I was excited to make this week's French Fridays with Dorie selection of Savory Cheese & Chive Bread because it was quick and easy. I also find quick breads to be forgiving and therefore satisfying to bake, and to eat.
I followed the recipe as written using Emmenthal cheese, chives, and walnuts. I considered using a different herb but I haven't cooked with chives much and wanted to try something different.
It baked up beautifully with a golden crust and I couldn't wait to slice into it. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. Not bad, but kind of bland and boring. I went easy on the salt and that was a mistake but even if I had used more salt, it was still a bit lacking in flavor and was dry. More salt and more oil or milk may help with the overall flavor and texture and a stronger cheese would help as well. Speaking of cheese, I was anticipating, and looking forward to, oozy little pockets of cheese but the small dice of cheese completely melted into the batter.
Again, not a bad recipe just a bit disappointing. I prefered these muffins with a similar flavor profile that I baked a while back with the Sweet Melissa Sundays group.
I followed the recipe as written using Emmenthal cheese, chives, and walnuts. I considered using a different herb but I haven't cooked with chives much and wanted to try something different.
It baked up beautifully with a golden crust and I couldn't wait to slice into it. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. Not bad, but kind of bland and boring. I went easy on the salt and that was a mistake but even if I had used more salt, it was still a bit lacking in flavor and was dry. More salt and more oil or milk may help with the overall flavor and texture and a stronger cheese would help as well. Speaking of cheese, I was anticipating, and looking forward to, oozy little pockets of cheese but the small dice of cheese completely melted into the batter.
Again, not a bad recipe just a bit disappointing. I prefered these muffins with a similar flavor profile that I baked a while back with the Sweet Melissa Sundays group.
Sorry to hear that this recipe was a bit underwhelming. Your photos look great, though!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you were underwhelmed. We really like it. Yours looks terrific.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you didn't care for this recipe, but your bread looks good. We really liked it, but I made muffins and they packed a lot of flavor.
ReplyDeleteSorry this didn't work out better for you. Love the lighting in your pictures - it looks so cheerful.
ReplyDeleteIt sure looks great..I liked it the first day a whole bunch but after that it got a little boring!
ReplyDeleteI doubled all the ingredients and so it came out yummy. I am with you - I think had I not done so, it would have been lacking a certain something.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. I added the salt called for and wanted more in there. I posted a recipe by David L that you should try next. Hate to say it but it was better than Dorie's.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm sorry you didn't love this one! Using an aged cheddar made mine almost too salty (we had to cut it with some honey). Beautiful photos though, and your inlaid wooden cutting board is lovely :)
ReplyDeleteI added more of the flavorful ingredients...way more cheese. And it was good right after baking, but the next day when I tasted again, I wished I had added more salt.
ReplyDeleteOh no - sorry you didn't dig this. I shall have to try the Sweet Melissa one for comparison.
ReplyDeleteLove the mise en place shot, with all the tasty ingredients. If there is still some bread left maybe you could make croutons with it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you were underwhelmed! I like the idea of doubling the cheese...and I really enjoyed the flavor of fresh basil.
ReplyDeleteMe too! So blah! I thought the walmuts were weird! Better luck next week for us!
ReplyDeleteSorry you didn't like this one. I liked how mine came out. Hopefully next week's recipe won't disappoint.
ReplyDeleteDifferent strokes for different folks. We really liked it but not everything is for everybody. Your pictures look great though.
ReplyDeleteI was so interested when I read the title, then I read you didn't like the taste. I love savory breads. I agree the SMS muffins were awesome.
ReplyDeleteSo glad when we get the "no repeats" honest posts too. I have had a few of those as well. Nana's looked gorgeous since she used the cheddar and got a beautiful color while my "white" cheeses smelled fabulous but did not add to the overall looks. Thanks for the other options - I am curious to try them. Next week should be a real adventure.
ReplyDeleteI added ham and used scallions instead of chives, just to intensify the taste. I also omitted walnuts as the rest of the family does not care for them.
ReplyDeleteI can see how you could have been underwhelmed - it is easy, quick, versatile, and beautiful, so you expect fabulous, too:) I was surprised that my kids liked it:)
With so many recipes, I am sure to encounter a dud, too!
I did same as lana above and I think the ham really helped to lift the taste.
ReplyDeleteYour bread looks great though!
I'm with you on this one. Unfortunately, mine was boring, too. Unusual for all the other AMFT recipes I've made.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my first FFwDorie post last week. You and I both undersalted. And I too found the bread a bit lacking in flavor - think I under herbed it as well and could have used stronger cheeses perhaps. I still like the idea and want to try it again because I love the concept.
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