Milky Square Loaf

I've received quite a few comments from previous bread post recently. Many of them having some problems just like I do, either the dough couldn't rise to the perfect square or the texture was not right etc. I must said I'm not a perfect baker and sometimes I do have problems with my dough too especially my first year of learning bread making, it's really a struggling. I think the problems could be the room temperature, humidity, yeast and all other ingredients that cause a failure. However, we all learn from mistakes. The more you practice and the more you could figure out the solution. I've been long time didn't bake a square loaf because I was crazy about the wholesome blacky bread recently, the texture and taste is just so good for me. This milky wholemeal bread is the one I did it quite often at my earlier bread learning journey and it become my almost daily bread. As some of the bloggers had problem making it, so I decided to give this a try again since I quite miss it too! 

I'm quite happy with the result this time, it's a square loaf and the texture is soft and light. I hope people who face the failure please don't be dishearten and give up. Do it again until you get it. I'll not shame to tell you that I've feed the bin with my failure doughs many times which I couldn't remember how many. Again, thanks for everyone dropping at my blog for leaving your words! Let's face the problem and solve it. You'll get a right bread soon!

Recipe for the bread:

Bread flour 270g

Wholemeal flour 30g

Yeast 3g (this time I used 4g for a square loaf)

Sugar 6g

Salt 5g

Cold milk 240g

Unsalted butter 12g

Method:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a kneading bowl with 240ml cool milk except butter. Knead until everything combine.


2. Gradually add in the butter continue the kneading process until it become smooth and elastic. (the dough might have a bit wet but not sticky, you might need longer time to knead it)


3. Shape it into a smooth round dough, cover with cling film and let it rest for 80 minutes. (This time I proof for 60 minutes)


4. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces and roll to form 'ball' shapes.


5. Flatten each dough and roll out into a longish shape. Roll up the dough like a swiss-roll. Place the rolled doughs on a baking pan proof for 60 minute. (I forgot to set the time, and almost proof until 95% full of the tin about 80 minutes)


6. Bake approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown at 190'C preheated oven. (For a square loaf I baked at 200C about 35 minutes)

PANEER CHILLI KOTHU PAROTTA

With paneer there are so many Tiffin varieties. But this paneer chilli kothu parotta is the most fulfilled one with a divine taste. There is no need for a side dish as this is a wholesome food. However, curd salad with cucumber, carrot, onion and tomato is ok with this if any side dish is needed. This dish can be prepared with left over parottas.

பனீர் சில்லி கொத்து பரோட்டா

Ingredeints:

Parotta-4
Onion-4
Medium sized tomato-4
Garlic-ginger paste- 1 tsp
Chilli garlic sauce- 2 tbsp
Finely chopped green chillies- 1 tbsp
Soya sauce- 1 tsp
Capsicum [big]-1
Paneer- 200gms
Oil-4 tbsp
Butter- 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder- half tsp
Chopped spring onion- 5 tbsp
Finely chopped coriander- 5 tbsp

Procedure:

Microwave the parottas for 2 minutes in High.
Then cut them in to thin pieces.
Slice the onions thinly.
Crush the tomatoes coarsely.
Cut the capsicum in to small cubes.
Soak the frozen paneer pieces in slightly warm water for 20 minutes, drain the water and then scramble them in to small pieces.
Heat a pan and pour the oil.
Add the onion and fry them to slightly golden brown.
Add the ginger- garlic paste and fry them for a few seconds.
Then add the tomato with the turmeric powder and the green chillies.
Cook them until they are finely mashed and the oil floats on top.
Add the capsicum, spring onion, salt and the coriander leaves with the sauces and cook them for a few seconds.
Add the scrambled paneer and cook on slow fire until it is mixed well with the gravy. 
Finally add the parotta pieces and toss them until they are well coated with the gravy.
Add the butter and cook the parotta on slow fire for another 5 minutes.
Now the delicious paneer chilli kothu parotta is ready!

EPA Lead Paint Rules for Pre-1978 Homes

I've been busy with "family stuff" lately, but figure it's about time to post here again. And I've been meaning to get this out.

There's a new issue that is plaguing the remodeling industry and owners of pre-1978 homes who want to remodel:

April 22, 2010 marked the onset of new EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rules on testing and remediation of lead paint in pre-1978 homes (also schools and child care facilities) to protect children and pregnant women from the dangers of lead paint dust and chips generated during remodeling.

Here's the EPA RRP Rule:

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm

Remodeling contractors all across the nation are in a tizzy over new requirements for training to deal with the new rule. Some have entirely precluded work on pre-1978 homes from their businesses. It's the asbestos thing all over again.

Here's what contractors have to deal with to get certified:

Shawn McCadden's very well presented synopsis (Thanks Shawn)

Do-It-Yourselfers are excluded. This from the EPA site:

"Information for Homeowners Working at Home

If you are a homeowner performing renovation, repair, or painting work in your own home, EPA's RRP rule does not cover your project. However, you have the ultimate responsibility for the safety of your family or children in your care. If you are living in a pre-1978 home and planning to do painting or repairs, please read a copy of EPA's Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) lead hazard information pamphlet (11 pp, 1.1MB). | en español (PDF) (20 pp, 3.2MB). You may also want to call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) and ask for more information on how to work safely in a home with lead-based paint."

That doesn't mean that you DIYers shouldn't be concerned or that homeowners should be cavalier about hiring a contractor who doesn't initiate testing as a first action when talking to you about renovating your pre-1978 home.

In fact, you yourselves should spend the money and have the testing done on the room(s) you plan to renovate before talking to contractors. Most pre-1978 homes going back as far as the 1950's will test negative for lead based paint on the INTERIOR of the home. Exterior is another matter (Much more likely to contain lead-based paint unless it has all been removed in the past).

If your kitchen and bathrooms show negative on testing, you can pretty well assume there is no lead-based paint in your home. If they show positive, you should get all rooms tested. If you plan to replace windows or doors or add on, disturbing exterior paint as part of your renovation, you should have those areas tested too.

Here's a Consumer Product Safety Commission info sheet on lead-based paint and testing options:

What You Should Know About Lead Based Paint in Your Home: Safety Alert

I'm sure in a few years we will all settle in with the new rules and things will get comfortable again for contractors and homeowners, but right now is definitely a bit more difficult for both with the new rules. Saving children from lead poisoning or reduced leaning capacity is a valid reason to support the rule, which has been a long time coming.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1990:

"The persistence toxity of lead was seen to result in signifiant and serious impairment of academic success, specifically a seven fold increase in failure to graduate from high school, lower class standing, greater absenteeism, impairment of reading skills sufficiently extensive to be labeled reading disability (indicated by scores two grades below the expected scores), and deficits in vocabulary, fine motor skills, reaction time and hand-eye coordination."

America's children have enough to deal with these days without the added burden of lead poisoning.

Peggy