The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

All Tied Up In Knots

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

All Tied Up In Knots

Sometimes I love to do something different when shaping a loaf of bread.  All 3 of my children took Irish Step dancing lessons for quite some time so I am partial to most things Celtic.  When I saw instructions for shaping dough into a Celtic knot I knew I had to give it a go.

Here are the results.  The dough I used was a formula posted by txfarmer.   It is a 100% ww sd dough with bulgar wheat added.  It is a recipe that she got out of Laurel Robertson's Bread Book which she then converted to a loaf using a wy starter rather than using IY.  It is a great loaf!  Thanks txfarmer.

                     

                                  

 

                                          

        

        

 

                           

                                                                                            All knotted up and ready for delivery.

 

 

Comments

linder's picture
linder

Janetcook,

I love the look of your fancy braided bread!  I'm working on txfarmer's whole wheat oatmeal bread right now(in it's final proof).  I hope it rises well, I may have cheated some on the mixing and might pay for it soon in a brick loaf.  We'll see.  Your bread looks terrific!

Linda

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Linda,

Thanks you for your complement.    Her oatmeal loaf is a favorite of mine to bake too and I use it as a base for a lot of my loaves that include soaked grains.  In fact, today I am making a 7 grain mix using her formula but I am adding yogurt for part of the water....

Take Care,

Janet

Anjali's picture
Anjali

You've made a pretty loaf. And clear pics too. I am sure it must have tasted good.

 

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Thanks for the kind words.  The loaf was for a friend and it is her favorite....I don't think it lasted long. :-)

Take Care,

Janet

Isand66's picture
Isand66

Beautiful Janet!

I'm terrible at braiding but this looks like its worth a go.

thanks for sharing.

im sure it tasted as good as it looks.

ian

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Ian,

Well, I can't braid my daughter's hair anymore so I have had to find other outlets :-)

Hardest part for me is getting the individual pieces of dough shaped identically.  I rely heavily on notes because I get lost after about the first set on braids :-O

Take Care,

Janet

breadsong's picture
breadsong

Hi Janet,
What a special, beautifully-knotted bread, wrapped up so nicely for giving :^)
I tried making a Celtic knot a couple of years ago, for my DH, for Christmas.
Thanks so much for the happy memory!
:^) breadsong

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

You are welcome Breadsong.  I always enjoy your creative shaping and stenciling.  Me, I keep to the braids BUT I did follow your instructions fro the Gabassier (sp way off!!!) rolls and they did turn out really nicely.  Everyone who got them LOVED them.  Who wouldn't with all the fat and honey :-)

Take Care,

Janet

JMonkey's picture
JMonkey

I'll have to try this. Lovely!

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

It is fun to do and I am sure your daughter would love to help.

Take Care,

Janet

Juergen Krauss's picture
Juergen Krauss

Nice to see some of your work, Janet.

Beautiful bread appropriately presented!

Juergen

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Juergen,

Thank you for you kind comment.  Since I do end up giving away most of the breads I bake I do have fun with the ribbons and tags.  A bit of added color, especially at this time of year, seems to spark things up a bit.

Take Care,

Janet

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Wonderful!

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Thank you Floyd.  It was fun to do and I was glad it did turn out fairly evenly :-)

Take Care,

Janet

bakingbadly's picture
bakingbadly

Huh?!...

I've been on TFL for several months now and throughout that time I've seen you posted quite a bit. However, not once did I see you create a blog post... until now. I was genuinely (and pleasantly) surprised. :)

Janet, your knotted bread is a beauty! You know, I'd love to see more of your creations, and I'm sure other members of TFL would love to as well .

Have a happy baking,

Zita 

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Zita,

Thank you for the generosity of your words.  I tend not to post my breads because of my computer skills, or lack thereof :-) and the stress it causes when I try to do too much.  Comments are more in line with my ability but who knows, things may change.  Thanks for your encouragement!

Take Care,

Janet

 

dabrownman's picture
dabrownman

yummy and healthy!  Thanks for showing the braid.  I suppose you jsut keep crossing over till you run out of rope and tuck under?

Since many of my ancestors are from Cork and worked 20 years for the Irish Dairy Board in the USA, I too am partial to Celtic things like Irish Cows, Beamish Stout - and now braids.  The Celtic Braid will make a nice knotted roll in the center of a chacon one day. 

We loved Ireland especially staying at Ballymaloe a few days and  watching all the cooking going on at Dianne Allen's 14th century's Norman castle and Cookery School next door.   Loved the brown soda bread served at every meal.  She is Rachel's Aunt.  Great memories.

Happy Baking Janet

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Mr. D,

Yep, just keep going then tuck.  The trick is getting all the pieces to tuck at the same time :-)  I have seen many of your creations so I know you are well versed/practiced in the fine art of braiding breads :-)

What I miss most is the music now that they don't dance anymore. (Well, my daughter still dances but now it is ballet.  I hesitate to admit this on a forum that anyone can read....but I prefer the peppy Irish music to the music she now dances too....The Irish music keeps me alert whereas the ballet music relaxes me so much I fall asleep.....)

