We Tried It: Baking Bread and Super Taster Tests

We Tried It!

Have you always wanted to make bread from scratch but didn't know where to start? Do you think your taste buds have super sensing powers? The Wellness360 team has tried it and we have the low-down for you.

BAKING BREAD

AMANDA Baking is something that I find very therapeutic, and I loved the breadmaking process! I used instant dry yeast with the recipe instead of dry active yeast, and I think it made my bread a little flat. However, it was delicious, and I have been eating it with dinner all week!

OVERALL: GRACE

I went into this baking experiment hearing baking bread is difficult. However, I found it's not that difficult if you follow the recipe closely! I did go rogue at one point when I did not use the corn meal or the semolina. Even without those, I think the bread turned out delicious.

OVERALL: MEGAN

At first this looked easy, and about ten minutes in I quickly realized I had no idea what I was doing. After the two hours of bread rising, it was super sticky and I was sure I did it all wrong. I managed to make three solid shapes and baked it. Didn’t turn out very pretty, but tasted decent!

OVERALL: NICOLE

When we came up with this “we tried it”, I was all in to see if I could master it! Surprisingly, I found that as long as you follow the directions and give yourself ample time, it was super easy! I recommend reading the FULL directions first and to not start the process at 8:30pm!

OVERALL:

In a nutshell: We think baking bread a great way to relax, unwind and could even become your new favorite hobby. Plus, you will save a lot of money by making your own bread rather than buying it. If you want even more, just double the recipe.

TRY IT YOURSELF

Adapted from the Big Family Homestead Artisan Bread Recipe makes 4 loaves

INGREDIENTS

4 cups bread flour 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon dry active yeast 1/2 teaspoon sugar 2 cups warm water (110-115°) Plastic wrap Parchment paper Pinch of corn meal or semolina Pizza peel and pizza stone Butter and sesame seeds to baste (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Add flour and salt together and whisk until combined. Add yeast and sugar to warm water and let sit until proofed. Pour proofed yeast mixture into large bowl and then add flour mixture. Mix with wooden spoon handle, or hands, until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for 2 hours.

Dump dough onto floured work surface and divide into roughly four 1 pound loaves. Sprinkle a few pinches of corn meal or semolina onto a pizza peel. Place loaves onto parchment paper. Cover loaves with clean kitchen towel and let rise for 40 minutes. After 20 minutes pre-heat pizza stone in lower part of oven to 450°. Place empty sheet pan below, on another shelf, to also preheat.

After 40 minutes, baste with butter and sesame seeds, if desired. Make sure oven has come up to temperature. Score top of loaves and slide parchment with loves onto pizza stone in oven. Add 1 cup of water to empty sheet on and close the door.

Bake for 30 minutes or more, until top is brown and crispy, and bottom sounds hollow when you tap on it. Let cool for a few minutes and serve.

Bake it, snap a pic and use #EAT360WELL on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be featured in our next magazine!

SUPER TASTER TESTS

Super Taster Test Genetics Lab Kit

100 tests (4 tubes) for $15.49, amazon.com

ARE YOU A SUPER TASTER?

Could it be that being a picky eater is really because you are a super taster? According to healthline.com, someone who is classified as a super taster will taste certain flavors and foods more strongly than someone else, which may be the result of having a tongue that is more densely crowded with taste buds. A NBC news article reported that super tasters have densities of tastes buds that are 10 to 100 times greater than the normal population.

Super tasters, about 25% of Americans, are prone to avoiding certain foods such as those that are bitter and more fatty. Broccoli, chocolate, grapefruit and coffee are a few. This can also put them at a health risk as they will avoid a whole classification of vegetables that help fight off cancers!

Curious to see if you are a super taster? We were too! In order to find out, we ordered a super taster test from Amazon and tried it with a few members of our families and some friends. Although it came with a few different test strips, the one that we were most focused on was the PTC strips. When placed on the tongue, the PTC (phenylthiocarbamide ) paper will either taste very bitter (super taster), a little bitter (medium taster) or tasteless (non- taster).

HERE ARE THE RESULTS:

Grace: Super taster Nicholas: Medium taster Megan: Non-taster Anna: Super taster Nicole: Non-taster Carmen: Medium taster Shane: Non-taster Denise: Non-taster Josh: Super taster Mark: Super taster Tyler: Non-taster

In a nutshell:

This super taster test is interesting if you want to learn more about your taste pallet and what makes you, you. However, considering the quick test and the varying results, is it worth your money? We say yes if you are curious!