Do you love raisin or sultana bread for breakfast? It’s not tops on my list but every once in a while I make it just so I can toast it and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. I know, I know but sometimes a sugar hit is just what you need when you’re ready to pull your hair out.
Making bread in the Thermomix is the easiest thing I do. I add the water, the sugar and the yeast to the bottom of the bowl and set the temperature on low and swirl it until it just begins to get frothy then I toss everything else in on top of it. I mix it on speed 7 for about 15 seconds and then on knead for two and a half minutes. That’s it to first rise. I tossed in the sultanas during kneading.
Normally bread takes about 30 minutes to rise on my heating plate but I knew this would take a bit longer with the fruit so I took Charlie to the park to walk along the river. Early mornings, it’s dogs off-leash at the park and as we were strolling along we met the funniest looking dog I’ve ever seen and did I have a camera? No! He was with his owner, a scraggly elderly man with one leg that bent out sideways at the knee.
The dog was half poodle and half black jack russell terrier. He was shaped like a poodle but with straight hair. Straight WET hair – as he’d already been swimming in the ocean. He and Charlie instantly made friends because they were the same size and the old man and I began to talk about how lovely the park was and how many people used it and how few people neglected to clean up after their dogs.
As we are standing there this huge white dog walks up beside us and makes the biggest poop in the world and his owner said, “Rex, come on,” and left it there.
I yelled, “CLEANUP, Aisle 7!” but he kept on walking.
I was getting a bag out of my stash when my new-found friend said, “Oh, I’ll get it”, and he quickly scooped it up. We began walking to the bin and he asked me how old Charlie was and was he a good dog and how did I get him to come on command like that. “He just likes to be with me, ” I said. (He’s under my chair as I type)
Just as we were finishing our conversation, Charlie chased the scruffy black dog and both whizzed past us. “What’s your dog’s name,” I asked.
“Ralph,” he said with a smile. Seriously, who calls a dog Ralph? (obviously this old man did!)
I yelled, “Hey, Ralphie!!” and sure enough he came running right behind Charlie who wasn’t sure that hey ralphie didn’t mean, ‘I have a treat for you.’
“I thought you said he didn’t come.”
“He doesn’t for me,” the old man sighed.
THEN I remembered the freakin’ bread. Charlie and I ran/walked to the car. A run/walk is where you are going as fast as you can without your boobs flopping everywhere.
We got back to the house just in time – no overflow out of the bowl. I quickly shaped it into a not very pretty loaf and back on the heating plate it went for just about 30 minutes and then in the oven. This bread is not overly sweet nor is it filled with cinnamon – remember that I like to put cinnamon sugar on top.
My apologies for the photographs. I know you were expecting nifty things after I got new lights. It was breakfast and someone quite elderly who shall remain nameless was eager to eat so we ate that bread piping hot. As you know, piping hot bread doesn’t cut well. (Notice the end piece is already gone.) I also didn’t take the time to brush the top with a little bit of honey (mixed with boiling water) so it would be all shiny for you. Next time!
- 300 grams warm water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons yeast
- 600 grams bakers flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons bread improver (optional but I use it)
- 300 grams sultanas (or raisins or currants)
- Place sugar, water and yeast in the Thermomix mixing bowl and heat 1½ minutes at 37C/speed 2
- Add all ingredients except sultanas and mix for 15 seconds on speed 7 (get to speed slowly and the cover stays clean)
- Add sultanas, lock bowl and knead for 2½ minutes
- Form into a ball and place in a greased bowl and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes until doubled in size.
- Punch down and shape into a loaf and place in greased baking pan and let rise in a warm place for another 30 minutes.
- When the bread has risen to just above the pan, place in a cold oven at 200C for about 30 minutes or until the bread is browned and sounds hollow when you tap it. Remove from the pan and place back in the oven for just a couple of minutes to fully dry the bottom.
- Enjoy!
This bread was made in a Thermomix. I can’t give you “American measurements and method” because it’s written for a Thermomix which has an in-built scale. There are lots of raisin bread recipes on the net that will work just fine for bread machines or hand mixing.
The bread looks fabulous Maureen! And I’m not surprised that Charlie is besotted by you, aren’t most creatures? 😀
LOL I don’t think so, Lorraine but it would be nice 🙂
Reading this and seeing your pictures has brought back memories of sultana bread my Mum made when we were young, using a bread maker. It was the most incredible bread and the house would smell amazing while it baked. I’m sure this is just the same!
