The EASIEST most VERSATILE Bread Recipe! NO Anxiety, No Kneading! - The Trad Witch Kitchen

 

The Magick of Everyday Cooking: A Kitchen Witch's Perspective

When we think of witchcraft, spiritualism and magick, we think of intricate rituals, spells, and dark mysticism. Many find their magick to be deliberate and perfectly timed. Yet, the time not spent practicing their craft is devoted to life, family, schedules and general conformity. But what if I told you that there is magick in everything we do?

When we are at rest, the universe is still hard at work. The spirits still exist in the shadows. The other side of the veil is still housing the secrets it keeps. Every single part of your day, from your hobbies to housework should be performed and perfected with the Spirits in mind. There is a reason that many of us revel in a freshly cleaned home. Nothing brings a state of contentment quite like lighting a candle and sitting in your tidy, shiny space, just soaking up everything around you. It is truly satisfying. Creating an existence that intertwines my spirituality with my daily tasks is the most important magickal work that I do.

One of my favorite ways to honor spirit, care for my family, and connect to my ancestors is cooking and baking, especially using ingredients I have harvested from my own garden. I typically stick to recipes that come as second nature to me. It is actually very important to me to pass on certain skills to my own daughters, as the art of homesteading or at least being a resourceful homemaker is nearly lost. If you are ever passed down old recipes from other generations of your family, please cherish that.

Given the points I've made, recipes are a natural addition to my blog. I promise you won't have to wade through my entire life story before getting to the recipe itself (which is one of the main reasons I avoid online recipes). Instead, you'll find a brief introduction followed by straightforward instructions.

For the first installment of my Trad Witch Kitchen section, I'm sharing the easiest and most versatile bread recipe you'll ever find. This recipe requires no contact with the dough, no kneading, and takes considerably less time than traditional bread recipes. While today's version includes optional ingredients like garlic, onion powder, chives, and cheese for extra flavor, the basic recipe needs only four ingredients. Even without the extras, you'll end up with a delicious, versatile sourdough-style bread perfect for soups and sandwiches! Note: The basic White Bread Recipe is listed below.

Easy No-Knead Garlic Cheese Bread Recipe

Prep Time: 2-3 hours (including rise time)
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy
Yield: 1 loaf

Equipment Needed:

• Large mixing bowl
• Medium glass casserole dish or bowl (for first rise)
• Bread pan
• Dutch oven or large metal baking pan with cover
• Spatula
• Non-stick cooking spray

Ingredients:

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour (divided)
• 1 packet instant yeast
• Dried garlic and onions (preferably home-grown)
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons garlic salt
• 1½ cups warm water (divided)
• ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice)

Instructions:

1. Initial Mixing:

   • In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour and instant yeast
   • Add dried garlic and onions
   • Mix in onion powder and garlic salt
   • Stir thoroughly to combine dry ingredients

2. Creating the Dough:

   • Add 1 cup warm water to dry ingredients
   • Mix thoroughly by hand
   • Incorporate ¾ cup shredded cheese
   • Add remaining ½ cup warm water
   • Mix until cheese is evenly distributed
   • Gradually add remaining ½ cup flour (¼ cup at a time)
   • Note: Dough will be very sticky and wet - this is correct! Do not abort mission! You will feel like you made a huge mistake. You didn't!

3. First Rise:

   • Spray medium glass casserole dish with non-stick spray
   • Transfer dough to prepared dish
   • Use spatula to shape dough as best possible
   • Cover and let rise 1-2 hours or until doubled in size

4. Second Rise:

   • Spray bread pan with non-stick spray
   • Transfer risen dough to bread pan
   • Reshape dough as needed
   • Let rise for 1 hour

5. Baking Preparation:

   • Preheat oven to 475°F (Yes, 475!)
   • Place dutch oven or covered baking pan in oven during preheat (This is very important)
   • Allow to heat for at least 20 minutes

6. Baking:

   • Carefully and quickly remove heated pan from oven
   • Place bread pan in center of heated pan
   • Cover immediately
   • Bake for exactly 30 minutes (DO NOT open during baking)

7. Cooling:

   • Remove from oven after exactly 30 minutes
   • Carefully remove cover (watch for steam)
   • Remove bread pan from dutch oven
   • Let rest 5 minutes in bread pan
   • Transfer to cooling rack or cutting board

Serving Suggestions:

• Can be served warm or completely cooled
• Slice when slightly warm for best results

Recipe Variations:

• For plain bread: omit cheese and seasonings, add 1 tablespoon salt for sourdough-like taste
• Experiment with different cheese varieties
• Try different herb and spice combinations

Tips:

• Mix by hand only - avoid using electric mixer
• Dough will be very wet and sticky - this is normal
• Do not open oven or pan during baking
• Use caution when handling hot pans and steam
• For best results, use glass dish for first rise to prevent sticking

Storage:
Store in airtight container or bread bag at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also vacuum seal and freeze!

Basic No-Knead Bread Recipe

Prep Time: 2-3 hours (including rise time)
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy
Yield: 1 loaf

Equipment Needed:

• Large mixing bowl
• Medium glass casserole dish or bowl (for first rise)
• Bread pan
• Dutch oven or large metal baking pan with cover
• Spatula
• Non-stick cooking spray

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 packet instant yeast
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 cup warm water

Instructions:

1. Initial Mixing:

   • In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and instant yeast
   • Add salt
   • Stir thoroughly to combine dry ingredients

2. Creating the Dough:

   • Add warm water to dry ingredients
   • Mix thoroughly by hand
   • Note: Dough will be very sticky and wet - this is correct! Do not abort mission! You will feel like you made a huge mistake. You didn't!

3. First Rise:

   • Spray medium glass casserole dish with non-stick spray
   • Transfer dough to prepared dish
   • Use spatula to shape dough as best possible
   • Cover and let rise 1-2 hours or until doubled in size

4. Second Rise:

   • Spray bread pan with non-stick spray
   • Transfer risen dough to bread pan
   • Reshape dough as needed
   • Let rise for 1 hour

5. Baking Preparation:

   • Preheat oven to 475°F (Yes, 475!)
   • Place dutch oven or covered baking pan in oven during preheat (This is very important)
   • Allow to heat for at least 20 minutes

6. Baking:

   • Carefully and quickly remove heated pan from oven
   • Place bread pan in center of heated pan
   • Cover immediately
   • Bake for exactly 30 minutes (DO NOT open during baking)

7. Cooling:

   • Remove from oven after exactly 30 minutes
   • Carefully remove cover (watch for steam)
   • Remove bread pan from dutch oven
   • Let rest 5 minutes in bread pan
   • Transfer to cooling rack or cutting board

Tips:

• Mix by hand only - avoid using electric mixer
• Dough will be very wet and sticky - this is normal
• Do not open oven or pan during baking
• Use caution when handling hot pans and steam
• For best results, use glass dish for first rise to prevent sticking

Storage:
Store in airtight container or bread bag at room temperature for up to 5 days. Can be vacuum sealed and frozen.

And there you have it! It is THAT easy! You can swap out different additions to make different, delicious flavors. Consider this recipe for holiday varieties, too!

Be sure to subscribe to my blog for more recipes to come and frequent discussions of the magickal variety!

Be Blessed,
Dena