How to make Bread

I've tried many times using many different recipes for making bread. I've kneaded it, I've not kneaded it, I've made it sloppy, I've made it firm, I've heated the tray first, I've not heated it, I've thrown water in the hot oven to create steam, I've almost given up on many occasions as the bread was never perfect. I'm sure it never will be perfect, but anyway I've tried again and this time it's not too bad.

This is what I did this time.

I weighed out 150 grams of wholemeal bread flour

and 150 grams of white bread flour.

I mixed the two together and added half a teaspoon of salt.

I mixed in 25 grams of chopped nuts and 25 grams of pumpkin seeds

I added a level teaspoon of dried yeast to 300mls of tepid water and gave it half a teaspoon of sugar to help the reaction. When the yeast mixture was frothy, I mixed it with the dry ingredients and stirred it up. Then I turned the dough out onto the worktop and started to knead it, stretching the glutens one way, folding it over on itself then turning it 90 degrees and stretching it again. After ten minutes the dough started to get nice and smooth. I made it into a ball, covered it with a cloth and let it rise near to a warm radiator.

After an hour it had risen quite well so I threw it back on the worktop and kneaded it again, stretching and pulling to get rid of any carbon dioxide.

I rolled it into a ball again and put it back in the warm. Whew! Making bread is easy but it takes time!

After another hour I heated the oven up to gas mark 7 or 220C.

When the oven was up to temperature I quickly slid the raised dough into the top of the oven and set the timer for 25 minutes.

Once the time was up I covered the top of the bread with oiled aluminium foil and gave it another ten minutes.

I let it cool out of the oven and here is my latest effort in making bread.