I have Bread Insanity. I hope it isn’t contagious.
Ever since last August I have made all of our bread. Today, we are completely out so I need to make some.
This is the hottest record-breaking heat wave this area has seen since the 1800’s. Today it is 105°F outside with at least 80% humidity or more. I decided not to run today because of the heat, why do I decide to bake bread?
I need to make bread but certainly don’t want to crank my kitchen ovens up to 450°F for an afternoon on the hottest day of the year and the hottest day of June ever recorded here.
So I decided to bake the bread on the grill. Brilliant!
We have a wonderful workhorse of a grill that is over 10 years old. It is stainless steel and cranks 60,000 BTU‘s. Sweet.
I have learned to control the heat chamber like an oven so , bread gets to be baked outside today.
I have never done this before so it will be interesting how it turns out.
Up goes the umbrella to provide the courtyard with shade.
Tea and Thermometer while watching the grill waiting for the bread to bake.
105 F outside; hottest June ever recorded here. The grill set at 450 F raises the temp in the courtyard just a wee bit.
A clean table-cloth is placed on the table, fresh big glass of iced tea is poured and ready to sip with a straw. (Sip with a straw and you get the coldest part of the drink)
Bread is rising; grill is heating.
I have two loaves: one a traditional artisan loaf baked free form and the other in a cast iron pot.
Dough rising in a cast iron pot
I wonder if the heat retention of the cast iron will have any influence on how the loaf bakes.
Since it is so warm out, I leave the loaves on the table, covered, to rise in the warmth. Which happened quite quickly today.
After the grill had warmed for about 10 minutes, the first loaf goes in. The sheet pan fits.
No window to peek in like the oven has.
Timers start. 30 minute countdown begins, then temp to see if it has reached 190°F internally.
I realize I can’t go inside for very long because I need to monitor the temperature and keep it steady at 450°.
Grill temperature nearly there
Sweat. Drink tea, sweat more drink more. I am drinking un- sweet tea with lemon and mint to keep hydrated. Ugh, it sure is hot.
The only running I have done today is to the ladies room.
Damn it gets hot out there quick!
The courtyard is maintaining an ambient temperature between 118°F and 125°F with no air movement. Ek.
Outside temperature in the courtyard
Drink more and wonder about this idea of baking bread on the grill on the hottest day of June ever recorded here.
It must be Bread Insanity. There is no other explanation.
I wonder if I could grill a pie?
First loaf done!
Second loaf done! This is the one in the cast iron.
Finished loaves cooling
Cooling loaves
Ready to eat
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Spoon Feast 
I’m coming down to get some bread!!!
I think making bread is your thing my friend, they look yum 😀
Cheers
CCU
Thanks Uru!
I love handling the dough, it feels so alive. There is nothing quite like it.
Your brownies in the banana had me salivating! I made a note to buy bananas when buying food next.
Oh, they do look most fine! Yes, bread insanity to bake on such a hot day, but like you, we’ve baked all our bread for the last five years. So when we run out, heading to the store just isn’t an option! 🙂
And when tomatoes are staring at you screaming “Tomato Sandwich!” you gotta make some bread!
Purchasing is not an option, we like knowing what is in our bread. I am lucky to have the time to do it again.
Congrats! They look amazing.
Thanks, Heather. It was nice not to have the heat inside for a change.
Just to bad we live so far away..we think they look really great,good job,continue making bread ,it is much better than the store,reminds me of home,,,,
I think the bread gene comes from your mom; I remember grandma making bread all the time whenever we visited.