The mister has been out of town, he was in Houston, allegedly working. The last 5 days were SO FUN! No curfews, no time-lines and the TV remote has been mine, all mine! But all good things must come to an end...so the iceman cometh home...and in anticipation I baked Cowboy Bread. While the cat was away the mouse did play, and one of the things I purchased (in my frenzied week of shopping!) was a new cookbook (or three)...plus a few new additions to my small-old-red-book-collection...
How to Win a Cowboy's Heart by Kathy Lynn Wills is a fun little cookbook, and I couldn't resist it...it came already inscribed...not my words I assure you...but good to know, don't you think?
Before we get to the bread I have to show you the best find of the week...The Talisman by Ada Boni was/is to Italy what The Joy of Cooking was/is to America. Ms. Boni originally published her book in 1929 with over 2,000 recipes! The subsequent book was condensed and soon became THE wedding gift from every Italian mother-in-law to her new daughter-in-law...so her son would be well fed. This copy was published in 1970, and I love it because it came with hand-written notes in the margins from the previous owner..."Very good, but too much garlic for me!" You can find used copies of this great book at Amazon.com. You should know it is an Italian, not an Italo-American cookbok. I plan to start cooking my way through this book just as soon as the rain returns...oh, that would be today as it's as soggy and gray out as it gets!
Cowboy bread...also known as a Pannier Loaf, couldn't be any simpler to make - and there is no waiting for the bread to rise as no yeast is used. But this bread has all the qualities of a good yeast bread...chewy and dense with a bit of sweetness from the buttermilk and mashed potatoes!
Cowboy Bread - Adapted from How To Win A Cowboy's Heart by Kathy Lynn Wills
3 medium potatoes or 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
2 cups buttermilk
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
5 cups flour
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Oil or spray three loaf pans, 8 x 4 x 2 1/2-inches. Peel and cut potatoes into large cubes. Place in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and boil over medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender but not mushy. If using leftover mashed potatoes you may skip this part! When potatoes are fork tender, drain and mash until smooth, removing all lumps as much as you can. (If you want you can leave bigger bits of potato but after bread is baked you will need to keep the loaf refrigerated.) Allow them to come to room temperature before proceeding with recipe. Transfer potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Heat buttermilk till it is warm but not scalding, add to potatoes, and stir until well blended. Mis in baking powder, soda, sugar and salt. Add flour and mix until it just holds together. On a lightly floured surface, turn out dough and all the bits and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Divide dough into thirds and shape each piece into loaves and place into prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes on center rack until top is golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped underneath. This bread freezes beautifully and toasts up like nobody's bizness!
"It's the face powder that get's a man interested, but it's the baking powder that keeps him home." ~ Gene Hackman as Buck Barrow in Arthur Penn's Bonnie and Clyde
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One year ago today: Trick or Treat Quilt
