Saturday, December 30, 2006

Green Peppercorn Bread


Saturday, December 30, 2006
I inherited The Italian Baker, by Carol Field, from my mother, who got it as one of five cookbooks for $1 in the Book-of-the-Month Club. She could never resist a bargain. She never used the cookbook, and neither have I, although I've looked longingly at the beautiful pictures on the cover from time to time. We must have both thought the recipes would be too complicated or too exotic. But this green peppercorn bread couldn't be easier.
I'd had a bottle of green peppercorns in my pantry for a while, and this seemed like a good opportunity to use them. When I opened them, I suddenly asked myself how long I'd had them. Then I wondered if green peppercorns could spoil. If so, could they kill me? Death by green peppercorns. It seemed unlikely. I decided I could go out and buy a new bottle of green peppercorns, but that seemed wasteful. I went back and forth with myself for a while, but finally decided just to make the bread and not eat it if it didn't taste right.
I adapted the recipe for some of Rose's techniques. I used instant yeast instead of the powdered yeast that needs to be dissolved in water; I did three risings instead of just two; and I used the ice cube method of creating steam.
It looked pretty, as it came out of the oven, and it smelled good, but I was still a little worried about the peppercorns. In fact, I was starting to be obsessed, although that didn't stop me from eating two pieces of bread. I loved the bites with the peppercorns, which tasted just fine, but I still thought I could taste a hint of the brine, which tasted a little formaldehyde-y, in my now somewhat crazed and hypochondriacal opinion.

Two hours later, I checked the computer for symptoms of botulism. Drooping eyelids, difficulty in swallowing and talking, dry mouth. I looked in the mirror. The eyelids seemed OK, and I could swallow, but it might take up to 36 hours for symptoms to show up. There are only 117 cases of botulism reported annually in the United States, most of them in infants. I threw out the rest of the peppercorns, because even if they weren't really bad, they were causing me to behave strangely.
I did another internet search and discovered a site that said green peppercorns packed in brine were almost certain to spoil. Uh-oh. I checked my eyelids again.
I asked Jim if his eyelids seemed all right; he seemed surprised by the question.
I actually would recommend this bread. It's very tasty and easy; I would, however, strongly recommend making it with fresh peppercorns, not some that have been sitting on a pantry shelf for God knows how long.

Pane al Pepe Verde (Green Peppercorn Bread)
2 3/4 - 3 cups (375 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 t. instant yeast
1 t. (5 grams) salt
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 T. green peppercorns, rinsed and drained
2 t. olive oil
1 c. water

Whisk flour, yeast, and salt in mixing bowl. Using dough hook, put mixer on low speed and add olive oil and water. When dough starts to come together, increase mixer speed to medium and mix about 4 minutes, until dough is creamy and smooth. Add peppercorns which have been slightly chopped.
Knead dough by hand on floured counter briefly, and put in covered container.
When dough has doubled, about two hours, put on floured counter. Stretch it to a rectangle and make two business-letter folds. Return to container and let double again, about one hour.
Shape into either round or torpedo-shaped loaf and place on baking sheet with parchment. Cover with dish towl or oiled plastic wrap, and let rise another hour.
Preheat oven to 500, put baking stone on lowest rack. Put another baking sheet or a cast iron pan on the bottom of the oven.
When dough has risen, make several slashes and put in oven. Add 1/2 cup of ice cubes to baking sheet or cast iron pan.
Immediately lower heat to 400. Bake about 35 minutes. Halfway through baking, put loaf directly on baking stone.
(Adapted from The Italian Baker)

9 comments:

Jim said...

Botulism!!!! Now, you tell me! No wonder I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open.

Anita said...

I can totally sympathize with you regarding the peppercorns. I have a touch of OCS and that's just the sort of thing that sets me off. I am sure you'll be ok :D

Anita said...

I meant to write OCD. :l

Anonymous said...

Marie.
IF U CN RD THS MSGE, U MUST BE OK.
You goofball! The bread looks lovely.
Melinda

Melody Johnson said...

Marie,
I am pretty new to your blog but upon finding it I immediately put you on my daily reads. What a hoot. I truly hope you don't poison yourself, as I would miss your posts.
I am making the no-knead bread on an almost daily basis, and sometimes if I miss a day, I make several loaves, for the freezer.
Have a great new year and keep writing!
Melody Johnson
www.fibermania.blogspot.com

Rose Levy Beranbaum said...

one of the breads that didn't make it into the bread bible due to lack of space was the green peppercorn brioche! someone suggested that it would be fantastic with foie gras and they were right. so if you have any left over this could be the perfect new year's hors d'oeuvres! or post new years if you start right away! happy new year in any case!

Marie said...

Rose,
You are really going to have to come out with another bread cookbook! You could call it Breads That Didn't Make the Cut, except that that would make it sound like second-rate breads. I'll bet this bread would be wonderful with foie gras, or with pate, which I'm more likely to have.

Anonymous said...

Melinda here...just checking to see if you are alive.

Marie said...

Gentle Readers,
Jim and I have passed the 36-hour time when botulism symptoms are supposed to show up. Unless we have delayed botulism, we are okay. Happy New Year!