A couple times a year, my work does a site-wide Dutch Oven cook-off, where around 20-30 people make different foods to show off, plus we get to mingle with everyone at work. I had expressed an interest in participating, but never had a dutch oven and used that as an excuse. So when the person in charge asked me to join in, I told him I did not have one, and he said I could use a crock pot instead. I agreed, and began contemplating what I would cook. There were categories for main dishes, breads, and desserts, and I figured I would try the hardest and attempt to cook bread in the crock pot.
I checked recipe books to see if it was even possible, and found a whole wheat bread that sounded curious. I decided to do a trial run the day before, and mixed it up and left it whilst I went to work, asking Rebecca to turn it off a few hours later. When I came home, it was well done and somewhat dark brown, but at least I knew it would work. We put the kids to bed, and Tyra asked Rebecca, “Does daddy even know how to cook?”
I made another loaf for the cookoff, along with a pound of honey butter, and took it to work with ingredients to make another batch to cook on-site. The second and third attempts were actually really nice and soft, and I had a ton of compliments and surprised looks from people who didn’t realise crock pot bread was possible.
As it was a competition, people had the chance to vote on which food they liked best. I actually came in first place for the bread category, and am now a proud owner of a Dutch Oven. No more excuses for next time.
This sounds yummy!! I love the smell of homemade bread, I remember as a kid we visited grandpa Tom and grandma Kathy when they lived in Palo alto i remember the smell of homemade bread(in a bread machine) filled the air. Can you give me the recipe, please =D oh, and how to make the honey butter too!! =D