Old Fashioned Anadama Bread Recipes

ANADAMA BREAD

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup water and cornmeal in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook until mixture thickens; about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the butter or margarine and molasses. Let cool to lukewarm.
• In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Let sit until creamy; about 10 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled cornmeal mixture with the yeast mixture; stir until well blended. Add 2 cups of the flour and the salt; mix well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a loaf. Place the loaf in a lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pan. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

OLD-FASHIONED ANADAMA BREAD

Steps:

• Mix the cornmeal with the 3/4 cups cold water in a medium saucepan.
• Whisk in the boiling water and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• When the cornmeal mixture starts to boil, add the butter, molasses and salt.
• Cook until the mixture is the consistency of pudding-- stirring constantly.
• It should take about 7 minutes.
• Transfer this mixture to a large bowl and let it cool to lukewarm.
• Don't get impatient with the cooling, because if it's too hot (over 115 degrees farenheit), it will kill the yeast.
• It will form a skin on the top, but it's no big deal.
• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water in a small bowl and let it sit until the yeast looks foamy.
• Stir to dissolve the yeast, then add it to the cornmeal mush.
• Just an aside about the"warm" definition in case you are a beginning bread-maker without a thermometer.
• The temperature you want is when you drop water on your wrist, it feels neither cool nor hot-- test it the way you would a baby's bottle.
• I killed yeast with too-hot water when I was starting out.
• Now back to the recipe.
• Mix the all-purpose and wheat flours together and start stirring them into the cornmeal mixture, a cup at a time to make a soft, sticky dough.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured work service and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• You can add more flour as needed, but don't get carried away.
• Because of the molasses, the dough will stay sticky.
• As long as the dough isn't sticking excessively to the board, you have enough flour.
• I knead this with my stand mixer, and there's always a little"smear" of dough around the edges of the bowl.
• Form the dough into a ball and put it in a large, lightly oiled bowl.
• Turn the dough ball to get a little oil all over it.
• Let rise until double in size, about an hour.
• Punch the dough down (Really, just pick up the sides and let it collapse on itself. No need to be violent.), cover with a towel, and let rest in the bowl for 10 minutes.
• Get two 9-x5-inch loaf pans ready by lightly oiling them.
• After the dough's little rest, divide it into two pieces and shape each piece into a loaf.
• Put them in the loaf pans, and roll them around so they get a nice little coating of oil.
• Cover with a towel and let the loaves rise until they touch the top of the pan.
• That takes about half an hour.
• While they're rising, preheat the oven to 400 degrees farenheit, and position your rack in the center of the oven.
• Slide the loaf pans in and bake for 15 minutes, then turn the oven down to 375 degrees and bake until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
• Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove the loaves from the pan and let cool on a wire rack.

ANADAMA BREAD

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Sprinkle with cornmeal and set aside.
• Pour 2 cups milk in small saucepan and gradually stir in cornmeal. Place over medium- low heat and stir constantly until mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside to cool.
• In another small saucepan, combine remaining 2 cups milk, salt, molasses, and butter. Place over medium heat and whisk until butter is melted.
• Transfer milk-and-molasses mixture to an electric mixer and let stand until milk is lukewarm (110 degrees). Sprinkle yeast over it, stir, and let stand until yeast dissolves and is foamy on top, about 5 minutes.
• Add cooled cornmeal mixture and 4 cups flour to yeast-and-molasses mixture. Using the dough hook, mix on medium speed to combine ingredients. Slowly add remaining 6 to 6 1/2 cups flour in 3 or 4 additions, until dough is smooth and elastic but not sticky, about 5 minutes (or knead by hand for about 15 minutes). If necessary, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead in remaining 1/2 cup flour to keep it from being too sticky.
• Spray inside of large bowl with nonstick vegetable-oil spray. Place dough in bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Punch down dough, turn it onto a work surface, and cut into 3 pieces. Shape each into an oblong loaf. Place 2 loaves on a prepared baking sheet and 1 loaf on another. Cover and let rise, about 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water. Brush loaves with egg mixture and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons cornmeal.
• Place loaves in oven and bake for about 40 to 45 minutes, until loaves are hollow sounding when tapped on bottom. Let cool on a wire rack before slicing.

ANADAMA BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, stir together the cornmeal and 1 cup water. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring another cup of water to a boil. Add cornmeal mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is very thick, about 10 minutes. Stir in the molasses and 2 tablespoons butter. Transfer mixture to bowl of an electric mixer and cool to tepid.
• In a small bowl, stir together the yeast and 1/2 cup water until yeast has dissolved. Add to cornmeal and mix on low speed with dough-hook attachment for several seconds. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time, mixing for several seconds after each addition. Sprinkle in the salt and nutmeg, and continue mixing until dough completely comes away from sides of bowl, about 7 minutes.
• Lightly butter a bowl. Form dough into a ball and place it in bowl. Oil a sheet of plastic wrap and loosely cover dough. Allow dough to rise for 1 1/2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
• Lightly grease 2 9-by-4-inch loaf pans. Press down dough and divide it into 2 equal pieces. Shape each piece loosely into a loaf and place each in a pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until loaves have doubled.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake loaves for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until bread is a dark golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
• Allow bread to cool in pans for 5 minutes, then turn out onto wire cooling rack. Brush all over with remaining softened butter. Serve warm if possible.

