Blog posts

This is part of my experiments with home milled whole wheat and rye berries.

I used about 400 grams of whole wheat flour and 300 grams of rye flour which I sifted after milling grains at home.

1) Used sifted out large parts to feed my wheat and rye starter, three times/builds before using the starter.

2) Autolyzed flour for 24 hours, room temp.

3) Combined flour and starter from the fridge, and about 15 grams of maple syrup. Total hydration was about 75% at this point.

Continuing on my quest to reverse boule and batard formulae to baguettes, here is my take on Ken's Artisan Bakery's country blonde.  But instead of as boules or batards, which is what he sells them as, I fashioned them into baguettes (and a batard).  

Almost, but not quite as compliant as my take on the Hamelman WW levain baguettes and batards, it falls short on both looks and shaping.  But only by a few fat hairs.  The Hamelman's have an incredible delicate finish to them.

I first saw this bread about a year ago in this video by chowhound  where Alex Van Buren had it at Rhong-Tiam, a Thai restaurant in New york. I made a lot of research and found out that it is a very popular street food in Thailand. It has very interesting ingredients and technique and looks very delicious, I knew I have to make it but I did not have the guts to try until last Saturday.

A Challah style loaf containing 2 eggs, 2 egg yolks and 50g butter. I separated some of my rye starter and refreshed it with orange juice. Then added 2 tablespoons of orange zest to the dough. Left to rise overnight in the fridge again.  A nice loaf - fine crumb and great aroma.

We are in the process of purchasing horizontal mixers and wanted to know if a one speed mixer is better than a two speed mixer.  What is the difference between the two and what is more beneficial?

Thanks

Cheryl Lambert

HI Fresh loafers!!!

It  has been AGESSSSSSS since my last post. I have been baking of coz and practicing what ive learnt in the state. I can finally getting comfortable baking at home. But since the temp and my laziness to my sourdough feeding my fermentation time isnt anywhere close to accurate at all.

For this bread its simple:

40& Liquid Levain (100% hydration, half strongbow and half water) I let it ferment in my room temp for 8-9 hours (sweet smell and taste sweet as well)

70% hydration (half strongbow and half water)

Well I thought I got the seams well sealed and the skin taught and did. Still, this is the most dramatic seam explosion I have ever had on this Forkish style loaf. I scored a classic cross, just to be safe.  This loaf has such a complicated bloom, I am unsure where to make the first cut!

What is better than a beautiful blooming boule? A blooming boule and the BEST chocolate mouse I have ever made, from the best recipe I have ever found!!!

This week's bake is a boule made with combination of sprouted Einkorn,  durum, white wheat, rye, and barley that was dried and milled along with AP, fresh walnuts picked up from the neighbor's yard, and some dried cranberries that were on sale. It was made with natural leaven partially fed with the bran bits sifted from the sprouted flour.Thanks for the tip dabrownman. Smells wonderful will cut it later

Stu

  It finally feels like fall on Long Island with apple  and pumpkin picking season in full gear, so what better bread to bake than a Cider loaf.

Unlike the original version I made earlier in the year here, this one uses apple cider instead of hard cider and I used a different assortment of flours.  In the mix were French style, freshly milled whole rye, spelt and sprouted wheat.

In order to celebrate World Bread Day, I have decided to bake something special, just to move out of my comfort zone. So I have baked something unusual, an Activated Charcoal, Sunflower Seed and Walnut Sourdough Bread!