Wow - I would never have thought to bake bread in a candle mold. That is pretty neat. Tofu - meh, I can take it or leave it, but what is the purple stuff on it?

Alexa

Whatever will you think of next, Dcarch? ;-)

I'll pass on the tofu thank you. But to each their own.

D-

No tofu for me...Cheese burger, Chips...no coke, Pepsi!

If you want a meat substitute, how about SPAM? :)

And of course, south of the Manson-Nixon line, Possum is "the other white meat"! :D

I'm in love with your bread!

The mushroom filling looks purplish in the picture but the tofu looks yummy.
Love the bread, too.

Love the bread, but you can keep the tofu... I just can't get past the waxy feel and taste..

I actually kind of like tofu and is that fennel? I love fennel and the bread is very cool, you hit a dinner that I'd really enjoy, I think.

Annie

Dcarch:
Sounds good to me. Did you drain and press the tofu ?

If I make some, I'll put Pepperoni and Cheese on top.
Lou

I've never cared much for Tofu.
But that picture,
with the nicely carmelized crust,
and the fennel,
actually makes it look tasty.

Of course, mushrooms always make everything better, too.

And that bread ! !
Now I'm wanting a candle mold.

What an absolutely stunning dinner!

Rusty

You can have my tofu.

I can't stand the stuff except small bits in hot and sour soup.

"I don't consider tofu to be a substitute for meat."

I couldn't agree more. I think the bad rap that tofu has got is at least partially due to ridiculous claims like, "My meat-eating husband couldn't tell that this wasn't ______." Fill in the blank with meat of your choice. It's not meat. It's tofu. Don't expect it to be something that it's not and maybe you'll learn to like it. That's not to say I can't understand people not liking it, I just think that more people would like it if the rest of the world wasn't screaming "Yuck, it doesn't taste like ______ at all!"

Anyway, dcarch, your tofu looks great to me. The bread is pretty neat, but personally I'd prefer it not be served next to those candles. I don't think I could help but taste wax, LOL!

Very intriguing and creative! My fav Thai restaurant offers Pad Thai with fried tofu, I enjoy that better than with chicken and it's cheaper.

And of course, south of the Manson-Nixon line, Possum is "the other white meat"! I'm south of the Mason-Dixon line (or do you really mean Manson-Nixon) and I have never seen much less eaten Possum meat.

I'm far north of Mason/Dixon and I have eaten 'possum, but I refuse to eat Spam! Possum is greasy, but at least I know what it is, LOL.

Annie

Thank you everyone. You are all so very kind.

The bread:

A lot of times when I try to come up with solutions to a ridiculous problem, I end up with unpredictable ideas.

A few of you may know that I am a tomato grower. Many of you, if not all, like me, enjoy BLTs. BLT Sandwich making is a serious business. Here is the problem, breads are square, and a slice of big beefsteak tomato is round. Many lunch meats, burger patties, cheeses, etc. are also round.

The essential thing to create an ideal BLT, IMHO, is to start with round bread. However, a cylinder of round bread just looks silly.

Using food-grade silicone high temperature rubber (DO NOT USE NON-FOOD-GRADE candle mold), I made a round bread mold about 5.5 inch diameter with a design on it. Using the same design, I also used some leftover silicone rubber and made a few smaller matching candle molds.

Now, eating and serving BLTs and sandwiches with friends are a lot more fun.

The mushroom stuffing:

Portobello mushrooms for flavor and color
Royal mushrooms for meaty chewy-ness
A little blue cheese, black garlic and pepper for added flavor
All chopped up and combined with high gluten flour.
After pan frying, a couple of drops of white truffle oil.

Tofu:

Chacun voit midi a sa porte. Not intending to preach eating philosophy, and to pontificate on health practices. I am blessed and I am lucky that I do enjoy a variety of foods and be able to benefit from their health advantages. It permits me the freedom to spree on cheese cakes, ice creams, bacon and chips whenever I feel like it and no sweaty gym workouts for me afterwards either.

FOAS, you absolutely nail it! Tofu was created as a food on it's own merits, not as a substitute for anything else. 1/4 of the world population enjoy it, and most of them live longer than anyone else on this earth.

dcarch

I need a lot more info on how you made that mold!
I want to make one too. It's fabulous.

