Thursday, July 21, 2011

Gifts for the Lunch Packer: Back to School Edition - Bread Baking (and KAF Giveaway!)

This is a series of posts I'm going to do about good gift ideas for the lunch packer/things you might need for Back to School.

I want to disclose that I am an Amazon Affliliate, and some of the links I post are my affiliate links.


I love making fresh bread for lunches. If you have the right tools, it isn't that hard, and doesn't take much time. There's something wonderful about making your own bread, knowing what goes into it, and being able to customize it accordingly.

By far my favorite bread for lunches is pain de mie.  I use this wonderful covered loaf pan from King Arthur Flour, and it really makes the texture something to talk about.  The lid compresses the bread as it bakes, making for a denser crumb, and when the bread comes out of the oven, I quickly rub the crust with a little butter, wrap the whole loaf in a kitchen towel and then in a plastic bag.  When it cools in this way, the crust is delightfully soft, and little people who might complain about crusts never complain about this bread.  There's a smaller loaf pan available too, if you want (my recipes are all for the larger pan)

Of course, in order to make bread baking really simple, I like to use a bread machine to get my dough ready.  You can throw all the ingredients in when you go to work, set the timer, and come home to dough ready to be baked.  You can, of course, bake in the bread machine, too, but I much prefer baking in the oven.  The cream of the crop Wish-it-was-in-my-kitchen bread machine is the Zojirushi (or this smaller Zojirushi model).  I have one similar to this Breadman, and it makes my dough just fine and dandy.  Still wish I had the Zo, though!

I also love to use my food scale to measure ingredients.  It really makes everything fool proof.  I love this Escali scale.  It can measure in grams, ounces, or pounds (up to 11 lbs), and you can put a bowl or other container on it to zero out for measuring.    Plus, it comes in a variety of colors.

If you want to get really fancy (as I often do), you can try your hand at my Rainbow Pain de Mie, which is always a hit.  For that, you will need food colorings and a rolling pin.  And you have to not mind getting your hands a little colorful.

King Arthur Flour has so many wonderful ingredients to use in bread (and other baking)... you can add some fiber with their new Hi-Maize natural fiber (seriously, never notice it's there, and it adds a fiber punch!), or top your bread with Artisan topping (though this would not work so well with pain de mie...)

Now here's the fun part - the kind people over at King Arthur Flour are offering a $20 e-gift card to one of my readers!

They have a great online store, which I urge you to check out.

I love their flours, of course, and their specialty ingredients - the Vermont Cheese Powder!  The Maple and Cinnamon Flav-r-Bites!

And don't get me started on their gadgets and bakeware...

On top of it all, they have incredible resources on their website which really set them apart from other companies.  Need help with something?  Try the Baker's Hotline!  Want to peruse some truly awesome recipes?  They have them in spades.

All you have to do is go to their website and tell me what you would get with your gift card, should you win.  One lucky reader, chosen at random, will win a $20 e-gift card to the King Arthur Flour Baker's Store.  That's it.

As always, I need a way to contact you.  Anonymous commenters, with no contact information, cannot win.  If I can't contact you, I can't get your information to King Arthur Flour, and you can't get your prize.  Simple as that.  US entries only, please.

One comment per person, please.

I will choose a winner, using Random.org, on Wednesday, July 27th, at 6 PM ish, EST.

Disclaimer:  I have been in no way compensated for this giveaway or by talking about King Arthur Flour.  All opinions are my own.  The prize is donated by King Arthur Flour.


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30 comments:

  1. I really want to upgrade to using a scale. So I would like to buy a scale. Or I have wanted to buy larger bags of flour so a large container for flour would also be good.

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  2. I would use the King Arthur gift card to get a loaf pan, not sure which one though. I would really like to start making bread for my family. I used to be a baker and I miss it.

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  3. A pain de mie pan of course!

    Brenda
    babelbc@yahoo.com

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  4. I would love the kids cookies & cupacke decorating set. That would be so much fun!

