659324 Tue Oct 13 21:51:54 -0700 2009 1 31 Home Cooking 0 5101540 I have played around with the beer bread and the idea is great. I don't have all this equipment and I like the idea of making bread by hand in an old fashioned old world style of way. Its fun and its a good story when you bring it to guests. The recipes I have tried are abundant but I have finally settled on my version and its perfect but the texture and its too heavy. Its probably the nature of the beast but I am thinking I should try something else but with the same simplicity. Give me some recipes and tips for making a simple old world style bread think Italian bread or french baguettes that I can make as simple as a beer bread. I like adding some simple touches like garlic, subbing brown sugar in place of some sugar for a more molasses texture, I also add a touch of hotsauce like franks red hot for a touch of flavor. I also like the idea of playing with different types of flour. I am not a huge fan of overly yeasty tasting bread or bread that tastes like a ton of baking powder/soda. I also like to use my hands and not spend day/days waiting for it to rise. Thanks in advance. Tue Oct 13 21:51:54 -0700 2009 1111831 mmdad 1 5101771 This might help: Try making your beer bread, and then folding it like a ciabatta? So you push the wet dough into a square and fold it twice, stretch it, fold twice (let it raise) and repeat. Wed Oct 14 04:10:34 -0700 2009 5101540 180623 Soop