I can leave the tofu, but your bread is a work of art!

"However, a cylinder of round bread just looks silly."

Scores of Orthodox Christian people have, for decades, made the traditional Easter bread (Kulich) in coffee cans specifically to end up with a tall cylindrical loaf of bread for our Easter celebraiton. Clearly, not everyone thinks it is silly.

Kulich [in Russian úÃÂûøàmeaning "Easter cake"] is a kind of Easter bread, traditional in the Orthodox Christian faith ��" Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Serbia, etc.

Traditionally during the Easter service, the kulich, which has been put into a basket and decorated with colourful flowers, is blessed by the priest. Leftover kulich that isn't blessed is eaten with Paskha for dessert. Blessed kulich is eaten before breakfast each day.

Kulich is baked in tall, cylindrical tins (like coffee or fruit juice tins), and when cooled is decorated with white icing (which is slightly drizzled down the sides), colourful flowers, and XB (the traditional Easter greeting of ÃÂ¥ÃÂøÃÂÃÂþàòþÃÂúÃÂõÃÂõ, "Christ is Risen") is decorated on the side. Kulich is only eaten during the 40 days after Paskha (Easter) until the Ascension or Pentecost, 50 days later."

XB

Alexa

Here is a link that might be useful: Kulich

Anything fried I think can be made to taste edible. I would probably even like the tofu if I tried it. And I love the bread...and the idea behind round bread to match the tomato slices! And homegrown heirloom tomatoes are my favorite thing in the world....this is how DcArch and moi' know each other from other forums ...growing tomatoes etc. forums....I would just fill in the extra space with bacon! But I like the round mold...very inventive!

Duane

Duane, thanks. To have my name, you name and tomatoes in the same sentence is an honor.

Alexa, thanks for searching the Kulich information. I have a friend with that last name. I stand corrected:
To have a round cylindrical bread in a non-Russian Easter celebration setting is inappropriate, not silly, and I apologize to all Russian Orthodox Christians.
Also, based on my experience here, I wonder, culturally, if it would be acceptable to post here a tall cylindrical bread with a round tip with dripping white cream.

Thanks, islay_corbel. Speaking of cultural differences in taste, visually and gastronomically, I did make a very very subtle comment with this dish. Typically, Western taste has not acquired the taste of tofu, and traditionally, the Chinese did not like the taste of truffles; they fed their truffles to pigs. In this dish I combined the two tastes. As it turned out the two tastes are very compatible.

bumblebeez "I need a lot more info on how you made that mold!
I want to make one too. It's fabulous."
Thanks. Here you go:
1. Find a design you like, or sculpt your own design. Most material will work because silicone rubber will not stick to anything.
2. Get food-grade casting silicone rubber. I got mine on eBay. It comes in two parts that you mix to activate the curing. Don�t get the kind that the two parts are formulate equally. It is easier to work with, but not as heat durable. Get the kind that has part A larger in volume than part B.
3. Mix the two parts and cast the mold. In about 24 hours, you will have your mold that you can use to make bread, or candies, chocolate, etc. I am sure you can find on youtube more info also.

dcarch

Thanks dcarch. So what did you use to make your mold? Just a candle mold?

"To have a round cylindrical bread in a non-Russian Easter celebration setting is inappropriate, not silly..."

DCarch - since you seem to be so opinionated about cylindrical breads, also remember that Boston Brown bread is traditionally made in a can to produce a cylindrical loaf and has been since colonial times. I've never heard anybody refer to that as silly either, but by your explanation it seems they are either silly or inappropriate.

And what about those cylindrical Pampered Chef bread molds, I'm not familiar with any Russian Orthodox people using them to make Kulich, however there have been discussions about their use on this very forum in the past, does that make it silly and/or inappropriate to have them too? Maybe someone should alert the Pampered Chef folks.....

Pampered Chef bread tube - http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=35&catId=122

Alexa

Here is a link that might be useful: Bread tube thread

I also can't figure why a cylinder of bread is silly or in appropriate...
But I also seem to remember you growing square tomatoes....speaking of silly. LOL!

