Rustic Flower Pot Bread Loaves

Serves	Makes 2 to 6 flowerpot loaves, depending on size of pots.
Prep time	1 hour, 10 minutes
Cook time	35 minutes
Total time	1 hour, 45 minutes
Allergy	Milk, Wheat
Dietary	Vegetarian
Meal type	Appetizer, Bread, Breakfast, Lunch, Side Dish, Snack, Soup, Starter
Misc	Child Friendly, Freezable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot
Occasion	Barbecue, Birthday Party, Casual Party, Formal Party
Region	British
By author	Karen S Burns-Booth

These quirky little Flower Pot bread loaves will no doubt bring gasps of pleasure and admiration when you serve them! Plus, they are so easy to make with only one kneading required. Bread was originally baked in terracotta or clay pots, so these little bread loaves are not that different from old-fashioned bread made many years ago. You must make sure your flower pots are seasoned before you bake in them, but once they are seasoned they are ready to be used repeatedly. I always like to sprinkle mixed seeds on top of these - they almost look like seeds that have been sown in the flowerpots! I am sorry, but I have to say it, these flowerpot loaves or rolls should turn out "Blooming Marvellous"! That had to be said! Have fun!

Ingredients

Flower Pot Seasoning

Oil, lard or butter

Bread

300ml tepid water
1 X 7g sachet fast action yeast ( or ½ oz fresh yeast mixed with tepid water)
25g butter
1 ½ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons sugar
100g granary bread flour (or multi-grain bread flour)
350g strong white flour

Glaze & Finish

Milk to glaze
2 to 3 tablespoons mixed seeds or grains

Note

Bread was originally baked in terracotta or clay pots, so these little bread loaves are not that different from old-fashioned bread made many years ago. You must make sure your flower pots are seasoned before you bake in them, but once they are seasoned they are ready to be used repeatedly.

Directions

Step 1	To prepare the flower pots: Take two to six earthenware flowerpots (3 to 6 inches in size). Wash thoroughly and grease them inside and outside, with lard, butter or oil. (Please use NEW plant pots, of course!) Repeat the process two or three times for a good "seasoning" and non-stick surface on your flowerpots. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 190°C or Gas 5, for 25-30 minutes. NB: Before baking with them, line the base with greaseproof paper or baking parchment - especially if there is a hole in the bottom of the flowerpot!
Step 2	Grease and line the base of the flowerpots with greaseproof paper.
Step 3	If you are using fresh yeast, blend it into the tepid water. Place the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl and rub in the butter. Add the sugar and dried yeast and then the tepid water, mix to soft dough with your hands.
Step 4	Turn the dough onto a floured board or work surface and knead the dough by folding towards you, then pushing down and away from you with the heel of your hand. Give the dough a quarter turn and repeat the action. Knead until smooth, elastic and no longer sticky, about 10 minutes.
Step 5	Cut the dough into equal sized pieces and place in to the prepared flowerpots. Glaze the loaves with a little milk and then sprinkle some seeds or grains over the top of them. Place the flowerpots on a large baking tray and then put them inside a large oiled plastic bag, leave them in a warm place until they are doubled in size, about 45 minutes to one hour. (An airing cupboard is good!)
Step 6	Remove the oiled plastic bag and place the flowerpot loaves on the middle shelf in a pre-heated oven, 200C or gas 6, for 25 to 35 minutes, depending on size of the pots; or until golden brown and the loaves sound hollow when tapped from underneath. (If the loaves are browning too quickly, cover them with some baking paper) Remove the bread from the flowerpots, gently easing a butter knife around the rim of the flowerpot and allow them to cool on a wire tray.
Step 7	You can serve them in the flowerpots at the table once cooled! Serve split or sliced with butter or as sandwiches with fillings of your choice.