2 November 2007

Mom & Dad's Potato Bread


When I lived at home my mom and dad loved to make bread. I remember as a child my dad kneading the dough at the kitchen counter with his strong hands and mom shaping the dough and putting it into the oven. As kids we were in charge of sprinkling the flour on the counter top to prevent the dough sticking and cutting slices into the top of the risen mounds with scissors. Or we would shape the dough into little balls to have buns instead.

You can't compare the wonderful homey smells of baking bread permeating the entire house. The four of us would watch the dough rise in anticipation of warm slices fresh from the oven slathered in butter. We were like kids at Christmas.

Outside of Quebec City along the 350 year old "Old King's Highway" you can admire the beautiful old Normandy and Brittany homes on your way to Montmorency Falls. There you can stop off at Chez Marie's and have a slice of homemade bread straight from their bread ovens. If I recall it was slathered in maple butter. What a treat!



Baking bread is still very therapeutic but in these hectic and busy times bread baking takes a back burner to everything else. One bread I continue to bake is my mom and dad's Potato Bread. It makes a nice flavourful and cheesy loaf. It is not a yeast dough which makes preparation quick and simple! I love it fresh from the oven or simply toasted... once again slathered in butter. Whenever I have left over mashed potatoes this bread is a requirement. Either that or potato scones.

**Mom and Dad's Potato Bread**

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup grated red Leicester cheese (I use old Cheddar)
2 cups cooked, mashed potatoes
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon oil

Lightly grease a cookie sheet.

Sift the flour, salt, mustard powder and baking powder into a mixing bowl. Reserve 2 T of the grated cheese and stir the rest into the bowl with the mashed potatoes. Mix until well combined.

Pour in the water and the oil, and stir in all the ingredients together (the mixture will be wet at this stage). Mix them all to make a soft dough.

Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and shape it into an 8-inch round loaf.

Place the loaf on the cookie sheet and mark it into 4 portions with a knife, without cutting through.

Sprinkle with the reserved cheese.

Bake the loaf in a preheated oven at 425F degrees for approximately 25 - 30 minutes.

Transfer the bread to a wire rack and let cool. This bread should be served as fresh as possible or toasted.

(Dad painted this canvas)

You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author/owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison. Best Blogger Tips

11 comments:

  1. Your posts always have the nicest stories attached! I can tell how blessed you are by how lovingly you talk about your family.

    And potato bread! No yeast! Now that's something even *I* can do!

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  2. I like the canvas. Really nice. And how nice of you to continue making their bread recipe. Must be really good.

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  3. Beutiful post Valli, so nice. I love too the smell of baking bread is one my favorites smell join with the Christmas's cake that my Mom make.An the house is beautiful!!! xxxxx Gloria

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  4. I've bookmarked this recipe. I've never made a potato bread before.

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  5. I need to alert Kris about this post. She is in charge of all things baking around here and she would LOVE this recipe.....and I would LOVE it if she made it. :)

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  6. My question as soon as I saw the painting was who painted that? I love it! More of your dad's paintings please, they are fab!

    And as for the bread, I am going to make it this weekend, it sounds great and so simple! I will let you know how I get on.

    I love potato scones with baked beans! A lovely Lazy Sunday breakfast!

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  7. Valli, See you DO have family cooking pride and tradition. Who knew? haha I love potato in bread recipes. It gives such a nice texture. And maple butter...mmm mmm! It's the bomb!

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  8. Valli, What a great way to use up mashed potatoes! and I love how quick it is!

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  9. That looks like in Irish Cottage...makes me homesick for Ireland!
    Love that bread - I'm making extra mashed taties so I can try it!

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  10. The bread sounds delicious and I can almost smell the warm bread fresh out of the oven!
    The Halloween creativity is absolutely 'spook'tacular!!

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  11. Thanks Abby. We often take our families for granted as we are growing up.
    My dad would be happy to hear you say that Helene. It was the first painting he ever accomplished. He decided to add painting to his repertoire when he was 70.
    There is nothing to compare to the smell of bread baking in the oven Gloria!!!!
    Potato Bread has a wonderful texture Cynthia and Andy.I hope you get a chance to make it!
    Dad has done a lot of stained glass work rather than painting Holler. I will have to post a photo or two of that some time.Potato Scones are one of my favourites. I make my own but I still love the ones you could get at Marks and Spencers. Since we no longer have M & S in Canada if I want the store bought kind I have to get my mom & dad to mail them to me from Ontario. There is a litle Scottish bakery in my hometown.
    Yes Maryann I suppose I do have some family traditions. As I mentioned before we tend to taker our families for granted and don't know how lucky we are!!!!
    Give it a try Proud Italian Cook!!!
    Katiez I would love to visit Ireland someday.My daughter claims her Irish heritage as her own even yjough she is like 1/5 Irish. With a name like Erin.
    Thanks for visiting M & M!!!!!! I always appreciate new comments.

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Val

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