Cape Cod Bay Brown Bread Recipes

OLD SCHOOL, NOVA SCOTIA BROWN BREAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, add bran, oatmeal. Add 4 cups boiling water and stir. Allow to stand for ten minutes. (The boiling water will melt the shortening, no need to melt beforehand)
• After 10 minutes proof the yeast; in a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons yeast, 2 teaspoons sugar and one cup of warm water. Allow to stand 10 minutes to proof.
• Add to bran mixture, one cup of molasses, stir, then add the yeast mixture and stir.
• Knead in 10 ½ to 11 ½ cups of flour, move onto floured surface as required and knead until dough feels firm "like a baby's bottom". (This term has been used with this recipe, dating back 50+ years. Bread and babies have changed very little.)
• Let rise in a warm, dry spot until double in size
• Divide and move to greased/prepared bread pans (makes 3 large sized loafs).
• Let rise again in pans and bake at 350⁰F (180⁰C) for 40 minutes until golden brown.
• Remove from oven and cool before turning out of pans.

BROWN BREAD

Steps:

• Mix together the warm coffee and brown sugar in a small pitcher. Mix in the yeast and set aside for a couple minutes to bloom.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix together the bread flour, whole-wheat flour and cocoa powder. Add in the coffee/yeast mixture, as well as the honey, butter and molasses. With the dough attachment, mix on medium until a ball begins to form, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and knead for an additional 6 minutes.
• Grease a large bowl with olive oil; put the dough in it and cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm spot in the kitchen and let rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Divide the dough in half, form into 2 tight balls and put on a baking sheet. Drizzle the tops with olive oil and cover very loosely with plastic wrap. Allow to rise again for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• When the dough is ready, remove the plastic wrap. With a serrated knife, cut an X in the top of each round. Carefully transfer the dough to two 10-inch cast-iron skillets. Place both skillets on the center rack of the oven and bake until the crusts are browned and the centers are set, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

COD CAKES

Steps:

• Fill a shallow, wide pan with high sides with about an inch of water, and set it over high heat. Add the peppercorns, bay leaf and 1 section of the lemon to the water, and allow it to come to a bare simmer. Place the fish into this poaching liquid, and cook, barely simmering, until the flesh has just begun to whiten all the way through, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Using a wide spatula, carefully remove the fish from the water, and set aside to cool.
• Empty the pan, and return it to the stove, over medium-high heat. Add the butter, and allow it to melt, swirling it around the pan. When the butter foams, add the celery, onions and garlic, and sauté, stirring often, until the vegetables soften and the onions turn translucent, then transfer them to a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, mustard, eggs, salt, pepper and seasoning salt (or paprika and hot-pepper flakes), then add this mixture to the bowl with the sautéed vegetables, pour the crushed saltines or bread crumbs over them and stir to combine. Add the parsley, and stir again.
• Flake the cooked fish into the binding sauce carefully, keeping the flakes as whole as you can manage, then gather them into small balls, and form them into patties, 4-6 for a main course, 6-8 for an appetizer. Place them on a sheet pan or platter, cover loosely with plastic wrap and transfer them to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to set.
• Set a large sauté pan over high heat, and add to it the neutral oil. When the oil is shimmering, remove the fish cakes from the refrigerator, and carefully sauté the patties until they are golden brown, approximately 4 to 5 minutes a side. Work in batches if necessary. (A small smear of mayonnaise on the exterior of the patties will give them a crisp crust.) Serve them alone, or with greens dressed in a lemony vinaigrette, with the remaining wedges of lemon.