Baking Bread | Boston Brown Bread | Potato Yeast Bread | Bake With Me

Bake with me as I test out 2 - 100 year old bread recipes. I’m enjoying baking bread now that the heat wave of summer is over. I’ll be making a Potato Yeast Bread and Boston Brown Bread.

POTATO YEAST BREAD

Make The Potato Yeast:

• 4 large cooking potatoes • 2 Tbsp flour
• 2 Tbsp salt • 2 Tbsp sugar
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 quarts cold water
• 2 cakes compressed yeast ( I used 1 tsp active dry yeast + about 1/4 cup sourdough starter - you could use 2 tsp active dry yeast instead).

Peak, boil and mash potatoes in their cooking liquid. Pour over the flour, salt and sugar, stirring to combine. Add the boiling water, then the cold water. Dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup lukewarm water, then combine with the potato mixture. Let this sit in a warm place for 18 hours. Then it is ready to use. Keep in a cool place and use as required.

For The Bread:

• 8 cups all-purpose flour • 1 Tbsp salt
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar • 1 Tbsp butter
• 4 cups potato yeast

Set the yeast on the stove and stir until it is blood-heat (98 degrees F), then add salt, sugar and butter. Mix in enough of the flour (previously warmed) to make a batter, about 3-4 cups. Cover and let rise. Once light and frothy, add the remaining flour, or until dough doesn’t stick to the hands. Knead thoroughly for 15 minutes.
Let rise until doubled. Form into loaves and place into greased loaf pans, covering with a damp towel or greased Saran Wrap.
Let rise again until double in size. Bake in a 350 F oven for 60 minutes.

Makes 2 loaves

STEAMED BOSTON BROWN BREAD

• 1 heaping Tbsp molasses
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups graham flour (whole wheat)
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 tsp baking soda (dissolved in a co little hot water and added to buttermilk)

Mix the flours thoroughly with the salt and sugar. Add the buttermilk mixture and molasses. Mix until just combined.

Add mixture into 2 greased tin cans (larger size) and steam for 2 1/2 hours. Place in a moderate oven (350 F) for 15 minutes.

Makes 2 round loaves

* note: I didn’t place in the oven for 15 minutes. Not sure if this would have helped loosen the bread? Either way - it was delicious!!

Thanks for watching!