Ever since my new LG oven arrived, I’ve been barely able to leave it alone. It seems every time I walk past it, I am reminded of something over the past few months that I’ve wanted to bake but haven’t and before I know it, I’m riffling through my fridge and pantries for ingredients. When my new delivery of plants arrived, I recalled one item, a flowerpot bread. This involves baking a bread using new terracotta pots instead of a baking tray. I envisaged this would be great serving these with soups and stews over winter but also popular as a Springtime way of serving bread for a lunch or garden party.
A Cheese and Mustard bread was a flavour I had randomly selected as I still need to build up my pantry supplies having depleted them in order to move easier (although that didn’t stop what seemed to be a never ending amount of boxes being amassed). In fact at last count, about a third of all boxes were kitchen or blog related with china pieces in every conceivable shape, pattern and form. We food bloggers don’t travel light.
I used two large 14cms high pots for the recipe below but if you did want to serve them for a Spring time lunch you could certainly use smaller pots so that each person receives a pot of bread each to go with their meal (just make sure that they’re brand new pots). It’s as hard as baking bread is and the “effort to applause ratio” (what we all seek when entertaining really) is excellent. People love the whole idea and you can forgot getting expensive bakeware, these terracotta pots are perfect to make an impact. Even Mr NQN bestowed with the ultimate man-compliment exclaiming “Hey cool!” when I showed them to him.
I just wanted to say thankyou to all of the lovely people that suggested names for my new oven. I thought Glinda fit as our car is called Elphaba! I also chuckled at Moya’s suggestion of the Wizard too as it’s full of hot air.
So tell me Dear Reader, have you named your car (or oven!) and if so what name did you give it?
Flowerpot Cheese & Mustard Bread
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
- 550grams bread flour
- 1 tablespoon instant dried yeast
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 280-300ml warm water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cups of coarsely grated cheese (whichever you prefer, cheddar is good with mustard)
- 2 tablespoons dijon or your favourite mustard
- 1 egg whisked with 1 tablespoon milk
- 2 tablespoons oatmeal, poppy seeds or sesame seeds
- 2 large, clean, new flowerpots or several small ones
1. Firstly wash the flowerpots with plenty of hot water (no detergent) and leave upside down to drain.
Dough kneaded
2. In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, place flour, yeast and salt and mix together. Start dough hook and gradually pour water into the flour mixture until it starts to come together (about a minute or two). You don’t want it fully incorporated just yet-it should look floury and “shaggy”. Add tablespoon of butter, cheese and mustard and then keep kneading with the dough hook and it should now come together. Knead until elastic. You can do this by hand too with the basic kneading action.
Leaving dough to prove under plastic wrap
3. Oil the bottom of the bowl and place the dough round in it and oil on top of the dough round and cover with cling wrap and place in a warm place (if it’s too cold, I put the bowl in another bowl of warm water). Leave for 1 hour to rise.
Dough SMACK DOWN!
4. Think of the most annoying person you know and clench your fist. Punch down the dough (rather satisfying isn’t it?) and then knead for 1 minute again. Oil and line the inside of the flowerpots with baking paper. Divide the dough in half so that it fills 2/3 of the pot and leave to rise again in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Dough after a 30 minute rise in the pot
5. Preheat the oven to 220c/428F. Once the dough has risen, brush top all over with eggy milk mixture and sprinkle oatmeal or seeds on top. Bake in oven for 45 minutes or until the bread feels empty inside when knocked.
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74 Comments | Add your own
Such a cute idea! These are totally adorable and look delicious.
This is so clever! I love it. And Glinda’s a great name for your new oven.
My two month old Beetle is still nameless but I usually just refer to it as “the bug”… how creative, NOT! haha
This is SOOOO brilliant!
Omg! These are adorable! Love the idea! Ahaha Glinda is perfect!
I LOVE your flowerpot bread. It looks so lovely with the marigolds. I can almost smell the hot bread.
Cute bread! I haven’t named my car or oven, but the names of yours are perfect.
I love the idea of little mini pots so each person gets their own.
So pretty! A wonderful way of baking bread!
Cheers,
Rosa
I love the idea of this, I think it looks great! And so pretty!
And I’m glad you settled for Glinda.
You’ll have to use Fiyero next, lol.