Take Care,

Janet

dabrownman's picture
dabrownman

basis for Country Western music - in America supposedly home grown like the blues.  In Ireland they sing without even being prompted if well enough lit.  I would sing a CW song and they would start playing along with their instruments - really uncanny like they had been playing it all their lives.  Then they would sing an old Irish tune to the exact same melody.  So much for American home f=grown musical ingenuity.  I thought I had them with "When I walked out on The Streets of Laredo."  but Nooooooo!  They smiled and played the tune flawlessly using Irish verses.  Amazing!    

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Me thinks all music has the same roots.  Bards were/are wanderers :-)  Tis a small, small world indeed.

PiPs's picture
PiPs

Hi Janet,

It's so great to see you post this wonderful looking bread ...

The packaging and label look great :)

Cheers,
Phil 

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your kind words.  I see you commenting on various posts but no blogs of your own of late.  I am assuming you are swamped with your new job and simply do not have time to bake or post.  I do hope all is going well with your adjustment and that the temps where you are aren't too unrelenting.....We are COLD but very dry though our temps. did rise 40° today for which I am greatly relieved as the cold was getting to be a bit much!

Take Care,

Janet 

PiPs's picture
PiPs

I have been very busy ... but still baking as often as possible and as much as possible (though a broken oven slowed me down for a week or so) ... also been busy plowing through 'Bread' Edition 2 by Jeffery Hamelman ... wow ... so much information to absorb!

I hope to start some posts soon as it seems I may have some really exciting news to share !!! ... stay tuned ;)

... oh and it is still pretty hot here, though we had a reprieve for a few days. No rain either ... dry, dry, dry!

Stay warm and keep up the wonderful baking!

Cheers,
Phil

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Phil,

Glad to hear you are baking and it sounds like things are on the up and up.  Did you have the original Bread?  I bought a copy of Bread 2 but find I am attached to my original copy and all of my notes so I haven't done a lot of deep reading in the new one.  I do like the photos :-)

I have a back up oven - a mini one - since repairs can take weeks here and I don't think I could survive that long without baking.....

Glad you are getting a bit of a reprieve from the heat.  Can't do much about the dry here either...except learn to appreciate the color brown more.

I will be on the look out for your posts...

Take Care,

Janet

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

What a lovely wholesome braided loaf.  You've braided it beautifully.

Watching the kids perform Irish Step dancing has to so much fun for your family.  

I never thought about this braid looking like a Celtic knot.  Now I will always think about it being a Celtic knot 'born in Belfast' rather than a  holiday braid for my challa. I also like it for my  scali loaves.  I just love this braid for it's beautiful shape.  It slices up so nicely and looks beautiful, and it's such a fun braid to do, always getting wow's.  

Sylvia

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Sylvia,

Thank you so much Sylvia!  When I did a search for braids this one came up somewhere and was labeled 'Celtic' so the label stuck.....When I have looked for challah braids all I ever come up with are braids that change simply due to the number of  strands used so I never made the association with this one in that category.  It is fun to have different shapes and, like you have experienced, people do like this one.  My guess is due to the fact that it isn't as common as a 'normal' braid.

Take Care,

Janet

varda's picture
varda

Hey Janet.   A post from you - how exciting.   And such beautiful braiding!  -Varda

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Varda,

Note that it was mostly photos and included no math beyond the number of strands used. All in keeping it simple and within my comfort zone :-).

Thanks so much for your comment!

Take Care,

Janet

grind's picture
grind

That's looks really beautiful, Janet.  There's no way I'd be able to negotiate that weave magic!

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Grind,

Thanks!  It does look complicated but it is only 4 ropes and only one rope moves at a time.  I follow the notes closely because I still get lost half way around :-)

Take Care,

Janet

Song Of The Baker's picture
Song Of The Baker

Wow!  How interesting.  I have never seen a knot bread before but this looks great.  Nicely done and I like the ww wih bulgar mix.

John

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi John,

I had never seen a knotted loaf before I found this site....Watch out!  You never know what you will find and then you will find yourself in your kitchen doing things with dough you never imagined possible :-)  Case in point......See the chocolate faces to the right on your screen?  I had never seen those before but just had to give them a go.  Lots of fun especially doing the faces...One thing leads to another and another and another....

Take Care and thanks for your comment!

Janet

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

David

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Thank you David!  Was fun to do but I do have to admit that the bulgar dough isn't really the right kind of dough to knot/braid with as it is a sandwich bread and usually needs the support of a loaf pan.  I was surprised it did as well as it did.

Take Care,

Janet

pmccool's picture
pmccool

And a bit of a relief, given my first impression of the title of your post!

Paul

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

:-)

If I weave bread into knots, I keep relaxed and not tied into knots myself.

Take Care,

Janet