IKEA brown bread: delicious

We were at IKEA last Sunday, and I have to say that the most interesting part was not the furniture, but the food emporium. Perhaps Swedish cuisine is not as rich as the one in Italy and France, but sure they make an effort to sell what they have.
We brought this IKEA brown bread mix home and I was eager to try it. the result was excellent. Yes, I know what you are thinking: a bread machine like me using bread mixes. It's fun from time to time. Still better than using semi-cooked baguettes (never done that though, I swear).
Follow the instructions, if you're lucky enough to fined them translated in a language close enough to yours.
Or follow mine: pour half the content in a bowl, then put 125grams of filtered water in the microwave for 45 seconds. Add the water to the flour until it's moist or dry enough according to your taste. I like it better a bit sticky.
Leave it to raise for a couple of hours, then put it in a baking tin if it cannot hold together, or directly in the baking pan (with some oven paper) if it's firm enough.
Bake it for 45 minutes or until you flick the bottom and the it sounds "empty"
Let it cool completely before slicing it.
Delicious, I think I'll break some piece of furniture in my house so that I have an excuse to come back for this IKEA bread.

Bread with herbs and cheese

I know, I know this is not a good picture for a food blog, but it's not my fault. I blame the three voracious beasts in my house, my two kids and my husband. I took this aromatic bread out of the oven , I left the room 15 minutes to talk to my mom onthe phone, and when I came back this is all that was left. Too bad for them I ran out of eggs.

This is what you need, if you have fresh herbs, add 2 teaspoons instead of one.

• 250g all purpose flour


• 2 teaspoons baking powder


• 1 tsp salt


• 1 stock cube


• 1 tsp dry rosemary


• 1 tsp fennel seeds


• 1 tsp thyme


• 1 tsp dry sage


• 100g grated cheddar


• 1 egg lightly beaten


• 155ml of milk or buttermilk


• 30g melted butter


• 15g parmesan

Preheat the oven at 180° C. Mix the liquid and the dry ingredients (except parmesan) separately ad then put them together.

Pour in a rectangular cake tin and cover with grated parmesan.

Bake for 45 minutres in the oven.