Such a cute way to serve bread
my car is named oscar, my old car was called frank k (after the guy in sister act 2.. not sure why!)
my oven doesnt deserve a name as he doesnt work properly!
cute flowerpot breads!
ed on better homes and gardens made brownies in mini flowerpots for a kids party, and stick little marshmallow flowers in them. very adorable!
Too cute, this would be a fab little ditty for a garden party themed BBQ..!
Have you started doing your make up in the reflection of the oven? That would suggest you need help – hehe
these are way too cute to eat Lorraine! Love the smack down pic too- i think Trish did a similar one haha with a pic of her hand actually in the dough that was so funny
fantastic – I love a good bread with a salad chock full of vegies in spring – that is the sort of meal we have been having lately – these loaves look so cute and sound delicious – just my sort of flavour – and bread is the perfect way to make your new kitchen feel like home
Our cars have always been called “Gert” or “Gertrude” when in a tight spot, as in “C’mon GERTRUDE!”
Our oven has no name, but the grill is always the Gorilla. In context – stale sandwiches? How ’bout you gorilla them?
A
I love flowerpot bread and yours looks fab. Did you have any problems turning the bread out of the pot?
ahhh.. I’ve heard about flower pot bread before but never seen it done!
excellent work yet again!
Oh so cute! I love the idea of using flowerpots, I nearly bought some the other day for this very purpose! And yes it’s so satisfying to knock back the dough
I love these, but wonder how easy they are to get out of the pots after baking? Knowing my luck, I’d end up having to take a hammer to them! xxx
That’s definitely got a wow factor to it, I’ve never see anything like it! It looks so nice and crusty on the top, yum!
I really love the idea of pot bread! I had some a few months back at a nursery cafe, 3 pots, 3 different flavours, they were great and were fresh out of the oven! Will definitely have to give your recipe a try…
Fantastic – I have actually done this for some dinner parties some time back and it went off a treat! The bread comes out so easy – just turn and it should slide out.
Thank you for reminding me how easy and delightful this is.
It remind me of flowerpot scones which I had at Leura, Blue Mountain in SwayzGoose cafe, the famous one with their oh-so-good thick liquid strawberry jam (which is not so thick and gellatine like supermarket jams).
Such a clever girl! What a fun idea. Have fun with Glinda!
Hey these are cute! I use to use the shallow, flat terracotta pot bases as pie tins!
This is such a creative idea, and you’re right, it looks perfect for a springtime garden party. I love the name for your oven!
What a great way to make it special for every guest! Hope you and Glinda have many more fun adventures in the future.
How did the crumb turn out btw?
This bread is full of AWESOMENESS!!
That’s a great idea! Most apartments in Thailand don’t have ovens, but I plan on buying a mini oven soon. Will definitely try this when I do
Teehee these are SO cute! =)
That bread looks gorgeous. My car (whose rego is WZD) is called Wilhelmina, though my previous car was the ‘purple avenger’. I love Mr NQN’s comment – my husband’s reaction to food is the same – understated.
That is really cool! I gotta try it
what a unique idea to serve bread. very fall inspiring!
That bread looks delicious. My car is named “The Black Prince” – rather a posh name for a Toyota Corolla !
That oven must be big and wonderful because these breads look absolutely perfect!!!! Were they easy to remove from the pots?
This…is…soo…COOL!!!! I love that it’s baked in a flowerpot…I actually don’t really like flowers that much, but bread? Yes please!
/*Gosh what a good thought as the last time I used plant pots in the kitchen was for those Russian cheesecakes..Pashkas?
Yet another adventure ahead of me!
now i’ve seen everything hehe
so ridiculously cute! ive done a dirt cake in a terracotta pot before but this is even better.
so you say they have to be new…do you just mean unused? like could you re-use the ones in the pictures to re-bake bread or do you always need to buy new ones?
Hi Lorraine, thanks for the mention *chuckle*! I like Glinda too as the LG oven is pure and white and full of witchy goodness! Brilliant idea with the flowerpots, you don’t have to oil or flour them before putting the dough in?
Applause for certain – they look cool!
You are so clever. These look great and I am sure taste better.
This is so cool! haha
I’ve never even though of baking with terracotta pots before…!
