Lucy Finally Returns with a 20% Whole 9 Grain SF Sourdough
We have been from TFL for months and months. My daughter said I had to lose weight for her wedding and my doctor, the evil one, said I had to quit the carbs and start exercising again because my A1C was 7.1 and the sugar was out of control. So…. no bread allowed.
I started swimming every day on his recommendations and now I am walking too. The pool is getting cold and in about another week it will have to be all walking. I only lost 3 pounds but the fat was turned into muscle and now my A1C is 6.4 – about as good as it can get for a type 2 diabetic not on insulin.
I knew if I logged into TFL I would be tempted, so I just stayed away. But, all is well now and I baked my first loaf of bread in month yesterday. I am amazed at how many of you were worried about me and sent me messages. The folks here are so kind. I will read them this week and get back to all of you.
There's the Girl Baby!
This bread is our favorite SF style SD. 20%, 9 whole grains: Kamut, spelt, barley, oat, red and white wheat, rye, emmer and Einkorn in equal amounts. The rest is half LaFama AP and Smart and Final high gluten to make a sort of home made bread flour.
Monsoon has come and gone.
We used all the whole grains in the levain and so it was 20% prefermented flour at 100% hydration - about twice as much as we would normally use. We got started on Thursday and knew we would not have enough time to get the bread baked before my wife got home on Friday evening from work.
Made pizza once. Smoked onion, smoked mushroom and smoked sausage with fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, spicy tomato sauce and Parmesan with freshbasil for garnish
This was a 1 stage levain that sat at room temperature 82 F for 20 hours. We stirred it every 6 hours and it doubled 2 hours after the 3rd stirring at the 18 hour mark. The rye NMNF starter had not been touched in months and was stored at least 5 months in the fridge. It is impossible to kill that thing but it was a bit slow. I will refresh it in another month or so.
Made brioche buns once for smoked pulled pork.
We autolyzed white flours with the dough water for 1 hour, bringing the total to 78% hydration with the Pink Himalayan sea salt sprinkled on top. Once the levain hit the mix, we did 3 sets of slap and folds on 30 minute intervals of 60, 10 and 6 slaps. We than let the dough sit for an hour and half to bulk ferment.
Shrimp Kabobs
We shaped it into a squat oval and placed it in the rice floured basket seam side up. It was ready to go in the oven after an hour and half. We unmolded it onto parchment on a peel, slashed it twice and slid it into the 500 F combo cooker for 20 minutes of steam at 450 F.
We love Ahi Tuna
When the lid came off it liked like it was a bit under proofed because the spring and bloom were killer. We turned the oven down to 425 F, convection this time, and it was at 208 F after 18 more minutes of lid off baking.
Smoked Chicken
We didn’t slice it this morning’s breakfast open faced sandwich of 1/2 slice of toast, butter, home made jam, melted pepperjack cheese, hot sausage and fried egg on top with a side of melon. It was fairly open, moist, soft and sour – just the way we like it. Ahhhh…… to have home made SFSD bread again!
And Lucy has her thing for salads and breakfast
Lucy is also fine and trying to sleep day away as usual.
Comments
I have to admit that I have been searching the obits thinking something really bad had happened to you! So happy that you are back!
two weeks and it has a few bugs in it. They should get them worked put by the time we want to go to MetaVerse 2.0 forever in about 40 years. I will only be 105 then and Lucy will look really weird I'm guessing. She may have to go sooner:-) All is well and I hope to get caught up this week.
Happy baking
dab!!!!
You old scoundrel. You had a lot of people assuming the worst. Not to sound like a parent, but you could have called (posted something) at least.
Welcome back, congratulations, take care of yourself and keep in touch!
Tom
my ways. I should a heave dropped a note for sure. Nice to be back and able to eat some bread now and again,
Made some Toadies yesterday for some soup - Nice!
We were all very concerned. Have to also admit I was up to the same thing as Danni. I won't tell you what was going through my mind. Welcome back Dabrownman and you're back on top form I see. Everything looks so delicious. As always!
Tonight was my first time cooking duck. I've been sitting here debating cleaning an oven I've made the biggest mess in or buying a new one :) TBH buying a new one sounds more tempting.
In that case, yep, buy a new one! A self-cleaning one!
and it's not cleaning.