ANADAMA BREAD

Steps:

• The day before making the bread, make the soaker by mixing the cornmeal and water in a small bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight at room temperature.
• The next day, to make the dough, stir together 2 cups of the flour, the yeast, soaker, and water in a mixing bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer). Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and ferment for 1 hour, or until the sponge begins to bubble.
• Add the remaining 2 1/2 cups of flour, the salt, molasses, and shortening and stir (or mix on low speed with the paddle attachment) until the ingredients form a ball. Add water if necessary to make a soft, slightly sticky mass.
• Sprinkle flour on the counter, transfer the dough to the counter, and begin kneading (or mix on medium speed with the dough hook), sprinkling in more flour as needed to make a tacky, but not sticky, dough. The dough should be firm but supple and pliable and definitely not sticky. It will take about 10 minutes of kneading to accomplish this (or 6 to 8 minutes in the electric mixer). The dough should pass the windowpane test (page 58) and register 77° to 81°F.
• Lightly oil a bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, rolling it around to coat it with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and ferment the dough at room temperature for about 90 minutes, or until it doubles in size.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it into 2 equal pieces of 24 ounces, or 3 pieces of about 16 ounces. Shape the dough into loaves, as shown on page 81, and place them into bread pans that have been lightly oiled or misted with spray oil (the larger loaves should go into 9 by 5-inch pans and the smaller loaves into 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch pans). Mist the tops of the loaves with spray oil and loosely cover the tops with plastic wrap.
• Proof at room temperature for 60 to 90 minutes, or until the loaves crest fully above the tops of the pans. (If you want to hold back any of the loaves, place them in the refrigerator without proofing, where they will hold, or retard, for up to 2 days. Remove them from the refrigerator about 4 hours before baking and proof them at room temperature, or until ready.)
• Preheat the oven to 350°F with the oven rack on the middle shelf. Place the pans on a sheet pan and remove the plastic wrap. Mist the tops with a spray of water and dust with cornmeal.
• Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Rotate the sheet pan for even baking and continue to bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the loaves are golden brown, including along the sides and bottom, and register at least 185° to 190°F in the center. They should make a hollow sound when thumped on the bottom.
• When the loaves are done, remove them immediately from the pans and cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before slicing or serving.
• BREAD PROFILE
• Enriched, standard dough; indirect method; commercial yeast
• DAYS TO MAKE: 2
• Day 1: 5 minutes soaker
• Day 2: 1 1/4 hours sponge; 15 minutes mixing; 2 3/4 to 3 1/4 hours fermentation, shaping, and proofing; 40 to 50 minutes baking
• Commentary
• The brand or type of molasses will make a difference in the final flavor. People who tested this formula preferred Brer Rabbit Golden Molasses for its lightness. Molasses is high in iron and other minerals, but some brands are harsher and darker. I suggest using the lightest, most refined brand you can find, unless you like the stronger flavor tones of darker brands.
• The amount of flour may vary depending on the type of molasses you use, so do not be concerned if you have to add more to firm up the dough. Let the dough dictate how much flour it needs; you want a dough that is slightly tacky but not sticky, and supple enough for easy shaping.
• BAKER'S PERCENTAGE FORMULA
• Anadama Bread %
• (SOAKER)
• Cornmeal: 100%
• Water: 133%
• Total: 233%
• (DOUGH)
• Bread flour: 100%
• Instant yeast: 1.1%
• Soaker:69.1%
• Water: 39.5%
• Salt: 1.9%
• Molasses: 19.8%
• Shortening: 4.9%
• Total: 236.3%

MIMI'S ANADAMA BREAD (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Put the ingredients in your bread machine according to directions.
• Basic cycle; light crust; loaf size.
• Check it while it is kneading to make sure it is the right consistency; if it is dry add a few drops of water slowly till it is right and if too wet, add a tad of flour slowly.
• Cool on rack.

ANADAMA BREAD

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring water and cornmeal to a boil. Reduce heat; cook for 2 minutes or until mixture thickens, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in molasses and butter. Cool to 110°-115°., In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the cornmeal mixture, salt and 2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; shape into a loaf. Place in a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour., Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until browned (cover loosely with foil if top browns too quickly). Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

FLEISCHMANN'S ANADAMA BREAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, cornmeal, salt and undissolved yeast.
• Heat water, butter and molasses to 120F degrees to 130F degrees.
• Gradually add hot liquids to dry ingredients; beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Add 1/2 cup flour; beat at high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
• With spoon, stir in enough additional flour to make soft dough.
• Knead dough on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Cover; let rest on board 20 minutes.
• Roll dough to 14 x 9-inches.
• Roll up tightly from short end as for jelly roll; pinch seam and ends to seal.
• Place, seam side down, in greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.
• Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place, until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Sprinkle top of loaf with 1 teaspoon flour.
• With sharp knife, make lengthwise cut, about 1/4 inch deep, in top of loaf.
• Bake at 375F for 45 minutes or until done.
• Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
• To save up to 50-percent rising time use Fleischmann's Rapid Rise Yeast.
• Follow directions except reduce first rising: cover kneaded dough and let rest on floured surface 10 minutes; proceed with recipe.

ANADAMA BREAD

Steps:

• In a larg bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk.
• Stir in the molasses and butter.
• Add the cornmeal and 1 cup flour and beat vigorously until smooth.
• Mix in salt and enough remaiing flour to make a stiff daough.
• Knead until smooth and elastic.
• Form dough into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl.
• Turn it once to coat the surface with oil.
• Cover with a cloth and place in a warm area until it has doubled in size[approx 1 1/2- 2 hours].
• A closed car in a sunny spot is a good location.
• Punch the dough down and let it rest for 10 minutes.
• Shape into 1 large loaf and place in well greased loaf tins.
• Allow to rise until almost doubled[45-60 minutes].
• Brush tops with beaten egg.
• Bake in a preheated 375 deg F oven for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.