Ngawww how can Charlie not adore you 😀 Such a cutie pie!
And I am loving, simply devouring your bread through my screen!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I’m a proud owner of Thermomix for the last 10 years…but I haven’t tried to make bread yet. OK, once I did and I almost burned the engine. So this one comes in handy, Maureen. Your bread looks fantastic…even when still warm. But who dared to touch it ??! 🙂 ela
John ALWAYS cuts the bread too soon and it’s always squooshed tightly at the cutting end. “How can anyone wait?” he always wants to know. He does share half the end piece with me. I think the Thermomix is best at making bread. And custard.
Your bread looks fantastic. I need to try to make this bread in my bread machine.
Piping hot bread sounds absolutely marvelous – and looks fantastic!
This past Sunday, my daughter and I were out walking and a black lab decided to unload a few feet in front of us – and the owner, turned around looked at us said Hello and went on his merry way leaving the present behind – I did not have any bags with me so I hope no one else stepped on it! GAH!
Fun bowser story! And great looking bread. We almost never make raisin bread (so we almost never eat the stuff!) but should — it’s a nice change. It really is hard to resist cutting freshly baked bread. An electric knife helps a bit. Although I’m usually too lazy to pull it out, and just use my regular bread knife. Pig that I am. 😉
I love bread that contain a sweet component — in this case either sultana currants or raisins. It is great to eat plain and also to make bread pudding and french toast. Thanks for the recipe, Maureen!
What a charming encounter with an interesting ‘old’ man and his dog. Bad karma on the dog owner who didn’t pick up his dog’s poo. I hope he steps in someone else’s dog’s leavings. 🙂
I know those bread baking incidents when the vultures surround the bread and want to cut it NOW. In fact they bring the butter and a knife to the table so they can start spreading it on the bread and chowing down as you’re pulling it out of the machine. (That was back in the day when I was using the bread machine and my parents were around.) My mom would tell me to wipe a wet hand over the surface of the loaf while it was still hot to give it a bit of a shine when I was putting it on the cooling rack.
Such a cute story!! =)
Dogs can be so entertaining.
And, your bread recipe looks delicious!
Looks an amazingly light loaf, Maureen. How long have you had your thermomix. My sis has one and swears by it. I just can’t justify £800 for one at the moment though, hands it is for me.
Dear Maureen, I know, sometimes you need something sweet, buttery and delicious!!!
Looks wonderful.
Blessings dear, Catherine xo
Great looking loaf!
Maureen, your story made me smile… and your bread looks totally delicious, even without a shiny glaze!
Your bread looks fabulous, love raisins in my bread! 🙂
You make me laugh – out loud! Your bread looks amazing. This is the kind of bread I like to toast, slather with butter and then eat piece after piece after ………….
The slice with cinnamon on it reminds me of breakfast when I was10. Will have to have some tomorrow for breakfast now…..but with out your fantastic home made bread. 🙁 bread.
I am perpetually cutting fresh bread when it is way too hot because I JUST CAN’T HELP MYSELF. Come on, it’s FRESH BREAD. Possibly one of the most comforting things ever. 🙂 I love the sweet raisins and cinnamons in the mix. Sounds like a perfect Saturday morning to me.
We have yet to bake bread. Great post!
G’day Maureen! I can almost smell your bread from here, true!
Aisle 7….that is SO funny and sounds like something I would YELL out too!
Cheers! Joanne
What a magnificent loaf!!! I’m not a huge fan of raisin bread, but I would never refuse a thick slice toasted, buttered and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. And hot bread can’t be beat (unless you’re trying to slice it for a photo!).
I haven’t had raisin bread in a while and now you have my craving it 🙂
Love the thermo too Maureen!