What did you use to support that silicone bread mold while it was baking? and what did you use to carve the design? You say you used the mix and pour stuff? so you made a cylinder like the loaf....and put that into a larger container and filled that with the silicone? Must have had to use a lot of silicone. Must have spent in the neighborhood of $40 to $50 to make those molds....maybe more.
Looks like you had some serious sticking problems with that loaf. did you spray it?
Panettone is cylindrical, And there are disposable as well as metal panettone molds all over the place. Did it not occur to you to use one of those to make your bread cylinder?
Linda C

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

bumblebeez ---"Thanks dcarch. So what did you use to make your mold? Just a candle mold?"

It can actually be a brainless and painless project. I did not start with a candle mold. I used some leftover silicone and the same pattern (master) to make those matching candles. Look around your house, you may find objects with a design that turns you on and mold away. The casting silicone rubber will not stain or damage other material. Or google image to find a design or pattern that you like, print it out and do a wax carving as master. You can do a wax carving easily and quickly.

Posted by caliloo "-------DCarch - since you seem to be so opinionated about cylindrical breads----- Pampered Chef bread tube - http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=35&catId=122";

You are very kind. Opinionated is too good a word for me. Ignorant is more appropriate. Just because I have never seen round breads sold, round bread molds sold, I automatically assume that a plain cylindrical bread must look silly to everyone on the dinner table when you invite friends.

BTW, I have seen those bread molds. They have small diameter, and they are meant for appetizers, I think.

Posted by lindac "---But I also seem to remember you growing square tomatoes....speaking of silly. LOL!------- What did you use to support that silicone bread mold while it was baking?----- Must have had to use a lot of silicone. Must have spent in the neighborhood of $40 to $50 to make those molds....maybe more. ------- Looks like you had some serious sticking problems with that loaf. did you spray it?-------- And there are disposable as well as metal panettone molds all over the place. Did it not occur to you to use one of those to make your bread cylinder? Linda C"

Yes, absolutely. Me the silly one who grows square tomatoes to make BLTs to fit on square bread. LOL

Not much silicone rubber is used to make the mold. Silicone rubber is very durable. My mold is made as a thin flat sheet; I put that into a round metal container to bake the bread. After the bread is done, I just slip the whole thing out and unroll the silicone sheet to release the bread. No spray or oil or butter is needed to de-mold the bread. Silicone rubber is very non-stick. Anyone can find a round can to make round bread. My idea is to make a decorative round bread, and further enhance the concept with matching candles on the dining table.

A one time investment for a life time of cooking fun. I have also made meatloaves and other things with the same mold.

Okay, I too call that silly, but I am born that way. :-)

dcarch

But, dcarch, now that you have square tomatoes and round bread aren't you right back to square one ?!?!?!?!?!?

Jim

I didn't even realize it was still available! I remember having this as a kid quite often at friends houses......

If you have never had Boston Brown Bread, this is a treat.

Here is a link that might be useful: Boston Brown Bread

Posted by jimster "But, dcarch, now that you have square tomatoes and round bread aren't you right back to square one ?!?!?!?!?!?
Jim"

LOL! I am such a nut. I often end up with this kind of circular thinking.

dcarch :-)

Dcarch:
When I was in my other home; a few years back, I grew beefsteak tomatoes, the size of a dinner plate.

That would make a great BLT !!!

Glad you got the sillyness cleared up LOL!!!
LOU

Thanks Lou.

There is nothing like a BLT on custom home-made round bread.
There is nothing like a burger on custom home-made round bread.

My next BLT is about 6 months away, thanks for reminding me. :-(

dcarch

I think pan fried tofu is on a very different level with non-fried tofu. My brother made some for me once for lunch, and I was so impressed with the taste. I can't eat soy anymore (having had breast cancer), but it was tasty. I think he used a tofu that was dried or smoked or something, before he started cooking it.

I think you are very right, it is a food in it's own right, not a meat substitute.

While I have no problem with tall, thin round loaves of bread, I think dcarch's loaf is creative, beautiful and delicious-looking. The little bit of sticking isn't worth mentioning, especially in polite company. As for blt's, anyone who grows square tomatoes, bakes round bread and makes fantastic bread pans can make sandwiches for me ANY time! It's all quite inspired, dcarch, and I for one don't find you or your food silly, ignorant, nor overly opinionated.

