"bread" news and stories

Who doesn't love Wonder Bread?

With its soft white center and melt-in-your-mouth crust, used in making everything from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to grilled cheese, its been a staple on American tables. And lately it's received celeb endorsement too, making an appearance in Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video.

Advertised for the first time on May 21, 1921 -- after Taggart Baking Co. in Indianapolis "spent 1920 perfecting the quintessential American white bread" -- Wonder Bread is still going strong after 90 years on our plates, the Leesville Daily Leader reported.

The bread was named by Elmer Cline who was inspired by the International Balloon Races in Indianapolis. Ever since, the iconic red, yellow and blue balloons have featured prominently on the loaf's packaging, the paper reported.

When Wonder Bread became one of the first sliced loaves on the market in 1930, sales took off and it became the American staple we know today.

Happy National French Bread Day!

While I picture the French scoffing at their across-the-pond neighbors celebrating a culinary trademark item of theirs for a national stateside holiday, America's long been prized as a melting pot -- and we're happy to embrace the wondrous baguette. The golden bread achieves a fluffy interior and remarkably crunchy crust through its use of water on the exterior during the baking process, creating a smoother glaze for added crunch.

Ambitious blogging cooks the "Daring Bakers" attempted the challenge of tackling Julia Child's recipe for French bread -- the glorious result of which you see pictured here. Blogger the Sour Dough promises, "I was going to conquer Julia's Masterpiece French Bread recipe. When I finally made the bread, it was the closest to real French bread I have ever had this side of the Pond." Bon appetit!

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Each Thursday, we round up a selection of scrumptious links from our friends over at YumSugar. Here's what they've got cooking this week:

• Has all the green food coloring numbed your mind enough to fail a St. Patrick's Day food and drink quiz?
• These bags promise to prevent your favorite carb from turning into stone -- for up to two weeks.
• Translate Irish into Italian with corned beef and cabbage pizza.
• Or, have breakfast for dinner with this hash recipe.
• Hard-boiled eggs are the new calendars.
• Before the next holiday, brush up on your matzo knowledge.
• What are you thoughts on whiskey the day after? We thought so.

Homemade croutons are easy, cheap and infinitely more flavorful than the pricey store-bought versions. Make your own!

Happy Homemade Bread Day!

It's amazing what a base of flour and water is capable of. Though breads often take a back seat, as accompaniments to main courses, cheeses or more, today we celebrate bread worthy of standing on its own, the ultimate mobile comfort food -- not to over-toot the French, but gloriously buttery croissants and crunchy, subtly salty baguettes spring to mind.

So get baking! For holiday inspiration, with the addition of pumpkin and spices, bread becomes the complex Pumpkin Spice Bread or a moist Pumpkin Cheese Bread with cream cheese, or can even serve as a worthy Thanksgiving side dish, in our Savory Bread Pudding recipe.

What are your most cherished baked breads? Share your favorites in the comments!

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