Hello lovelies, today I have 2 great new recipes for you, I will introduce you to a new device! I have a delicious carrot bread & apple carrot jam with the Panasonic Croustina*. So here it is, our new housemate: the Panasonic Croustina bread maker. To be honest with you, I never thought a breadmaker would ever move in with us but I can already reveal that it has surprised me a lot.
Croustina - more than a promise?!
The SD-ZP2000 Breadmaker has various programs for bread baking, time pre-selection and in my opinion, the most important feature: it promises a really nice hard crust. I admit, I was rather skeptical, because that's what always kept me from considering a breadmaker. Because let's face it, for all the convenience, the best thing about a bread is the crust. But well, I was curious and open, if the Panasonic Croustina can keep its promise.
One thing is for sure, it’s not exactly small. But inside there is state-of-the-art technology. After getting to know each other, I started baking bread. The supplied description is not very detailed, there are 18 programs for different breads and jam available and there are also sample recipes.
Carrot bread
I wanted to bake a carrot bread with spelt flour and sunflower seeds and of course a great crust. Program 1 seemed the most suitable for it. So I weighed the ingredients, put them in the Croustina, closed the lid, chose the program and the rest was done by the breadmaker all by itself - I like that already.
The ingredients are kneaded, then the dough rises to the optimum temperature and then the bread is baked. I have to admit I was so curious, I had to check on the bread from time to time. And I was most excited about the last step, baking. I'm not going to tease you much longer, the result is really amazing. The crust was really great, the bread rose really well and even tore up a little.
But have a look yourself:
I didn’t expect the result to be that good. Of course I couldn’t wait long and had to cut the bread right away and taste it. And it was so fine, super crispy and nicely moist and fluffy inside.
Okay, so the bread has fully convinced me. On the bottom there is a small hole from the knife, but as you can see in the pictures, it's not that big and doesn’t bother me.
Apple carrot jam
Next, of course, I wanted a suitable topping for the tasty carrot bread. Since the Panasonic Croustina also has a program for jam, I wanted to test this as well. And what goes better with a carrot bread than a carrot jam? Carrot together with apple, ginger and lemon, I was very excited about the little experiment since I've never tried this combo.
It's the same principle as with the bread, you put all ingredients in the Croustina, choose the appropriate program and the time and you're ready to go. The time gained can be perfectly invested in a cozy coffee break - I already like the new housemate.
The apple carrot jam took a little less time than the program said, so you should always check, so that nothing burns. After just over an hour it was done and so delicious. The carrots harmonize very well with the apple and the jam tastes really great, just different. And my little test eaters were convinced right away. Especially with the fresh carrot bread - simply delicious.
Apple carrot jam
The fruity apple-carrot jam made from finely grated apples and carrots, brightened with ginger and lemon, has earned its own recipe. It simmers down in just over an hour and tastes wonderful on a slice of the fresh carrot bread – vegan and with just five ingredients.
View the recipe: Apple-carrot jam
Recipes:
So here are both recipes for carrot bread & apple carrot jam with the Panasonic Croustina:
Both recipes fit perfectly with an Easter brunch, but not only then, because carrots and apples are luckily available all year round. So you have a great opportunity to offer your loved ones a little more vegetables, because in the form of bread and the delicious jam everyone will like them.
I think you've already noticed in my text I'm really excited about the Panasonic Croustina. The crust has turned out so great, just as I like my bread to be and that really surprised me. I like to bake bread and I love the slow preparation, the kneading with my hands, but I have to say that it has always been pretty time-consuming. The bread in the bakingmaker doesn’t require much yeast and you can also extend the rising time. I'm really looking forward to testing more bread varieties. I made a raisin bread directly today - with half wheat half spelt flour and it also turned out very well (next time I would make a lighter crust, but inside it’s super fluffy). And I will definitely try a sourdough bread.
Sure, the machine is not exactly small and you have to have the appropriate space. But the preparation is so simple and if I think about it now, how great it is when you put the ingredients in the Croustina in the evening and a fresh crispy bread is waiting for you in the morning – wonderful! In Switzerland you can buy it here for example.
If you love baking your own bread, take a look at my garlic bread with garlic dip and the autumnal pumpkin baguette too – and for your next barbecue, my vegan stick bread with tofu wiener is just the thing.
**The blogpost is a paid collaboration with Panasonic Switzerland, but reflects my own opinion. The recipes are my own. *