    Lisa
    lisam@cfl.rr.com

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  5. I am a complete and unabashed King Arthur groupie - and I love using their pain de mie pan. But if I had $20 to spend there...hmmm, maybe I would spring for the Zo! (I actually have the mini, but I'm thinking it may be time to sell that and upgrade.)

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  6. Anonymous said...I would LOVE the pain de mie pan. I really think my kids would like the rainbow pain de mie :)

    Amy imariddle@lisco.com

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  7. Where to start? Pain de mie pan, cloche, a good pizza stone...

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  8. I would love to buy some of their gluten-free flour, as well as some of their GF mixes, like the pancake or muffin mix!
    mommastaci33 at yahoo dot com

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  9. I would love the new shortbread pan with the pretty little flowers on it. I could just see myself making little pie shaped cookies for lunch. There is always room for one more goodie in my kitchen.

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  10. I would get some foodoodler markers, and maybe stock up on flours and vanilla!

    Jessie
    j_wilson04 at yahoo dot com

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  11. HI!!! If I were to win the $20 giftcard... I'd have to get the Pain de Mie Pan for sure!! Thanks for this great giveaway!

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  12. Oh gosh! There's some great stuff there! I think I might go for the Green Polka Dot Bakers. So cute!

    selindsey@gmail.com

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  13. Pain de mie pan of course! I would love to be able to thinly slice bread!

    devonkinne at yahoo dot com

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  14. i really need a bakers peel, trying some pizza on the grill soon :)

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  15. Awesome! I'm a huge KAF fan. I'm even on their baking forum... although I don't have time to get on there as much any more. If I won, I'd probably get the measuring spoons - set of 7. There's like every size one could ever want. And I want em all ;) Thanks!

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  16. Such cool stuff, and I thought it was only flours!! I'd love the Dial-A-Slice Apple Slicer. The slicer I have makes only big slices, which I always end up cutting smaller for my kiddos! Love it! There is SO much more that I'd love...

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  17. I love the dial a slice apple slicer, the best grater ever and the loaf pan...hmmm thinking I will spend a little more than $20...also the dried buttermilk powder and....oh boy I think I am in trouble now!!!!

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  18. I really would love to try the pain de mie...so beautiful!
    CMWhitman@live.com

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  19. Oh boy! I's start with a scale; then maybe some espresso cocoa chips, or that Vermont cheese powder - are you kidding me!!! I'd be that kid in the candy store!
    ~TobyD tobyschrader@yahoo.com

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  20. I hope I made it!! I would love to win this~I hate to say it but I am a lunch lady that packs my kids lunch
    mill3464@gmail.com

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  21. I want it all - but I'd probably spend $20 on flours and ingredients - I can't find King Arthur in my local grocery. Though a new loaf pan would be nice. . . .

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  22. Oh my goodness, I should have never looked LOL. I want it all! Haha.

    I think I would spring for a flax/spice grinder though. I used to buy ground flax seed, but it's second-rate. Oh, but to grind my own at home!

    Runners-up would a good, quality instant read thermometer....maybe a new bread pan (but which one?! I could pick a few!)

    Better to stick with the grinder, I think :)

    -Jess
    youngsjess@yahoo.com

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  23. A pain de mie pan, I've been wanting one but it's out of my price range!

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  24. I would get a zester or cookie decorating things. Great give away Astrid!
    Shauna (theknapps01@yahoo.com)

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  25. I want to try their chocolate cake mix!:)

    noodleme 20 at hotmail dot com

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  26. I love King Arthur Gluten-Free mix ~ I made savory scones with the mix and topped it with an fried egg! SOOO since my box is almost empty I'd buy more King Arthur Gluten-Free mix!

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  27. I would like to try their pizza mixes especially the one for the classic flatbread
    thanks
    aunteegem@yahoo.com

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  28. I think I'd get the mini pie pans and topper set...how cute!!

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  29. I LOVE KAF, I would buy organic whole wheat and white whole weat and other misc flours! I hope I win as I make my OWN baked goods including bread!! I just placed an order for $75 with their sale today!

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  30. I love this catalog too much!! I would buy a baguette pan, parchment paper sheets and Fiori di Sicilia extract that i LOVE...but wait...that's more than $20 worth :(

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