FoodNet

Principles of food preparation

1914

Page 79

Presented as published in 1914. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Fill a wide-mouthed bottle with a mixture of cane sugar and water, or glucose syrup and water, in the pro- portion of two tablespoonfuls of the syrup (or sugar) to a pint of water. Add one-quarter of a yeast cake, cover the bottle with a saucer, or a soup plate, and invert it. QUICK-PROCESS BREAD 179 When the gas has displaced the Hquid in the bottle (it may take several hours, or overnight), test it by pouring some into a beaker filled with lime water, by pouring some on a Hghted candle, etc. Ill Comparison of Dried and Compressed Yeast Make a thin batter, using one cupful each of flour and water. Divide into two parts, A and B. Blend with A one-eighth cake of compressed yeast; blend with B one-eighth cake of dried yeast, previously softened in water. Place each mixture in a 100 cc. beaker, set these in a warm place, and observe: (a) in which the gas was first generated; (b) in which the action continued longest; (c) in which the total amount of gas generated was the greatest — as evidenced by the height to which the bubbles rose in the beaker. TOPICS FOR STUDY OR DISCUSSION 1. Bacteria, yeasts, and molds; where found, how de- veloped; various results of their life activities. 2. ''Wild" yeasts; their action on food; how to obtain and utilize them. The " barms," the salt-rising breads, the ancient leavens. 3. Different phases of the life of the yeast plant — the active or growing state, the resting state, the dormant or spore state. 4. Cultivated yeasts — brewer's yeast, dried yeast, com- pressed yeast; methods of manufacturing these. 5. Fermented milk, koumiss, kephir, matzoon. 6. The chemical and physical changes in the making of bread ; the chemical and physical changes in the baking of bread. 7. Varieties of bread — whole wheat, Graham, Vienna, ^tc, Aerated bread. 18G PRINCIPLES OF FOOD PREPARATION 8. Breads of various countries — Danish and Norwegian breads, pumpernickel and other rye breads. 9. Antiquity of bread making; bread making in Egypt, in Rome, etc. 10. Historical associations of bread; the bakers gilds; the bread riots; laws regarding the making and sale of bread. 11. The bread-making industry of today. Sanitation of bakeries. Delivery conditions. Cost of bakers' as compared with home-made bread. 12. Adulterations of bread. Pure Food laws relating to bread. 13. Purchase of flour — in barrels, in bags, in small sacks, in quantities of one or more pounds. 14. Milling processes; the great flour mills and the characteristics of the flour produced by each. QUESTIONS 1. Compare the nutritive value of a helping of cereal with that of a slice of bread. (See charts.) 2. Which cereals can be successfully used for bread making and which cannot? Why? 3. Why is it not best to use pastry flour in bread making? 4. Criticise the bread score cards on page 177. Con- struct a score card that might, in your judgment, be a better guide in judging bread. 5. Name some labor-saving devices that are used in bread making. Discuss their value. 6. Compare the action of baking powder and of yeast in leavening flour mixtures. 7. Compare the economy of aerated and of yeast-raised bread. What is the proof that a certain amount of flour is lost in the latter process? To what is due the difference in flavor of the two kinds of bread?