Good Ol Aussie Damper Bread Food

DAMPER

Steps:

• Add the flour and baking powder in a bowl.
• Start mixing with a spoon and slowly add in the water (or milk).
• Add the salt and mix with the hands until all the flour is well moistened and it begins to form a ball. If necessary, add water (or milk) or flour to adjust the texture.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and place it on a lightly floured surface, fold it, turn it over and knead it briefly until it is smooth. However, do not knead the dough too much as this will make the damper heavy.
• Preheat the oven to 410°F / 200°C.
• Heat a cast iron pot or Dutch oven in the oven for 5 minutes. Dust the pot with flour and add the dough in it. Flatten the ball of dough to the edges.
• Bake the damper for about 45 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.
• The bread will swell during baking.
• Shake the pot from time to time during baking to ensure even browning.
• The bread is baked when a knife inserted in the center of it comes out clean. The bread should offer a hollow sound when tapped in the center.
• Let the damper sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

AUSTRALIAN BUSH BREAD - DAMPER

Steps:

• Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the middle.
• Pour in the milk and mix.
• Grease the camp oven or round baking pan and dust with flour.
• Place dough in the camp oven or pan.
• Cut a cross in the top surface of dough.
• Close lid of camp oven and bake in the hot ashes of your camp fire for about thirty minutes, or bake in preheated normal kitchen oven for 30 minutes at 220° C (425° F).
• Eat with a cup of tea, boiled in a billy.

GOOD OL' AUSSIE DAMPER BREAD

Steps:

• Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and mix in the sugar.
• Rub in the butter with your (clean) hands until a fine breadcrumb texture is achieved.
• Form a well in the top of the flour, pour in the milk and water and mix well with a knife until the dough comes clean from the sides of the bowl.
• Turn out onto a floured board and knead until smooth and silky, like a baby's bottom!
• Shape into a moulded loaf, (some people cut a deep cross in the top) and bake in a preheated oven, 200C/400F for 25 minutes. Then lower the temperature to 180C/375F and cook a further 10-15 minutes until done. The loaf should be a light golden brown colour and sound hollow when tapped.

AUSTRALIAN DAMPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) Grease a baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour and the salt. With pastry blender or your hands, cut in butter. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the milk and water. Stir until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a round loaf 8 inches across. Place the loaf onto the prepared pan and using a sharp knife, cut a cross in the top.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue to bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. The loaf should be golden brown and the bottom should sound hollow when tapped.

DAMPER (AUSSIE CAMPFIRE BREAD)

Steps:

• Set oven to hot 200C (400F).
• Grease an 18cm (7 inch) sandwich cake tin or four single serve ramekin dishes.
• Sift flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
• Add any other optional ingredients (see below).
• Make a well in the centre of the flour and add most, but not all of the milk.
• Mix with a knife, adding more milk if necessary, until you have formed a fairly moist, but not sloppy, dough.
• Turn dough into a cake tin or spoon into ramekins.
• Smooth the top with the back of a spoon.
• If making a savoury damper, sprinkle the top with cheese and/or add a thin slice or slices of tomato.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown on top and a skewer, inserted in the centre, comes out clean.
• Turn out and cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.
• Serve warm with butter.
• Some Variations: Cheese Damper- add 1/2 cup grated cheese and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• Cheese and Bacon Damper- add 1/2 cup grated cheese and 2-3 rashers of cooked, chopped bacon.
• Cheese and Herb Damper- add 1/2 cup grated cheese and 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil OR 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.
• Fruit Damper- add 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit and 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Orange Damper- add the finely grated rind of an orange and 1 tablespoon sugar.

EASY AUSTRALIAN DAMPER

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 375F / 190C /gas mark 4.
• Sift flour, salt and sugar into a large bowl, rub in the butter.
• Stir in milk and enough water to mix to a sticky dough.
• Turn dough onto a floured surface, knead until just smooth.
• Place dough onto a greased baking tray and press into a 16cm round.
• Cut a cross in the dough, about 1cm deep; brush with a little extra milk then sprinkle with a little extra flour; bake for about 45 minutes; lift onto a wire rack to cool.