The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

When The Rosemary Blooms

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

When The Rosemary Blooms

When the Rosemary blooms I love to make Rosemary-Lemon Bread.  This is Beth Hensperger recipe in her bread machine cookbook.  I have made a few changes by adding some whole wheat flour and left out the hazelnuts and gluten.  I use my garden lemons and rosemary.  I hand mix and let the bread rise slowly in a cool room.  I also baked this one in my bell la cloche at 475 for 35 min. uncovered and baked 10min. more at 450.  The bread was sliced a little warm...my husband wanted a sandwich and it was getting late!  Hope you enjoy the photo of the Geese..they came and turned away into the sunset when I ran in to get the camera! 

 

A Lemon for the bread!

There is Lemon zest, Rosemary and Golden Raisins!

A Rosemary Flower/Lemon Fondant up close is so pretty and dainty!  They are very nice on cakes, breads, ect! 

 There's a hint of the rosemary and lemon zest with the sweetness of the golden raisins and honey.  The egg, butter and milk give the crumb a nice moistness and add to the lovely flavors!  All in all a nice bread for the coming of Springtime!

The end of a lovely day!

Sylvia

Comments

ehanner's picture
ehanner

Sylvia,

Your post is the first thing I saw this morning. Thank you for such a visually stimulating and thoughtful offering.

Eric

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Good Morning Eric, Im so glad you enjoyed the photos. Thank you!

Sylvia

hansjoakim's picture
hansjoakim

What lovely crumb on your bread, Sylvia. It looks so soft and delicate that I just want to rest my head on it and fall asleep :)

If I understood correctly, you add zest to the dough also? Do you add any lemon juice?

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Hi Hans, Such a nice compliment! The loaf was a little under proofed ...it was getting late and I rushed it by about 1/2 hr or so....  There is the zest from one whole large lemon added to the dough..'no juice is added' and starting with about 2 Tablespoons of finely chopped Rosemary 'to taste' 3/4 cups of Golden Raisins 'more or less to taste' .  The Fondant is made by adding warm lemon juice to powdered sugar to reach a consistancy you like.

Sylvia

mountaindog's picture
mountaindog

Sounds like a perfect combination...that is incredibly beautiful bread, Sylivia. I'm very envious of your ability to pick both of these items in your garden right now, as it is in the single digits with wind chill well below zero F here in upstate NY today. I love winter, but am getting weary of it about now. Rosemary and lavender are my favorite garden plants, I have several varieties growing in my sheltered south-facing herb garden, including a pink Lavender variety (Miss Katherine) that is supposed to be excellent for culinary use as it is delicately flavored. When they bloom in June I will definitley try this delicious looking recipe.

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Hi Mdog, Thank you...Growing up in the desert.  Im afraid I don't stand up to the cold weather well at all....I really enjoy making this bread...the flavors are lovely...I wish I had more space for growing in my yard...I do like growing flowers that are edible...I make a Lavender pound cake...it makes a lovely springtime tea dessert.  Brioche and lots of different Sweet doughs, scones, petit fours.. are fun to decorate with scented flowers and herbs with coming of Springtime....don't be weary or envious...soon your lovely garden will be in bloom!

Sylvia

Stephanie Brim's picture
Stephanie Brim

I'm jealous. Here in Iowa, I'm just now thinking about starting my seeds for my garden inside. The final frost won't be for another 2 months...at least.

Lovely bread, though.  Sounds like something I'd love for breakfast as toast.

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Hi Stephanie,  Cold in Iowa...a lot of people have had a very hard winter this year...spring will be a very welcome site!  We could still have frost here...my Aunt on a visit once said she had three seasons here in a week!!  Thank you...the bread does make delicious toast...we had some this morning....this afternoon and with dinner...it's very good....I'll probably make another loaf this week...Mike will have some in the wee hours of the morning when he comes in from work.

Sylvia

 

hsmum's picture
hsmum

I'm trying really hard to be happy for you and your lovely garden and lovely bread.  But I don't  know if I have that much human goodness in me.  I look outside at a couple feet of snow and a temperature of minus 25 degrees Celsius.  I think I'll go knead some dough; maybe it will cheer me up!  :)

Karen

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Spring is on it's way and soon things will warm up....you have cold weather and we have our fire season and have been evacuated 3 times with fires burning up to our back yards and did not know if we would have a home to come back to...cheer up and bake things could be worse!

Sylvia in San Diego