Game of Thrones Feast Part 1: Freshly Baked Bread

We're a little bit excited about the upcoming premiere of the new season of GAME OF THRONES (cue music). As hammer and potato tradition, we prepare for this glorious day by feasting the way lords and ladies do- except we don't really have servants so we kind of have to do the hunting and cooking and cleaning up. Safe to say, at least we know we won't be re-enacting a purple wedding fiasco in front of the tv our dining hall. 

First course - freshly baked bread! 

Ingredients (for 3 giant loaves): 

• 1.5 tbsp salt
• 1.5 tbsp honey 
• 1.5 tbsp fast rising yeast 
• 6.5 cups flour
• 3 cups water + 3-6 tbsp

How to: 

1. Place the yeast in a small bowl and add 3-6 tbsp luke warm water and honey. Quickly stir to dissolve most of the yeast
2. Add flour and salt into the mixture
3. On a clean flat surface, sprinkle some flour so that the dough doesn't stick. Start kneading the dough until it becomes one giant mass. (Add flour as needed to not make it stick to the surface). You're ready when you poke it and the mass bounces back.



dough ball - pre rising! 

4. Place in a large (we used the largest mixing bowl we had) bowl and cover with cloth (any towel will do). 
5. Sit back and let the dough rise uncontrollably. (2-3 hours) until it becomes one giant ball that is the size of Westeros (not really, but you know what we mean!) 
6. Use your Dothraki-like muscles to work and divide the dough into desirable size (bigger ball = longer bake time). We made three loaves the size of our heads with these ingredient amounts
7. Form smooth balls. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and let the dough rise for another 30 minutes. Shape and decorate as needed. We use the standard three stripes along the top the way we would draw bread in cartoons :D  
8. Preheat oven to 450 F
9. Place a small roasting pan filled with water at the bottom of the oven and the would-be bread in the middle/top racks (this is an added step for a nice and crispy crust) 
10. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top crust browns 
11. Let cool for at least 15 minutes and enjoy!

One of three loaves the size of our heads.

A feast fit for a king - or seven. Or two really awesome queens