Cute pots! My dishwashers name is “Lexi” (she is a Dishlex). My shapely coffee machine is called “Candice” after the rather shapely Italian girl that sold it to us at the home show and my ovens name is “Emily” because she is an Emilia/Glemgas model. I have two fridges, both Fischer and Paykel and for some strange reason have never been able to find a name for either of them….”Fishy” just doesn’t sound right for some reason…..hehe
love it! Maybe ‘plant’ some rosemary and bunches of parsley and you have yourself a plant for the kitchen haha
Very cool indeed! Apparently my father-in-law used to make flowerpot bread to impress dinner party guests. He hasn’t made them for us yet, maybe we’ll have to make our own with this recipe.
what a cute idea! and finally, it’s totally something of which i’m capable! as far as naming goes, i used to have a really old white car called casper. she wasn’t a friendly ghost then, but she is now.
What a lovely idea!! Theyre so so so cute those breads.:))
Fancy naming an oven…what a great idea or a car for that matter….but cars are to me what ovens are to my hub ….not quite human enough to be named…but ovens!… aahhh thats something else! If I had the time I’d be stroking my oven first thing every morning.
These bring back fond memories, yes way back in the 1970 we did this. That makes me rather old I guess….must get out my cute mini skirt and recreate those fun parties. Cheap wine, whatever anyone brought over. No money at all so we all would just get together. I was the real foodie, so I did the baking. Sometimes everyone would just bring ingredients they had in the fridge and we would all brainstorm up a wonderful meal. Awww, back in the day!
Those are TOO cute… and cheese and mustard bread sounds so so good. Would this recipe work for a regular bread tin?
Such a pretty presentation of those breads in flower pots, love it!
awww that’s so cute! neat idea.
Very, very wonderful and delicious too!
Hi Lorraine! Long time reader from Queensland. Love your blog
I travel down to Sydney a couple of times a year and always visit some of your recommended spots.
Saw this site mentioned on another blog and thought of you!http://zombiecarols.com/ It features christmas zombie themed recipes. Anyone for some brainy egg nog?
this is absolutely the cutest thing ive seen recently! brilliant!
Always wanted to do this but have not…. lazy! I may make a pie when my new kitchen is ready too!
OMG! I just found your blog and let me just tell you… you are SO creative! These flower pot breads are the cutest (and probably yummiest) things ever!
-Mini Baker
Now this is brilliant!!
I am italian… I found your blog searching something about Nigella (mousse au chocolat) but this bread is fantastic!!!!
Awesome idea and great use of planters. I have a bunch of them for my indoor garden that have not been used yet too.
This is so cool! The bread looks lovely in the pots, and the seeds and oats look delicious.
I don’t have a name for my car, but I refer to it as a person. As in: Prius would like for you to buckle your seatbelt.
Absolutely brilliant! So cute these pots
Cannot wait to try!
You are always so original.
These are adorable. Somehow I’ve been bumped off subscription and realized this after coming back from food buzz festival. No nigella in the emails?
Toooooooo cute Lorraine. One Christmas a friend of mine made Christmas cakes in terracotta pots and gave them to friends and family, another brilliant idea.
These look fabulous and oh so cute. I rarely comment and tend to just lurk, but wanted to say thanks for dropping by my blog. I love reading your posts and find endless inspiration as I do so.
As for naming things, most everything in my house is named, my KitchenAid, laptop, printer almost everything I rely on that seems to have a mind of its own.
Oh the bread looks lovely, and I am quite partial to cheese and mustard flavours. I can’t say I normally give names to things.. getting too attached always seems like a bad idea to me
That said, my new-ish thermomix is called the Therminator!
Terracotta flower pots for the bread!?
How clever!
Whenever I come here, i’m greeted with the most unique recipes … I am thinking that these would make the loveliest gifts.
This is such a cute idea; I love it! I don’t have a car – if I had to name my method of transport though it would be overcrowded buses of doom
Hi sara-Thanks so much!
Hi Kathy-Thankyou! It seemed logical given our car is Elphaba
Haha that is cute!
HI Jen-Thanks so much!
Hi Betty-Thankyou very much! Yes she feels like one too
Hi ganga-Thankyou! You are too kind!
Hi Cakelaw-Thanks! I feel like I know them and they have personalities
Hi sandra-Yes it’s more individual that way!
Hi Rosa-Thanks so much!
Hi Su-yin-Thankyou!