It’s the first thing in the kitchen I would replace 🙂
Ohhh, Bear will LOVE this!!! He is passionately fond of sultanas and bread with sultanas. 🙂
I wish you picked up that poo and threw it at the back of that man’s head. That’s what he deserves. How are you going, Maureen? No respite on the home front? At least you’re baking bread – that’s a good sign. I love raisin bread but no, I don’t make my own. And I should. I also love cinnamon sugar. What a lovely start to the day (and I hope it only got better from there!) xx
I’m always a big fan of raisin bread (To be honest, this is the first time I heard the word “sultana”…. =P), and I like to put butter on it… SO GOOD! And yeah I’d totally eat piping hot bread too – that’s the best part of baking bread! Oh so jealous! New lights? Oh I’m looking forward to your new photos then! 🙂 Sorry I’ve been MIA and missed reading some posts and updates. :/
I’m laughing so hard. Though I haven’t met you, I feel like I know you, and I can completely picture and hear you yelling, “Cleanup, Aisle 7!” The bread looks perfect for a breakfast, and the photos are just lovely as always.
Now you’re just being a smarty pants … Thermomix Sultana Bread – how are we supposed to beat that?! Seriously, a very entertaining post. Visiting your blog, and hearing about your shenanigans, always makes me smile. Keep up the good work, lady!
Your loaf turned out perfectly!!
I love raisin breads of all kinds, and though I wasn’t sure what a Thermomix is until I looked it up, I bet this recipe would work just as well “by hand” 🙂
Love the story of the elderly gentleman and his dog – they sound like a great pair of buddies!
I don’t know why they don’t sell the Thermomix in the US but it’s huge in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I’m sure raisin or sultana bread would taste as good made by hand. 🙂
Great looking bread. I’d love a thermomix, it’s still on my Christmas/birthday list. Love your description of a run walk. A friend once said to me: Women and cows shouldn’t run! 🙂 GG
LOL I love that!!!
Making homemade bread (without a machine) is on my list of things to do. This is inspiring. 🙂
I found some cinnamon sugar in my house, and I seriously wonder how it got there. I was just looking for something to sprinkle it on, this is perfect! Great idea 😉
We live across the street from a city park and watch doggy interactions all of the time. It snowed last night and the dogs had SO much fun today! I love the pictures of the bread, but I love the bread even more! I have an addiction to raisin bread so this one has definitely caught my eye!
Oh, that made me laugh, you walking/running back to save the day!
Once when Phil and I were into long distance running, we had a route that made a loop of about 4 miles, the farthest point was about 2.5 miles from our home. We left for our run, and when we turned around we see this tornado storm forming on the horizon, coming towards us – tell you one thing, it was probably my fastest couple of miles 😉
Yeah but you probably don’t have to pick your boobs out of your nostrils when you run, Sally. 🙂
There is nothing like homemade bread. My mom used to send us off every morning with a slice of raisin bread topped with cinnamon sugar. Of course, it was Sara Lee! But it was good. Only yours is probably way better!
I loved your post about George! Big hugs from me to you.
What a spectacular loaf Maureen! I just love sultanas and the smell of fresh bread is heavenly!!!
Wow, i guess you should had your own bakery store……
btw, i love raisins all the way and we used to called it sultana too here in Indonesia!
Sultanas are a bit different than raisins. In the states we called them golden raisins. 🙂
I don’t know WHY people won’t pick up after their dogs. It drives me nuts. And you know what, I even see that in my own family, and I get so angry! Such a nice old man you met, and I am glad the bread wasn’t spoiled. It does look delicious, as warm breads do.
I’ve started shouting at people too who don’t pick up after their dogs although it would be a full time job in Shanghai. I must remember your retort it’s a classic.
I’m still on the fence about a Thermomix – mainly the cost. I can’t seem to be able to justify it in my head although you make it sound so easy to make bread. Anyway I’m so rubbish at reading instruction books it’s all bound to get messy!
I wasn’t sure either but I use m TM every single day. Tonight I had baked pork chops and while they baked I made applesauce and I worked on the laptop.
Excellent bread! The picture depicts honest, home made bread and it is not lacking the honey/water mix on top at all. Your buttered cinnamon/sugar topping is mouth watering. When you mentioned the dog I thought you were running to get him a slice of bread from your car, not the raised mixture. Good timing Maureen. How funny 😀
If I baked fresh bread at home, I would eat the whole loaf. Raisin bread with sugar and butter… oh heaven, for breakfast!
This loaf looks fab I love fruity bread toasted up for breakfast and I bet this was a winner. I have to say I too would be desperate to eat it and wouldn’t be able to wait very long either!
guilty as charged 🙂
I know this is years since the last post but my bread is rising and I’ve realised it says place in a cold oven at 200 degrees. Cold?