There's such a thing as a self cleaning oven?
I've gotta get me one of those!
I have one and wouldn’t trade it in for anything. They are common here. Basically the oven heats up to over 800 F degrees and burns anything that shouldn’t be there. You are left with a bit of white ash that takes seconds to wipe out.
and donate the old one to the Thrift Shop:-) I'm not allowed to make a mess in our new oven. I love duck breast tacos and we are having them for the wedding as appetizers. Cutest little things ever - almost can't eat them.
Happy baking Abe
Welcome back! I've been mostly absent and lurking this summer, but when I came to poke around, your absence on the site was patently evident! I"m glad you're well .. !!
but life without bread sucks to high heaven. I only have a slice or two a day though so all sound be well. Happy baking 1965
OMG dab, you had us all worried! We surely missed you, Lucy and all your wonderful food porn. Good on ya for the health regime and great results, and we're so glad you're back. :) And the bread and other things look wonderful, as usual. Truly mouth-watering!
Wendy
wonder what is wrong with all of you :-) The rest of the internet is pretty bad and shows how lucky we are to have a place to talk bread. I baked anotherl oaf yesterday and will post it shortly.
Happy Baking Wendy
Seriously. Lot's of us thinking the worst. This is a relief. Still, all are entitled to some space from time to time, no? So good for you -- I'm happy to hear you were taking care of things that you feel needed taking care of.
And on a purely selfish note, I'm delighted to see your wonderful food pics again! That pizza is killing me! Like, really truly killing me. I want it. Right now.
So with that out of the way, all I can say is welcome back my friend. You've been missed.
Trevor
pizza to shame by ripping off everything he does:-) It is pretty killer. Need to make some more come to think about it. Glad you like the pics too. It is so fun to go on YouTube and see your great videos and say hey I know that guy. Can't wait to see the next one.
Happy baking Trevor
as above we were all concerned, and I for one am sooooo happy all is well! we have missed the food porn, Lucy! ! and your ever sage advice along with the inspiration.
Welcome back dabrownman :)
Leslie
We love food porn - especially Lucy who is a real floozy for sure. Here is some more sage advice. Better to do, do, do and do some more than talk a good game and get nothing worth doing done.
Happy baking Leslie
I was missing your wise advice and wonderful humour. Glad you're taking care of yourself, and welcome back.
I have to admit a special fondness for Wine Cellars! Never had one but...... i do want one. Sadly, the want is too strong and it gets in the way of actually getting one. I'm also not sure I drink high enough quality wine to need one which is fortunate...... since i don't have one. I am trying to rdink better wine though so who knows
Happy baking Cellarvie
You are the voice in the wilderness, or TFL, that I missed. So good to hear it again and all the colorful food pictures. I have concern about carb as well. Lately, I have wondered in the land of rye and higher % rye breads. Wonder that really makes a difference. Your 20% whole 9-grain looks awesome, as always.
eat 1 thin slice of good ones like this pumpernickel one - my favorite . And 40 minutes of some kind if exercise a day Happy baking Flour.ish
Like everyone else I feared the worse. I'm so relieved you're okay. I was just saying minutes ago to my wife that I couldnt understand what happened to you and behold a post :). Max and Lucy were quite upset as well and couldn't understand where their west coast girl went to. I'm happy you got your health in order and it looks like you didn't miss a beat with your bread or cooking.
Now that you're back in the saddle again please PM me your address so I can send yiu a welcome back gift.
Max and Lexi and the rest of your East coast buddies say welcome back and Happy Baking!
I didn't get my gift....maybe because I haven't sent you my address yet? Lucy says I need to disappear more often! It is now in the 90's and too cold to swim:-) I am still going in though. It is nice to be back and I hope all is well with you and yours. The holidays are almost upon us....Lucy sends her best to your pack and
happy baking Ian
It looks like you didn't lose your touch.
We're all appreciative of your evil doctor, if he/she keeps you around and active on TFL.
