Early American Cottage Loaf

This lovely little rustic loaf of bread is sponsored by Red Star Yeast, and I am happy to give you my honest opinions about the entire delicious process. I wasn't worried about it (I've been making their recipes and using their yeast for a long time), and I wasn't disappointed.

I did some research on the cottage loaf (why is it shaped like that?), and


found that early American settlers brought this method of baking with them from Europe. Although no one seems to know for sure, there are several possible explanations for the two-tiered shape:

• It might have been a way to conserve space on the floor of a baking oven: go up, not out.
• Centuries ago, there were severe penalties for bakers who sold underweight loaves of bread. To make sure their bread would weigh enough, bakers added a small ball of dough on top. (The same principle of the "baker's dozen"- the baker would throw in an extra cookie to make sure the customer was not short-changed).
• Or perhaps the shape was meant to mimic the the outline of an English cottage and roof.

Regardless of the explanation, the bread is excellent (and a fun conversation piece!). You get a variety of whole grains: whole wheat flour, oats, and even cornmeal. It has just a touch of sweetness from honey, and the texture is smooth, chewy, and hearty. It slices beautifully for toast or sandwiches, and stays soft and fresh for several days when wrapped well.

The cottage loaf is not hard to make. Let the dough rise (here's how to tell when it's done rising, or "ripe") then punch it down and divide into two pieces. Slice off about a fourth of the dough to make the smaller portion, and shape both into rounds:

Stack the two rounds together, then stick your finger down though both balls of dough, all the way through until your finger reaches the bottom of the bowl. This seals the pieces of dough together:

Ready for the second rise

Whole grains in every bite

The taste-testers are ready to get to work. They love their job.

 Please visit Red Star Yeast for the complete recipe, detailed instructions, and handy baking tips.

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