that you buy it, slightly tougher but great for toasting on subsequent days, but unlike the Ancient Grains bread that I used to buy from Aldi, before it was discontinued, it does not last for a full week.
The downside I guess to the fewer ingredients that were no doubt unhealthy, but did aid the bread's keeping power. I found this out when I picked my loaf up this morning and it was as hard as a brick. So I decided to use the old 'refresh technique'.
It came out lovely and soft, soft enough to have for lunch with some tasty coleslaw that I had also bought from Booths. The bread, coleslaw and a pack of round buns that we took for a packed lunch after the mammoth clearing session at Mum's last week, are the only new foods to have come into my home since before Christmas.
I'm having a really good go at living of the contents of my food storage at home instead of spending any money ... and thinking about it I haven't actually spent any money on food as Alan paid for these along with his shopping.
Two weeks into January and not a penny spent!!
And there's no need to worry about wasting that large sheet of tinfoil either, as with all tinfoil that is relatively clean after it's first use, I wiped it down and left it to dry on the worktop. It will be used at least once more before going into the bin.
I have quite a large supply of clingfilm and tinfoil now, and so does my brother, as it seems Mum had a bit of penchant for buying the two, or asking my brother to buy them for her without checking her cupboards, and there was a lot to share out between us. 😀
Sue xx
I've never heard that tip for refreshing bread before. One tip I will definitely try to remember, especially as that loaf looks so delicious.
ReplyDeleteI'm back to careful meal planning here. It makes things a lot less stressful for me. Xx
It's something I've only done a couple of times, but it has worked well every time. Meal planning makes a huge difference to the days after you've done it doesn't it. xx
DeleteThat bread refresh method is genius! Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI have found my father's clingfilm baking paper and foil cupboard... that's me supplied for the next five years.
I thought I had better try it out with this particular type of loaf if I am going to keep buying it. I'm glad it worked so well.
DeleteI've tested that refreshing tip before, and it really works. We have more bread eaters in our house, but I still slice every bread and put half of it to the freezer - you never know how much bread they want to eat, and when. Don't want to take a risk for it to go stale. And I store all bread in plastic bags - I know it's not recommended by most bakers, but I'd rather loose some flavour than get brick hard bread.
ReplyDeleteWhat it is with cling film and tin foil with old folks? I We emptied in-laws' house last summer, and there was half a dozen of both! No need for me to buy any cling film for at least ten years, I really don't use it much.
Ulvmor
It really does doesn't it. I think with the next loaf I will slice some of it up straight away, and have it ready in the freezer to be able to make my toast when I need it.
DeleteI really don't know, myself and my brother have now got three each of tin foil and clingfilm, and the tin foils are all the 30m size rolls. I should be good for a long time. :-)
Thank you for that tip!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, it works with virtually all uncut breads, including homemade. :-)
DeleteBuying less but better bread is definitely the way to go if you are able. I feel for anyone trying to feed a family with the price of good food now. Maeve xx
ReplyDeleteI would hate to have to bring up small children these days. The amount of junk food thrust at them in adverts as well as the cost of it all is appalling, but with the clever advertising and peer pressure it's no wonder they want it.
DeleteIf my bread is stale, I cut a slice and give it a few seconds in the microwave, which works the same way as your oven blitz. Or you could slice the loaf and freeze it, and just take out a slice when you need it.
ReplyDeleteI might try the microwave way next time, another good tip, thank you. Yes, I pondered slicing half the loaf next time I get one, as I know now that two slices are the perfect size for breakfast ... and they fit side by side in one slot of the toaster. :-)
DeleteI wonder how long one can refresh bread - how many times, I mean.
ReplyDeleteI tend to slice my bread and freeze it so it's always fresh - I just take out what I need for that meal and it doesn't take long to thaw if you don't want to toast it. And it saves me from having an extra slice 'because it's there and it's nice'! xx
Oooh ... maybe that's another experiment for next time I have a loaf that reverts back to being a brick after it's first dowsing and heating up. With the Ancient Grains loaves I would always have a few days eating it fresh and then put the rest in the freezer so I could pull out just the slices I needed. One loaf would last me at least two weeks doing this.
DeleteThat bread looks delicious and what a great tip for refreshing it. I'll try that with my homemade bread too, I think :)
ReplyDeleteYou've done much better than me by not spending a penny on food yet! Well done!
Angie x
It is really tasty, this tip works well with homemade bread too. It's highlighted how much food I had in stock, although I do need to be aware that a lot of what's in my fridge and freezer is actually Alan's while his SMEG is waiting to be repaired.
DeleteI’ve done this occasionally with bread, always works well. It looks like a good loaf x
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It's a really tasty one, I'm glad I had a piece of Alans and discovered it for myself.
DeleteI have done this with rolls and that works well too.
ReplyDeleteIt's a useful and money saving tip to know isn't it. 😀
DeleteGreat idea and the bread looks very tasty. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI think I originally saw this tip on a television show a few years ago, I've been using it ever since. :-)
DeleteI had never heard of that way of refreshing bread. Must try that soon. My homemade bread (just a few ingredients) is wonderful the first few days and then not so wonderful after.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Next time you have a bit of one of your loaves that has gone a bit stale, have a go at this. :-)
DeleteThank you for the bread refreshing tip. :)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. :-)
DeleteI know you don't get on with sourdough which is all we eat but I'm sure this must work for other bread as well. We always slice the whole loaf and freeze it then just take out slices when we need them. We find they are still lovely as 'fresh' for sandwiches and great to toast straight from frozen. We buy from a baker so wait till the next day to slice it because it is too fresh to slice easily but that probably isn't necessary for supermarket loaves.
ReplyDeleteNo I really don't like sourdough bread or products, but going for organic bread is the next best thing, I think. If I have a sliced loaf I nearly always do this, I can't manage a large loaf on my own in less than a week. It's handy to have bread in the freezer so you can pull out a slice or two for toast isn't it. The next loaf I get, I will probably slice half of it for the freezer to save having to put the oven on.
DeleteWe don't each much bread these days but we have used this method in the past. we're currently buying cheap and nasty white sliced bread to make sandwiches for our garden foxes - we're treating them for mange and its the best way to dose them with their homeopathic medicine! xxx
ReplyDeleteAww, I love the idea of you making sandwiches for the foxes. 😀 I hope they appreciate it, and get better soon. Mange is a horrible affliction.
DeleteSue, I thought of you when Aldi discontinued the Ancient Grains bread. We loved it as well and haven’t yet found a replacement loaf that we both like. The other Aldi seeded loaves are not a patch on the AG loaf. No Booths near us but your new loaf does look lovely. Thanks for the refresh tip.
ReplyDeleteI was gutted, that really was the best bread wasn't it. 😔
DeleteSorry, didn’t mean to be Anon. Maggie
ReplyDeleteThanks for signing off Maggie. 😀
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