David
much older together over these many decades. He is fatter and less active than me and I an better looking but otherwise pretty much the same:-) I get to see him every 3 months so they can do a blood test for my A1C and he really got on me by saying he hoped I died so he could finally retire:-) I couldn't let that happen as we have too few doctors as it is and we are very sick as a group:-) Now that my daughter is a PA and in the OR working in very sick cancer patients, I consider myself lucky to just have diabetes. I can see why you haven't fully retired - you have a calling so few can answer. It is nice to be back and in better shape. Best to you and yours David and
Happy baking
Your health must come first, but I really missed your wonderful pictures of your adventures in food!
Stay well,
Ed
to make, share and enjoy. Happy baking Ed.
And Lucy too. I hope she's enjoying the extra walks. Please don't up and leave again without warning!
Patsy
burn her paws plus she just sits down and won't budge. I feel bad dragging her down the street by the neck on a leash. She makes the worst kind of coking sounds that disturb the neighbors who yell and throw stuff at us. Heck, I'm not the one being obstinate, lazy and childish:-) She is one determined German!
Happy baking Patsy
You and all of your girls are okay - what a relief!
Seriously - you have been sorely missed, and the cause of much worry, young man... (I'm sure you know I've got one hand on my hip and am quite sternly shaking a finger at you). If we weren't so relieved that you are well, you'd be in for quite a talking-to!
I'm glad that you realized that your daughter and the evil doctor both had your well-being in mind, and that you heeded their advice. Getting the sugars under control with regular exercise, and then learning how to best fit your favourite bakes back in to your healthy diet in a moderate amount that works for you --- well that's a lot to deal with, but kudos for you for doing what needed to be done.
Here's hoping that you find that Lucy's old habit of pumperizing some serious heavy ryes, and your healthy choice of including a plethora of nutritious whole grains, make it possible for you to keep creating wonderful new bakes while maintaining those healthy sugar levels...
Welcome back, DBM --- and know that we'll all be baking happier now that we know you are well.
Best, Laurie
at the least and a couple of Prickly Pear Margaritas would be in order too...... If I could still drink them. My daughter is having them as a signature drink at the wedding and it took a while to teach them how to make them right. They don't have home made arancello to replace the cheap orange liquor they use and I'm not giving them mine! The tequila they use was not at all decent either. We had to upgrade their tastes a level or two and now even the wine is OK. My daughter wants Frozee. Frozen Rose which I have never heard of but, I won't be drinking any. It tastes great but gives me the worst brain freezes no matter how slow I drink them.
Yes. Getting back on track with the sugar was most important but that means no bourbon or beer either Jeeze!..... just 1 glass of red wine to go with my 1 slice of bread - I'm now officially on the French Prison Diet
I still crack up over IceDemeter. Happy baking Laurie
So glad you're doing better. Congratulations on making it work without insulin. You, your daughter, and the evil one should be proud of you. You rule!
Looking forward to more of your amazing, creative baking wizardry.
being on insulin is a real blessing in so many ways. The manufacturers of Insulin are few so they have increased the prices more than 4 fold recently even though it is supposed to be generic. So what changed? Sad really what evil people will do to make a buck - Why do they do that? They are just asking for Socialized National Pharmacology if they make Lucy mad - she is German and a socialist at heart always looking to root out injustice:-) At least I live to bake another day.
Thanks for your encouragement and happy baking
So glad you're doing better. Congratulations on making it work without insulin. You, your daughter, and the evil one should be proud of you. You rule!
Looking forward to more of your amazing, creative baking wizardry.
I missed you and lucy. So glad you are back and in good shape.
Happy many bakes/
:)))
and on a healthier course. Many happy bakes right back at ya.
How could you make us worry like this???!!!
Don't do it again! Bad boy!
TFL and see how evil I had been. When your bread arrived I was almost ready to come back and that is what did it. it was just delicious bread. Last week a friend of my daughter had a bridal shower for here and we had house guests. I served them some of the SFSD posted here and they all said it was great. Then I pulled out your bread and said now you are in for a treat - some really great healthy bread chock full of flavor and nutrition made by one of the best bakers in the world. We cracked out the lox and onion cream cheese, sliced it thin, toasted it and went to town on it. Just killer! Thanking you profusely in arrears. I still have a small bit, the best part, the two heels, frozen ......that I am saving for some special more private occasion with just Lucy.
You are the sweetest, kindest person I know.
