Let's Learn to Bake | Day 1: Bread

Hi everyone, I've decided to try to better my baking skills for a month. First attempt: milk bread. Enjoy!

[@dandymcgee]

I miss these kinds of youtube videos. It's like old youtube, before people became backed by billion dollar agencies and shouted at the camera non-stop for 8-year-old audience. Just a chill, down to earth, genuine person trying something new.

[@jmartense]

This is exactly what KZbin was supposed to be for. 11/10 would watch again.

[@9983sp]

Baking is an exact science. Cooking is an art.

[@JIMRbach193]

THIS!

[@VladislavBabbitt]

Yes, baking does not forgive mistakes. If you make an error while cooking, you can still make corrections and save the dish.

[@ShaunLeach-uf5jk]

To be fair, you confidence as you talk is excellent! You're much better at this than you think you are!

[@crandonborth]

Oh you are gonna blow up on KZbin... you have the "It" personality for this. You just found your calling

[@billyyazzie9211]

I was intrigued with the first video and now I am sold. I will continue to watch, thank you ❤ Let the journey begin.

[@Pastorius23]

I love it. I like that the focus of this is learning. Trying new things. Discovering. Not being good, but instead trying things you know you're not good at, and being yourself while doing it.

[@ItsLookingUp]

No rolling pin, try using a jar. No brush, dip a paper towel in the egg wash.

[@jaybower577]

Erika, the best learning comes through mistakes, trial and error. There will be mistakes, so do not be afraid of them. Embrace them as steppingstones of improvement. As you are learning to bake, remember that it is food, and it does not have to be pretty, especially the first attempt. Your content techniques will improve with time and experience. Keep in mind that you are learning ALL of this, the baking, the content making, the cinematography, all at once. If this has to be your setup for now, I suggest finding a way to mount the camera above your work area looking down onto it, say on one of the cabinet door handles or the lip of a shelf. One more thing...DO NOT stand in front of the running mixer with that long hair trailing down your back! I suggest putting your hair up for baking. Overall, I say well done on this video! The one thing that always gets me is I forget to soften the butter.

[@christopherwinkler4451]

She needs a tripod or something, yes, to shoot down from above where she is working. And another camera dedicated to that shot. But that also means more editing. I'm not sure what her skills are in that area. I'm no help there. I couldn't even figure out how to use Movie Maker, which by all accounts was one of the simplest editiing tools. But she is young and seems reasonably bright. I'm sure she can figure it out.

[@davidabell9358]

Your doing an excellent job. Just be yourself. I have noticed that when people get rich doing simple video's they buy all this new equipment , dress fancy and the video's are never the same anymore. People lose interest. You can turn on tv and see this. It's not homemade anymore. People want to see real people not tv stars baking cakes. Keep it simple and you will do fine.

[@MaxLadik]

And today I learned that you can bake with almond milk, which I did not expect to work out, well done!

[@drewm7071]

Cooking is by feel. Baking is a precision science with little room for error (and you're not boring).

[@Generalpickaname]

You’re a natural, your chill personality is awesome to hang with. You’ll def get better but you’re already awesome. And a big fat hi-a from Australia 🇦🇺

[@gergalurg]

Learning is always bumpy, find ways to enjoy it! Laugh at the lows, ride the highs, looks like lots of people are down to come along here!

[@Niagra2011]

You did a Great job! Practice makes perfect. Life is full of mistakes. The trick is, you learn from your mistakes and chalk it up as another life lesson. You do not dwell on the mistakes in your life, you cherish and remember what you learned from them! Keep Smiling😉

[@gentlemanx7987]

Milk bread. Epic. The very first thing that came to my mind when hearing that was Charly from it's always sunny... "Milk Steak". 😂

[@joshsplace675]

Every mistake you make everybody else has made even the greatest. Practice makes everybody better. Live and learn 😎

[@staffordshires2]

