Freezing bread dough OK for better time

By ANNE B. ADAMS

and NANCY NASH-CUMMINGS

DEAR ANNE AND NAN: Can you freeze bread dough before you bake it? I test the bread pans at Lehman's Hardware and make dough in 10-loaf batches. I would like not to have to bake it all at once. --- MARTHA KIDRON, OHIO

DEAR MARTHA: You can freeze bread dough before it rises. Either leave it in the bowl and cover it or put it in sturdy plastic bag, and put it in the freezer. Because of its internal temperature, the dough will rise a bit, so be sure to leave room in the bag or bowl for this to happen.

When you are ready to bake the bread, take it out of the freezer and let it come to room temperature. This will take around 3 to 3 1/ 2 hours. Punch it down, form a loaf, and let the dough rise until it is double in size.

Note: Freezing the dough will change the texture of the bread. As the frozen dough comes to room temperature, it causes condensation in the bread. This makes the dough stickier, and it won't rise as high.

DEAR ANNE AND NAN: I have a terrible problem with waxy buildup in my washing machine around the softener dispenser and the top of the tub because of the use of liquid fabric softener. I can't switch to a dryer sheet because my son has very sensitive skin. Please help! --- VICKI MORRISON, GLASGOW, KY.

DEAR VICKI: A reader from Grand Island, Neb., wrote to us some time ago and suggested a product called Glisten (our favorite dishwasher cleaner) to clean washing machines.

"Glisten also cleans dishwashers, whitens laundry and can be used for cleaning bathroom appliances it can even remove 'ring around the toilet.' We found that it is a great product!

"Unfortunately, it is hard to find in the eastern half of the United States, except at the Shop 'N' Save supermarket chain."

Glisten is citrus-acid based and nontoxic.

If you can't find it at your local grocery store, you can order it from F.H. Gillingham and Sons at 16 Elm St., Woodstock, Vt., 05091. Two 4-ounce boxes of Glisten are $8.95 plus $4.95 for shipping. To order, write to Gillingham's, or call them at (800) 344-6668.

LOST LETTERS AND FOUND ANSWERS: Sometimes we find answers and then can't find the original letter.

In this case, a reader wrote to ask about halloween masks for older folks.

She remembered masks of cartoon characters and literary heroes made out of stiffened cheese cloth. She commented that Halloween masks today seem to be rubber and mostly horror or personalities.

Well, we found some great Victorian paper masks --- they fit over your nose, eyes and forehead, and tie behind your head. They are of Victorian-era gentlepeople, Beatrix Potter and "Alice in Wonderland" characters.

An individual mask is $5.25 plus $1 for postage and handling. To order, write to Fantasy Festival, 432 Virginia St., Route 14, Crystal Lake, Ill., 60014, or call (815) 455-4910.

Newspaper Enterprise Association

Copyright 1999
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