Happy baking Yippee
Oh, my goodness, we've missed you! Echoing others above, we worried, a lot, and wondered if we would ever again read a post from you and delight in Lucy's antics.
It's good to learn you're still with us. So keep walking, keep baking (in moderation), and keep posting (please). Welcome back!
Cathy
It is good to be back. Too cold to swim so I am walking which is not as wet but no swim suit required:-) Not as good for the AZ tan though. Got a hair cut, new suit, shirt and tie so the I'm all set for the wedding in 15 days! You're the best and sorry you were worried about me but I was too!
Happy baking
send you a loaf, I waited with baited breath for her to say if she had heard anything from you. I was, in fact, about to send her a PM tonight to inquire when I saw your post.
Glad to hear your A1C has responded to your efforts, and that things are going okay. I was gone from here for a few months too, and when I got back nobody could say what happened to you. You've been one of my biggest mentors here (whether you know it or not) and I'm glad you have another 40 or 50 years left in you (how long until 105??)
--Mike
of all time? So kind and thoughtful - so unlike Lucy! All is well now thank goodness. Mentoring is easy work when folks are so nice and want to make great bread. I remember mini oven really giving me a hand when I couldn't figure out why my bread was so flat. I posted two pictures of my bread when it hit the basket and when I thought it had proofed to double. She said something like what a doofus (only nicer) ! That isn't doubled, that is more than 150% proofed. Never a problem with it after that. The folks here can figure out anything wrong with pictures and a recipe. You are too kind MD and it's only 40 years to 105:-)
Happy baking
and I must say that TFL is not the same TFL without you. I am probably on the way to have same problems as you have and I would likely do the same - don't look at all those beautiful breads published here or elsewhere on the internet.
Happy baking and fingers crossed for your health!
Joze
off and I can eat anything and not worry about fitting into my new suit :-). I do have to watch the carbs a lot better and not bale a loaf of bread every Friday like before. Lucy keeps me on the straight and narrow and I keep her from eating the Fed Ex and UPS drivers. She actually thinks at 12 pounds she can take them on - silly girl. The breads pictured here are just a good as they ever were for sure. My daughter wants me to bake 10 loaves for the wedding and make the dipping sauce for one of the appetizers, Seems like too much work to me so i guessing I won't do it:-)
Stay away from those carbs Joze add Happy baking with the Grand Kids - they really are Grand!
isn't so bad! Go for it. She is the only kid you have (I think)!
sunflower seeds with different grains and maybe some beer in a few. Jeeze....Oh Well .....you convinced me so I told her I would do it and then she had all of these other ideas and wishes, like lifetime happiness, everlasting curiosity and lots and lots of everything wonderful forever, for free! It is a good thing for her that the best things in life can't be bought no matter how rich you are..... they can only be imagined:-) I hope Lucy has everything she needs in her pantry. It was all I could do to plant the last of the lettuce today but we do have baby cherry tomatoes already. Now I have to go feed the Unicorns and water the Lollipop trees....my happiness never ceases now that I grow rocks instead of grass in the front yard. Happy baking Danni
I am back in Austria and have my excuses for not seeing this post earlier. Never mind. Just so glad to see you are fairing well. Even if you stop baking and eating bread, your input and wisdom will still be welcome. I'm sure of it.
:) Mini
You said this so nice and I second your statement. Glad you are back in Austria in Linz.
Happy baking, Joze
away so long. When I worked out of town and overseas for 30 years and loved coming home every weekend or every 2 -3 weeks. Now I don't want to leave home. My wife says how can I miss you if you won't go away? Did you get to Angkor Wat while in Cambodia? Or were you in Laos? Angkor Wat is one of the places every architect has to visit before they die. Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, Acropolis, Giza, Memphis, Luxor, Rome, Copan, Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza, Forbidden City, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo, Paris....Glad you are home safe and sound. Rest up before the next excursion:-) and
Happy baking Mini
in the future as the camp building comes to a close.
We have one heck of a wind storm right now in Austria and it looks like I might have more branches to clear out of my garden. The leaves have been blown to the neighbour but I got leaves blown in from somewhere else. Have two broken windows to replace now. Wet and windy!
If I bundle up and go out there (tie a rope around my waist) to trim my bushes, I won't have to pick up the bits! They might even blow into the next provence!