Your so cute, I at he’d the total video. You did very good for your first time making bread. A couple suggestions, put your light on in the oven soon as you decide to make bread, place the dough in the oven keeping the light on..works perfectly. Warm your liquid milk/water whatever in the microwave say one cup for 30 seconds, I use 2 1/3 cups and warm it on high for 1 min. Put your sugar, salt, butter/margarine ( I use cooking oil) in the mixer bowl, pour in your warm to the touch water. Then add your flour on top of the liquid(very important, don’t do it the other way around). Then make a little crater on top of the flour to put the instant yeast. Turn on Your mixer medium speed for a few minutes.. take out the dough, form it into a ball, oil your mixer bowl lightly, put the dough back in it then place the mixing bowl in your lighted oven for 45 minutes.. then punch down, make your loaf or buns, place into a lightly oiled pan, and let rise another 45 minutes in the lighted oven. Take the pan out of the oven, preheat oven then put pan back in oven for set time.. Get a silicone pasty brush for brushing the oil in the pans, or on top of the dough.. Hope it’s helps, good luck!

[@AlexanderCalderon-kd6mh]

Hi. You are smarter than you think you are. You did a great job with the bread! You're beautiful & have great personality!❤🥰😍 Your channel is gonna blowup!

[@davewarman2976]

Too funny, today I actually thought, "Hey I would love to learn to bake." Then KZbin recommended your channel.

[@wittent]

Baking is the most difficult form of cooking. If one doesn’t agree, they will.

[@xlarge2011]

As a baker, I can tell you that you did well. Make this bread a lot of times and you will see the progression. The tang zhung helps with the dough's high fluid content and make it soft and spongy.

[@soledude]

This went oak as far as i can see. Dogs love eggs. I always gave the rest of the whisked egg to my dogs. Great for their fur I’ve heard. Enjoy the bread and the journey equally. 👌👌👌

[@jejoco]

Well done Erika! I also felt lost a few years back and began a bunch of different hobbies. I learned to bake among other things. Never with any plans, but now I'm getting paid to work in a bakery. Some days are still hard, but when people tell me they enjoyed something I made it turns the whole day around. Whether you get hooked on baking or something else I hope you keep pushing forward. Sometimes the search for a passion is enough to get us through the ups and downs of life.

[@DogmaBeoulve]

What an absolute lioness - all that lovely hair! Aside from "you're absolutely gorgeous" I'd say, when it comes to baking (and cooking), be okay with things not coming out right or even failure because it's all a learning experience. Oh man, I still can't do bread consistently well (though I don't do bread often) but I know whenever I actually set aside the time to learn the processes it'll be even more enjoyable than it already is (usually homemade bread is better than a lot of what you get in a store anyway) and I can probably add bread and types of bread to my holiday baking antics :P Baking can be/is much more of a science than a lot of cooking - at least basic cooking and that means that for those less inclined towards methodology that the precision is going to come with experience, trial and error.

[@bobdenk6944]

Erika loved your first video. We all gotta start somewhere. Stay positive. Looking forward to the next one. Full steam ahead 😎

[@juggernautz]

Video Influencer slash cook slash new unexplored talents is the path towards a career on KZbin plus whatever comes next like side hustles in other areas plus life interests. You're a natural on camera and no retakes, keep it simple and interesting, no need for scripts.

[@unixpro2]

I’m hoping you continue your journey and drag us along. The bread looks delicious and I love how you improvised using the stove top, hand flattening the dough and spooning the egg wash. I think the trader joe guy was thinking about asking you out which is why he was fishing for what else you had planned.

[@gregramirez7337]

Yum I love homemade bread. You have an infectious laugh, I hope you keep it up so it would be fun that we were here from the start😄 great job!

[@janbottorff4642]

You mentioned in a previous video you didn't have any career aspirations but you seem to be enjoying baking a lot, perhaps you should focus on that. The best careers are the ones where someone pays you to do what's fun for you. Some people also have multiple drastically different careers through life. I have a sister who worked at a roofing company, then became a mailman in a rural area, then went to school and became a landscape designer, and finally studied a bit more and became an accountant working for the IRS finding tax fraud. For your third video, I thought it came out quite well. Perhaps a minute or two reviewing at the end what went well and what didn't go well would help as an ending transition (it seemed to end a little abruptly). We want to learn along with you! Watching you not stress about everything being a certain way is inspirational for me to learn to cook better! You were very genuine and did a great job adapting in real-time. It sounded like you had some resource constraints, is there a way to donate to you to help?

