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Sunday, August 1, 2010

Lammas Loaf

 Lammas, the ancient mid-summer celebration (known by the Celts as Lughnasadh loo-na-sa) honoring the new harvest, falls on August 1 today.  The Old English interpretation of Lammas is "loaf mass".  The perfect day to bake up a loaf of bread packed full of just harvested herbs from the garden to celebrate the new harvest!  This bread is hearthy, warm, and oh-so-inviting with its heady scent of herbs permeating the air...smelling like the harvest, itself!  Break bread with your friends and loved ones who've helped to cultivate this years crops.

Lammas Loaf
adapted from China Bayles' Book of Days

2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/4 c. warm water, divided
2 Tbs. melted butter, divided
2 1/2 - 3 c. bread flour
1 tsp. sea salt
2 Tbs. fresh Sage, minced
2 Tbs. fresh Rosemary, minced
2 Tbs. fresh Thyme, minced
2 Tbs. fresh Oregano, minced
2 tsp. poppy seeds

Put 1/4c. of the warm water in a large bowl and sprinkle the yeast and sugar over it, stirring to dissolve.  Add the remaining c. of warm water and 1 Tbs. of the melted butter. 

In a separate bowl, combine the sage & salt with 2 1/2 c. of the flour.  Add to the yeast mixture, a little at a time, stirring w/ a wooden spoon to form a slightly sticky dough.  Add a bit more of the remaining flour, if necessary to make dough workable (so it doesn't stick to everything).  Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (5-6 mins.). 

Oil a large bowl and place the dough in, turning to coat.  Cover with a clean, damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, ~90 mins.  Punch dough down.  Divide it into thirds, add one of the remaining herbs to each section of dough and knead it in. 

Form each section into a long rope, ~20".  Arrange on a greased or papered cookie sheet and braid them together, pressing the ends together and tucking under slightly.  Cover and let rise 45-50 mins, or until doubled in size.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F when there is ~15-20 mins rising time left.

Brush w/ remaining butter and sprinkle with poppy seeds. 

Bake 35-40 mins, or until golden and hollow-sounding when you knock on it.

I cannot begin to tell you how amazing this is warm, eaten with some hunks of cheese...or slathered with herby, tangy cheese.  My favorite cheese to eat it with...gouda. ohemgeeyum.




This post is linked to:
BYOBYeastSpottingMyMeatlessMondaysHey What's For Dinner24TbadgeGIRLICHEF





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  1. wow looks amazing and girlichef is teaching me English history he he

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  2. It's great to learn something new! :) looks delicious.

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  3. Whoa you were NOT joking when you said it was chock full of herbs! Delicious.

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  4. Ne kadar iÅŸtah açıcı oldu ellerinize saÄŸlık.

    Saygılar.

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  5. Honestly, I think that's the most appetizing and delicious looking bread I've ever seen. A definite must make!!! Wow!

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  6. Saygilar...thank you! Although I don't speak Turkish (I wish), I've been using a translator and getting the "general" meaning of your comments and I really appreciate them. =)

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  7. These photos instantly made me hungry! That braided photo is beautiful Heather. Well, as you know, I've said it a hundred times...I'm doughaphobic. I'll just have to watch the celebration from the sidelines.

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  8. Beautiful, beautiful and beautiful again.

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  9. That looks so good, herb bread is the bomb. I'd make some right now if my kitchen wasn't such a disaster...

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  10. looks beautiful must have smelled lovely as well

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  11. Looks delicious whatever it is called! ;]

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  12. AH that sounds so goooooood! I am blessed with TONS of herbs fresh all year 'round. One day we'll have goats to milk and make fresh cheese from - and when that day comes i MUST make this bread! (i might have to make it MUCH sooner than that!)
    -Miranda

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  13. that is beautiful and amazing looking loaf of loaf :)

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  14. Lovely and soft loaf. Nice to be here. Bets wishes.

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  15. wowwwwwww!! awesome!!!... perfectly baked :)..

    do drp in when u get time at my small world of cookery at
    http://neetzkitchen.blogspot.com

    i would love u to add me to ur friend list and share ur comments on mine too :)..

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  16. This bread looks incredible! There's nothing quite like fresh bread. And that last picture? yum!

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  17. This bread looks delicious with all those gorgeous green herbs - wow! I bet it goes great with some of your homemade cheese. It doesn't get better than that, does it?

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  18. Looks perfect and I love all those herbs you added!

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  19. Gorgeous--warm from the oven, full of all those herbs and spread with your homemade cheese--what could be better?! ;-)

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  20. oh how I love homemade bread - the herbs just put it over the top amazing!

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  21. Estupenda receta. Acabo de descubrir tu blog y tienes recetas muy ricas. me quedo por aqui para seguirte.

    Saludos

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  22. jose manuel... ¡DĂ© la bienvenida y muchas gracias por sus palabras de clase!

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  23. Oh habla/escribe Espanol GirliChef muy bien :) I love your recipe, I actually bake breads with herbs all the time. I wish I would have know about this day, I love any excuse to bake bread. Great recipe thanks for sharing.

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  24. Spicie... Bien, necesito mĂ¡s prĂ¡ctica… pero, sĂ­! LOL ;)

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  25. Your Lammas Loaf looks wonderful - and I bet the kitchen smells amazing when it is cooking too!!

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  26. Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano...it's like herbal porn.

    I looove these spices!

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  27. I just subscribed to your blog. I like what I see especially this bread which I am going to have to try. Que delicioso.
    Norma
    http://platanosmangoesandme.blogspot.com

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  28. OMG is right this is fantaTsic! And yes I will be linking up my cheese recipe!

    Thanks for linking up to Just Another Meatless Monday!

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  29. Love this with all the herbs in it! And is that your homemade Gouda? Totally irresistible!

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  30. Oh, Heather! I'm a little late (internet troubles), but that won't stop me from celebrating the new harvest with this delicious, herb bread. With brie! Yummy!

    I can close my eyes and smell it now. =)p

    Did you make that gouda yourself?

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  31. Oops, I had llama the animal in my head, and was wondering how you got your hands on one to make meat loaf.

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  32. Ree...no,I didn't =( BUT, it is on my list to make as soon as I get more culture in!

    Butter...LOL

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  33. Mmmm, herb bread! Looks really good, Heather.

    -Elizabeth

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  34. Dayum! That looks good. Not too many people out there celebrating the high holidays. Lugh would be proud! :)

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  35. OMG! This bread looks amazing! I want some right now.....

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  36. Hehehehe...I love that you are sharing this and happy midsummersnight! :) It looks so lovely and I adore any artisan bread. thanks for hosting and posting on the two for tuesday recipe blog hop! :)alex@amoderatelife

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  37. Lovely and nice. Thank you for sharing.

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  38. This herb bread sounds perfect! And where have I been that I've never heard of Lammas before... hum, thanks for filling me in! :)

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  39. The bread looks delicious. like the addition of herbs and the hues they have added to the bread

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