Monday, November 19, 2007

Daring Bakers Challenge: Tender Potato Bread

The first Daring Bakers Challenge* completed!

Challenge: Tender Potato Bread **
This recipe came from Tanna, of My Kitchen in Half Cups.

Focaccia with Onions, Parsley and Anchovies

At first I was totally scared. After looking at the DB Blog Roll, I was shakin' in my boots. There are some damn good food blogs out there. They rival the best foodie magazines!

I stuck to my guns and voila, made some beautiful bread. Plus it was really really tasty.

I actually made this recipe twice. The first time I made it I forgot to knead the dough the second time which resulted in a slimy blob that kept growing and growing and it threatened to destroy me and the entire city. I killed it, baked it and ate it. It was edible but not great.

The second time everything came out perfectly. I increased the potatoes to 16 oz, instead of 8 oz which was suggested for the beginner, and I kneaded it properly. It's amazing how following the directions actually works.

I attempted the focaccia and it actually came out beautifully! Amazing. I still cannot believe I made that. I topped it with onions (slow cooked in bacon fat), flat leaf parsley and anchovies. Delicious.



The large loaf made amazing toast and sandwich bread. I cannot tell you the feeling that came over me when I watched Xander eat it.

The entire experience was so much fun. I can't wait for the next challenge!






*Daring Bakers: "Being a Daring Baker is about trying new recipes, techniques and taking risks. It’s reaching just beyond my comfort zone. This is a Daring Baker Challenge, not a contest and not a competition because at its heart and soul is support and sharing the how to of the baking we do." Tanna

That quote pretty much sums it up perfectly. It's a great group of food bloggers and after we all bake the same recipe, we all post about it on the same day. Cool huh?


* *I know this isn't a dessert, and it's not a video, but some recipes will be desserts from DB, but because this is my food blog, I'm posting my challenge completion posts here. So there.

32 comments:

Fin-ish Me Cupcakes said...

Your foccacia looks really delicious!!! Great job!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Your breads look very good! Well done!

Cheers,

Rosa

Anonymous said...

Your focaccia looks fabulous! I love that you put anchovies on it. Great challenge!

slush said...

Your focaccia looks to die for. Beautiful! And your loaf is prefect as well. It did make fantastic toast and sandwich bread. I loved it and will def make it again. Great job! xo

Mandy said...

I can just imagine how delicious the bread is with slow cooked onion and anchiovy! Well done.

breadchick said...

Great job on your first challenge! The loaf is picture perfect and sounds like it tasted great. Welcome aboard!

Carla said...

Thanks to all the DB'ers who gave me some comments. It made my week!

Bev and Ollie "O" said...

focaccia is fab! I'm glad the 1st batch didn't take over the city! hehe

Kourtney said...

Cb,

Your focaccia looks grreaat!! Congrats on your first challenge as well!!

Anonymous said...

The focaccia looks lovely and the loaf - it looks like perfect sandwich bread!

Julius said...

Hi CB,

Your breads look fantastic. My breads were best after toasting.

I love your avatar as well. Whimsical and classy.

Thanks for the wonderful comments you left on my blog.

Julius from Occasional Baker

Annemarie said...

Both your breads look fantastic; I'm so impressed with the crispity crunchity crust of your focaccia. Fab job on your first DB challenge!

April said...

Congrats on completing your first challenge! It looks wonderful!

test it comm said...

Great looking focaccia!

... said...

your bread looks truly amazing. Great job.

Peabody said...

Those darn directions :)
A great job on your first challenge...excellent that your tried again.

Anonymous said...

Oh my, I love anchovies, your focaccia must have been to die for !!

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

The focaccia topped with onions cooked in bacon fat - errr, yes please! Great that you tried again and perfected it second time round.

p.s. re: the comment you left, if you want to know a bit more (there's lots not included in the posts) then do feel free to e-mail me (the details are in the top of my side bar).

Amanda

Deborah said...

Ohhh, onions cooked in bacon fat...what a great idea! Great job!

Gretchen Noelle said...

Congrats on your first DB challenge! Good for you for doing it twice! The loaf looks delicious!

Jen Yu said...

Oh, anchovies? That's brilliant. I rather love the salty playing against the flavor of this focaccia. That must have been wonderful. Kudos on your breads!!


-jen at use real butter

Anonymous said...

that loaf looks picture-perfect carla, great job!

Julie said...

Congratulations on your first challenge! You did a great job with your focaccias and bread loaf. And on behalf of my household, I thank you for saving us from the city-eating blob.

Lesley said...

VERY nice focaccia! I love it!
And those cupcakes you've b=posted about are calling my name!

Sheltie Girl said...

You did a wonderful job on your focaccia and loaf of potato bread. What a great idea to use anchovies.

Natalie @ Gluten A Go Go

Helene said...

Oh that loaf is just screaming my name!! Looks wonderful! Great job on the challenge this month!!

Gabi said...

Lovely bread and your Focaccia turned out great!
Nice job!
xoxo
Gabi

Christine said...

Wow, your focaccia looks amazing and the texture of your loaf is stellar!

Welcome to the DBers!

Christina ~ She Runs, She Eats

marias23 said...

What a wonderful foccacia! It looks like a pizza too! Your bread looks so delicious too.

Carla said...

I want to say thanks to all the wonderful DB'rs who've commented on my first challenge.

I've tried to check out all of your blogs but some of them are restricted.

Thanks again and please leave your blog address so I can make sure and visit!

creampuff said...

I just love your bread, especially the loaf! Great job!

Dolores said...

Congratulations and welcome! It's taking me longer than I'd hoped to visit everyone's blogs this month, so I apologize for the tardiness of my comment, but I'm glad you're among us. Your focaccia looks and sounds sensational, and the loaf's pretty yummy too!