[@markferguson3365]

Start with the idea. Next step is to write an outline. Introduction, steps involved, action , and conclusion. From the outline you can create a basic script. A script does not need to be word for word but a synopsis of what you want to convey in each segment of the outline. Try these basic steps, and you will see some improvement.

[@christopherdonald9001]

Erika, I really appreciate your sense of humor! Keep it up, you're doing great

[@WillLlamas]

Awesome job! I'll watch whatever you want to put out. Wow, such gorgeous hair too. Bye Erika.

[@mariozzyofficial]

Congratulations for that success!!! We learn with you at the same time... Just keep going!! 👍👏💪

[@shigella63]

You are entertaining. Keep posting! Thumbs up!

[@trancekingpj]

Practise makes perfect and by repeating the exercise time after time you eventually learn what works and doesn't work for your kitchen and ingredients. And don't let the mistakes get you down either, there's many of us applauding you for having the courage to get a camera and film it all! Personally I really want to cook. I see a recipe I like the look of and go buy the ingredients I need - but - like a fool I then let the stuff sit there till short lived food goes bad and I have to buy it again because it's too easy to get a ready meal out of the freezer and microwave it! As for what to say, just keep talking to the camera about what's in your head. You don't have to include it if, when editing, you realise that it's something you don't want to share. That bread looked lovely! I want some lol You certainly did a great job with it.

[@damianwright3690]

You can "rescue" a tasty dense bread (if it is too dense otherwise) by making bread pudding with it, or (if large enough) hollowing and using as a semi-edible plate, or toasting slices lightly and using for dipping in soup. Or using it as a cricket ball in a game of yard cricket :D

[@damianwright3690]

Also, you scrambled an egg with a bit of milk? You could cook up as scrambled eggs, either as is or by adding more eggs to make a larger meal. I'm freaking bad at communicating well. If you're comfortable with me making suggestions this way, good. If you're uncomfortable or you felt bad for not thinking of these things at the time, a) In no way did I mean to do such a thing, I am older than these words (heh), and b) Is there a better way to make suggestions on this channel about things?

[@thetruthserum2816]

Mmm, good looking bread. Making bread, making dough, worth your salt.... All sayings about getting paid. I like to make pizza dough with my stand mixer; Then I got a bread machine and it's even easier to crank out fun dough... I get a rise out of making dough. Try a no knead bread recipe; Super fluffy and tender.

[@DogmaBeoulve]

I wouldn't worry so much about having not faced the camera, because just watching you was a treat - all that HAIR!

[@76Scutter]

1/2 way thru the video you were questioning wether you should be making youtube videos...well your doing what you like and enjoy and that's all that matters. Also your being yourself and hopefully you will continue being yourself in ALL your future videos I personally am very glad you decided to make youtube videos cuz otherwise I would have never gotten to see your gorgeous face and mezmerizing eyes❤

[@methere27]

I might suggest volunteering at a children’s hospital

[@germ-y]

I'm so glad that you decided to fight through and persevere! The bread looked scrumptious!

[@jamesmitchell1780]

This is the second video in the highly anticipated series, "My Boring, Uninspired Life" starring Erika R. Not to be confused by the title, this program is strangely captivating. The self professed master of no skills has actually revealed talents of baking and kitchen chemistry using impressive descriptors like "gelatinous". Erika is apologetic about her tiny kitchen but this is understandable since she is based in a costly community like La Jolla. Its tiny dimensions only make her culinary creations more exciting. When I viewed the introductory video, I saw a human being suffering from mild depression and anxiety about her future. This ma!lady is common amongst recent college graduates who majored in anthropology or art history only to find out that their hard earned degree will yield a career as a barista at Starbucks. However, as I am about to binge on episode 4, I see hope and a possible star developing. Erika possesses a natural talent of talking and connecting with people. Cooking has never been by in my primary skill set (unless you include stuff made in a blender) but now I feel drawn to her kitchen for another informative, humor filled video lesson. Bravo Erika! You are not going to be defeated as you use initiative and creative energy to overcome life's roadblocks. Sincerely from your new viewer, James M.

