The snow was a bit of a disappointment yesterday but we did get about two inches of snowy slushy snainy rain. Snain is Viv’s new word for snow mixed with rain. I like it! We got snained! And while the wind was blowing the weather in, everyone hunkered down in the barn, like those beautiful tiny strong old ladies who sit with their brown prayers and second-to-best coats at Mass on a weekday morning, tolling their beads. Waiting. Serene.
I was hoping for a more dramatic snow event when I began this series but ah well. Water came out of the sky as ice, rain and snow. But it was warm enough not to be too much of a bother as the snain was melting as fast as it was falling which is great news for the fields.
It was a good day for making bread. Bread made with Kefir will take at least two days to complete. This suits my lifestyle as long as I remember to start the next one when I get the hot one out of the oven. Once a rhythm is established the process manages itself. I find it a relaxed process, if you leave it for an extra hour, one way or the other it seems to work out ok.
No Knead Kefir Bread
Step One: Mix together.
- One cup of active alive kefir
- One cup of bread flour
- One cup of warm filtered water
- One big tablespoon of honey.
Let sit covered in a warm spot for at least 24 hours. Stir two or three times during this period. I have left it up to three days with excellent results. As you can see once again I have written a recipe that I can remember without consulting a piece of paper. Lazy girl.
When it has doubled in size a few times (after the gentle stir) and is nice and fluffy, add –
- 4 cups flour
- 1/4 cup warm water if necessary
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- salt to taste or not.
You want a tacky elastic mixture. This will not look like a normal bread dough. No need to knead. Allow to rise in a very well oiled bread tin until doubled again, often about three hours.
Cook at 400F for 50 minutes (depending on your oven). This is the easiest bread I have ever made as long as you are happy to let it take its time. It does tend to stick to the sides of the tin though, or possibly I need a new one!! But oil your loaf tin well just in case.
Good morning. The home-schooled children are coming this morning. Hopefully John will be able to get the trailer out to collect a big round bale of grass hay to go down the back for Queenie, The Bobby and Hairy. It will sit on the round concrete pad and we will push it into the corner where three little fields meet, then lock it in with a pig panel to try avoid too much waste. Then Daisy can come over and have a munch as well. The big round bales are very heavy, our tractor cannot carry one, so there is a bit of luck involved when we push it off the trailer and into the corner, if it rolls the wrong way I will have to make a new plan!!
You all have a lovely day. 
See you later in the comments lounge. I learn so much over there, it is thrilling to get so much good advice in the comments. I really mean that.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
123 responses to “How to make No-knead Kefir bread on a Snowy Slushy Snainy day!”
I forgot about my kefir; unattended for 15-18 hours ……and now how the thickest greek yoghurt.
I thought I would make a kefir sourdough leaven when I return from holiday.
If you dust your bread pan with rye flour after greasing………….nothing seems to stick.
Looking forward to visiting On Trays next week………….yes on holiday in NZ.
Oh yes, I loved that place, so much good food and smiley people.. say hi to home for me!! c
Will give your fondest wishes to home. National Park is the closest I will get to your beloved HB. E
I am so lazy. I love no knead breads.
I am sold now!! c
It does look a bit Christmasy there. Spring is coming – hang on.
(Ahh, the yummy bread smells)
Hope the hay moving goes well (Do not do one of those cartoon moves and try to stop it if it starts going the wrong way…no one wants you squashed)
What a fantastic bread and so easy to make: since I work from home can keep an eye on it and patience I do have!! Tomorrow a big shop: have to see whether kefir is kept in the supermarket – 75% hopeful!! Oh, and absolutely love the sepia tonings of your snainy daily view – another case of pinching methinks 🙂 !
My world is sepia.. soon the colour will come back, they say it might warm up a bit next week! Pinching!! good.. c
hi Celi sorry i didn’t get to you till this evening . been pulling brush from the storm in July 2012
the round bales how big are they 4×4 or 5×5 ? I push the 4×4 s around on and off the trailers to load my mobile feeder 4×6 trailer with a roof and side rails to prevent waste that way i can get some benefit from the waste seeding the pasture 🙂 that way i just move it around it seeds as I move it Missy has a sour milk bread I just love 😛 she is trying all kinds of bread I like bread good thing she made some bread with molasses just to die for yum yum 😀
That is a great idea, a moving bale, I like it. I will certainly try bread with molasses, it does sound good. c
Hi Celi….just love your icey srainy pics…looks like a fairy Wonderland.
Nothing exciting to say from me but I do love making no knead bread…it’s such a lazy, hazzy type of bread baking and always turns out YUM…I make it often….it’
s wonderful fresh out of the oven with a drop of honey and a glass of Pinot Grigio…..
Honey and a pinot grigio, that sounds like us!! c
Those are awesome snow landscape photos!
Your bread looks FAB.
Your weather . . . not so much. 😉
The snowy landscape looks like heaven to me now that we are parched and longing for rain, and none to come for another two weeks- if it does, and if not… who knows….Don’t know how you fit bread-making into everything else in your busy days!
That bread looks great, but the last snow scene ( with the tree house) looks best. We’ve actually got sun today, which is just wonderful.
mmmm bread and salami. Add some cheese and you’ve got a great meal for this glutton. 😉
I love kefir and this looks fantastic, C!
[…] coming in some form or another. By 4pm it was doing something. A lot of something. A lady I know, Cecelia, calls it snain. Snow and rain mixed together. All together nasty if you ask me. I boogied on home […]
I got to try this bread, no knead breads are good specially when you are busy and dont want to clean lots of utensils and kitchen surface.
Absolutely beautiful!