Haha yes I need a Fiyero and Nessarose 
Hi Fiona-Thanks!
Hi buggy-Haha! Yes they get a name if they are good I think!
That sounds adorable!
Hi Liss-Yes it would! No not yet! I don’t think it would end up looking very good
Hi Betty-I love the smack down!
Yes it’s so satisfying you just want to take a pic!
Hi Johanna-Yes all of those lovely salad veggies are delicious! Thank!
Hi A-Haha so the full name when they’re being naughty!
That’s cute and totally apt!
Hi Gastronomy Gal-Thanks! No if you line it with paper there aren’t any problems
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Thankyou so much!
Hi Steph-Isn’t it just! It helps to get aggression out too
Hi Angela-They’re fine as long as you line them with baking paper
xxx
Hi jess-Thankyou so much!
Hi Michelle-OH how fabulous and isn’t that the perfect setting!?
Hi Nicole-Fabulous and yes great minds think alike!
Hi Lilia-Oh do they serve scones in a flowerpot?
Yum! Sounds fantastic 
Hi Barbara-Aww thanks mum! Xxx
Hi Karen-Ahh very clever indeed!
Hi Faith-Thankyou! Yes I can really imagine a garden party with these
Hi Sean-Hehe thankyou so much! The crumb was good, not too fine!
Hi Ellie-Haha why thankyou!
Hi BritinBangkok-Oh really? I had no idea! Good idea
Hi Brianna-Aww shucks thankyou!
Hi Jetlagmama-Haha I like how they have personalities! Haha yes men!
Hi Chefspiration-Please do!
Hi Bren-Thankyou so much!
Certainly the terracotta pot is a very autumn leaf colour 
Hi sally-Haha I love it!
Hi Trisha-Thankyou very much! No they were easy as I lined them. If not they might be!
Hi sophia-Haha I could give you a bread instead of flowers!
Hi Elaine-Ooh they sound intriguing! :O Fabulous!
Hi Simon-Haha no you haven’t!
Hi a girl called e-Thank! Ooh dirt cake is so apt! Yes just unused for plants you can definitely reuse the baking ones
Hi Moya-You’re welcome! You do oil them and the line them before putting them in
Hi Arwen-Thanks so much!
Hi Chaya-Aww you are too kind!
HI Von-Thankyou! I don’t do it often enough!
Hi canobie-Ahh very fitting! Oh I love how you’ve named everything!
Hi Lex-Hehe I have better luck with baking than gardening
Hi shaz-ooh how very cool! I bet he’s quite the expert!
Hi grace-Aww Grace what do you mean? You’re an excellent baker! Haha very apt!
Hi zurin-Thanks so much! No but mine is honestly, she’s so smart!
Hi Eva-Yes I get the feeling that this is quite retro! No not at all
the 70s weren’t that long ago! 
They sound like amazing memories!
Hi SarahKate-Thankyou and absolutely it would work for a regular bread tin
hi 5 Star Foodie-Thanks so much!
Hi pigpigscorner-Thankyou!
Hi Fátima-Thanks so much
Hi Jilly-Fabulous, thankyou! Haha I love it, thanks so much!
Hi Veggie Belly-Thankyou so much!
Hi penny-Absolutely, I bet you have lots to make!
Hi Christa-Aww shucks thankyou!
Hi Mrs Ergül-Thankyou!
Hi Marisa-Thankyou for your kind words!
Hi Jeff-Thanks very much! Ahh sounds like a good opportunity!
Hi lisa-Thankyou so much! Ooh you have a Prius? I want one!
Hi Rose-Thanks so much!
Hi Wizzy-Thankyou! That’s so sweet
Hi Angela-Thanks so much! Hmm tat is strange, you should be getting them? You’re still on the list believe me!
Hi Matilda-Thankyou! Aww that is such a cute Christmas time idea!
Hi cynthaea-Thanks! Aww that’s so sweet! Haha that is so cute, I love how you do that!
Hi Y-No really? No other names? I guess you have so much equipment that you can’t name it all! How is the Therminator?
Hi ArtemisIII-Thankyou so much!
Hi Soma-Aww you are too kind Soma!
Hi Alex-Thankyou! Oh no I don’t like buses either
Hi, are all terracotta pots oven safe?
Hi Dree-I believe they are as long as they are brand new and have been washed well.
ok great thanks!
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