[@HandyPenguin]

I love the whole premise of this channel. Just someone turning on a camera and trying something

[@edstar83]

A wise man once said " If you first do not succeed, try try again."

[@davidsussens4478]

You have the most gorgeous hair. Absolutely love it.

[@DogmaBeoulve]

Oh! Something I do "know" about baking is that when it comes to softened butter, it is usually best to soften it at room temperature over a period of time (planning ahead) so that you don't have to melt it with an active heat source. This is something I've run into with my cookie bake-a-thons for Thanksgiving and Christmas ;D I'm jealous of your kitchen aid XD

[@maxview99]

You're doing good, don't give up.

[@greggreg2263]

The cutest baker 🧑‍🍳

[@fivepillars344]

Erika, I baked Artisan Breads for 15 years. You did an amazing job!!! It looks great!!

[@dongray3463]

Keep it up your a natural Be nice to to have the recipe posted below Thanks

[@michaelcase8574]

The worst you can do is fail...which can be more endearing than sucess.

[@iancalkins483]

Success! Doing anything else today? Nope! this is my life! Nailed it! Delious!

[@Blackbird-wp3bt]

Erika, It's great.... lol You will not fail cause you're real... keep having fun with it. That's the true value . Love ya , keep up the great work !!

[@calebswanson462]

David west instructor type vidio.he makes fire by friction.but a Very nice first vidio.🎉good job!

[@76Scutter]

My god you have GORGEOUS eyes Absolutely mezmerizing

[@dennisdevore1648]

Cool! You tied your hair back. I like it!😅

[@1ponsford]

Of course I made it to the end of the video. You're doing fine, Erika. Just relax. I'm looking forwards to more videos from you.

[@AndyBHome]

You already have two challenges in front of you. 1. Learn to bake. 2. Learn to make engaging videos. Both can be done quickly, but to do them really well takes a lifetime. If you're wondering what the purpose of life is, you just found it. Pick something to do, then do it as well as you can. If you're not passionate about it, then you just discovered that your not prone to passion. That's also a real life thing; not everyone is passionate about their life. A lot of people are just living without great passion. It's okay. You may say, "But I want to be passionate about something!" That's nice, but just wanting it isn't enough. Typically people have to push themselves, but even then there's no guarantee that you'll be able to have what you want. It's fine to want things, but there aren't always ways to get them. Sometimes you just have to accept that certain things are out of reach. Baking Making videos Two very worthwhile endeavors. Neither can be fully mastered in a week, or a year, or even a decade. If you can dedicate yourself to these things and not quit, you will become better, excellent in fact, eventually. That's all there is. And you can share that with other people. Okay that second thing plus the first one, THAT'S all there is.

[@user-ot7nt9tb2q]

You are very entertaining. I love the attitude you give.

[@donglasgow11111]

Totally awesome 😊. 9000 subscribers in 3 weeks! Wow. Keep going. I’ll be watching! Expect to occasionally fail in baking. I tell people who eat what I make to “spit it out if you don’t like it.” 😅

[@christopherwinkler4451]

I used to enjoy a little baking. Mostly cookies, pies and cakes. As others have said, baking requires precise measurements, so weighing things is a terrifec idea, as opposed to just measuring. The last time I tried to make cookies I used too much flour and they didn't spread. Stayed little balls, pretty much. I ate them anyway. It's still flour, sugar, butter and eggs.

[@Noobooddy]

Tip: metal utensils will scratch nonstick pan coatings and nonstick coating will contaminate food.

[@burnout_2017]

Great job....🎉🎉🎉 nothing wrong with this video. Since im about 3 weeks behind i guess i better keep watching and catch up to everybody.

[@headshot8888]

😀thanks for letting us in your life I remember making bread years ago. Took a while to figure it out. Even then it didn't always work out.

[@gazoontight]

Try to have fun. Don't worry about how things are going.

[@kevinmckenzie7502]

You're amazing!

[@CLMT619]

I have skills and still feel a bit lost. Largely because the cost of living in SD. I did notice the LJ. Baking can be persnickety, at least in my experience.