Ditto!

I think he used a tofu that was dried or smoked or something, before he started cooking it.

That was likely ''dou gan'', a somewhat dried, compressed tofu - a medium brown skin on the outside, a slightly smoky flavour, denser and firmer than regular tofu. Buy it at Asian markets. ''Dou'' is beans, ''gan'' is dry.

johnliu and Lou, There are many tofu textures and tastes. In this particular dish, I used medium firm tofu and let it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator. This drains a lot of the water out for easy frying.

linnea56 "---- I can't eat soy anymore (having had breast cancer), but it was tasty. ------"

It is important to do your own research. Keeping in mind where you get your information from. Soy is huge business, so is meat. A lot of money is involved. Depends on who is financing the studies, you may find different conclusions.
Not that I am recommending anything. I based my decision on the fact that where soy is consumed the most, that�s where there are the lowest incidents of breast cancer, heart diseases, colon cancer, etc., also that where life span is the longest.

I believe in diversity in my diet. I believe that there foods I can incorporate that would make dieting unnecessary.

dcarch

johnliu and Lou, There are many tofu textures and tastes. In this particular dish, I used medium firm tofu and let it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator. This drains a lot of the water out for easy frying.

I usually press the excess water out of my tofu - because I can't plan ahead.

Do you often use silken tofu? I can't seem to develop a liking for it. It's just not what I grew up with, I suppose.

Tofu serves a function much like rice, for me. It is a bland but receptive food which absorbs the taste of other foods and sauces, thus becoming quite tasty by the end of the meal. I particularly like it diced into small cubes and fried - sort of analogous to fried rice. I like the dou gan stuff because it can be matchsticked or diced fine - to rice grain size if wished - without mushing out and will hold together without need for frying.

It's one of those strange ironies: soy is considered to possibly help prevent breast cancer, yet it, like all phytoestrogens, is not permitted if you have an estrogen positive cancer, as most breast cancers are. I am taking a drug to cancel out the estrogen my body makes, to "starve" a cancer, in essence: so was told to stop adding anything estrogenic or estrogen-like to my diet, to avoid negating the effect of the drug.

The food I miss most is flax seed, also a phytoestrogen. My oatmeal and muffins just don't taste the same without it. There are others, but those are the two I had to make a note to avoid.

I ate flax seed for over 15 years. I asked my doctor, if it was so preventative, why did I get cancer anyway? His answer: "No idea: but maybe you would have gotten it earlier, if you hadn't been taking it."

Who knows? I am playing it safe, while I am on this drug.

And perhaps you might have gotten another less treatable cancer.
What the charts showing the nations which have the longest life span, and who are assumed to eat tofu, is the body weight of those people.
People on a reduced calorie diet tend to live longer than those who consume more calories. Perhaps the diets of those where the life span is longest just consume fewer calories?
Linda C

Posted by lindac "And perhaps you might have gotten another less treatable cancer.
What the charts showing the nations which have the longest life span, and who are assumed to eat tofu, is the body weight of those people.
People on a reduced calorie diet tend to live longer than those who consume more calories. Perhaps the diets of those where the life span is longest just consume fewer calories? Linda C"

You are absolutely correct. You will never really know what the statistics mean.
The same people live in the most polluted environment, and eat MSG everyday. Can I say that pollution and MSG prevents cancer? Who knows?

I do know they eat lots of food, lots of tofu, never exercise, never diet, don't get sick as often, and live very long.

Again, I am not promoting anything. The CF is about ideas, and exchanging of ideas.

You are going to have to make your own bed and sleep in it.

dcarch

Johnliu,

I do like silken tofu, and I make it once in a while.

One thing I enjoy in the summer is silken tofu, tomatoes, EVOO and balsamic or other salad dressing.

You make everything look so appetizing! You are quite a food stylist. What's that third one?

Wish you guys would cut it out.
Now I'll have to find some Tofu.
Lou

Posted by linnea56 "You make everything look so appetizing! You are quite a food stylist. What's that third one? "

Thanks. The third one is simple tofu braised in one of my master sauces for marinating meat, on beet green stems.

dcarch

Canned bread. Ha! That's one that Squidward looks for in his paradise on SpongeBob.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tentacle acres canned bread