[@oopiestevie4131]

Keep going!…soon you will have a million followers and making money

[@-Aurumn-]

This is fabulous! Way to go, girl!

[@CharlesY9]

Love this, now I'm craving homemade bread

[@stubby7934]

Breadmaker FTW. You just inspired me to put on a loaf; it's been ages.

[@jamesrobertson4035]

You are awesome! I lived in LaJolla for a few of my Navy years. If you are close by, PLEASE post a video from the Torrey Pines Glider Port of hang gliders & remote control airplanes. Two of my favorite FUN hobbies! ❤

[@andrewmacomber1638]

There’s almost nothing in life better than homemade bread! Congratulations to your success!❤️

[@randypatton3075]

You’re adventurous trying a rather involved recipe for bread making. It can be done simpler with 1 cup of water, 2 teaspoons of yeast (added to the water) 3 cups of a.p. flour add 1 teaspoon of salt (added to flour) and mix. Let the yeast activate. Add ingredients to mixer. Mix until it’s incorporated. Preheat oven to 150 until warm and then turn off. Move dough to table and knead multiple times until dough appears smooth. I fold a corner and turn multiple times until it is a smooth ball. Return to mixing bowl and cover with a towel and place in warm oven for one hour. (Make sure the oven is OFF) after 1 hour remove dough from mixing bowl, shape in a loaf. Use parchment paper in bread pan. Return dough in pan to warm oven (covered with same towel) for 30 minutes. Remove and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes. Don’t leave covered with the towel! Good luck!

[@user-sj6sl8iw2u]

Baking bread was a good choice to get started. Congrats! 🇨🇦

[@genecallen3520]

You don't have to be good at things when you start, or should you expect it. I found this interesting to watch and look forward to more videos.

[@Dvdplhm]

I have all kinds of skills. Nunchuck skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills.... But I can't bake bread. Good job!

[@frankbowman3236]

Great! Job. I love your sense of humor and your adventurous.. ⚘️

[@76Scutter]

I absolutely LOVE your hair, ssssoooo beautiful🤩🤩

[@jdebell7068]

Confidence in your self 😊

[@davidmcmullen5803]

Your personality keeps it interesting.

[@Arctic_Fox_NFFC]

I wonder how long you have spent in Education and today you started learning life skills! More power to you.

[@julianshalders6047]

Well done erika , keep busy, its the best therapy ❤.

[@dave440magnum]

Your a natural! Keep making videos. That bread looks delicious!

[@MrDonXX]

Wow, the bread came out fantastic well done Erika

[@hondaatver]

That bread really does looks delicious, it's making me hungry.

[@pierre931]

stop to think bad about you and your things, do it and stop.the bread is vey beautiful and seem good, brava

[@seanbond8075]

Erika, don't be down on yourself or think your content is "Uninteresting." The thing is, you're very refreshing and I just love your honesty and what you are doing... Keep on, because you are right, you're learning and teaching and there is nothing wrong with that at all! Thank you for being you and for being so genuine! Well done my dear!

[@RoyJMartin]

That looks delicious! I want to bake something too now haha, might bake a cake tomorrow. Thanks for giving me inspiration! 😁✌️

[@raysantiago3750]

San Francisco sourdough bread 🍞 🥖❤ is so delicious. 😋💦It's getting too hot to warm up in the oven. Have fun, Erika. It's your channel and show. We are the audience being entertained. 🏜

[@LucidAmerican]

I hate seeing people belittling themselves in this world. They are so much more than what they do in this life

[@jr4229]

You are doing great. Plus you have a great personality.

[@korbonjohnson2799]

very gorgeous. bread looks amazing

[@deejay4837]

Erika is my favorite power baker on youtube.....actually she is my one and only. Seriously, I have no others....

[@jerryschauss4123]

You got me in the mood to bake something. Has been awhile since I have had the ambition to bake something. Most likely a cake or banana bread. You are doing great……..

[@Tinman69]

Your attitude made my day brighter thank you! Hope you keep making positive content like this

[@claytonbrown8231]

❤❤❤❤❤❤very well done Erika.

[@N88369]

I like breads, a lost art. Cool 👽

[@philipmartin5858]

You go girl, love from Australia.