So I took up the challenge and made a small Norwich Sourdough recipe for a 500 gm loaf. My huge mistake was listening to my husband. lol. I have a dutch oven and had planned to use it (I did) here:
What I did was turn the bread into the bottom (BIG MISTAKE) and score it. I was going to use a stove trivet to raise it up by the genius husband said, just dump it in there. Lol. So within 10 minutes, I was pretty sure the bottom was scorched... it was. Take a look;
So I took out the loaf, cut off the burnt bottom, tossed in the trivet, put the bread back in the dutch oven, put the top back w the lava rocks and continued cooking it. I think I salvaged it:
I would have had a really fine loaf if I'd put that trivet in at the beginning and just waited it out. But It's still edible. Though ugly
Nice attempt, even if it didn't go quite to plan. I'm sure it'll be a while before "genius" husband hears the end of this one!! LOL!!
I'm glad it's edible, i'm sure it tastes nice too, so its still a win :)
I'm really enjoying seeing what everyone has made for this challenge, fingers crossed for my attempt.
Happy baking :)
Nah, I said my piece and now nothing more. It's my fault for listening. It would have been simple to insert the trivet w the handle off it. I didn't do it, it's on me. lol
Good luck. If you have a 'true" dutch oven with a lid that's indented for lava rocks or nuts and bolts you'll have heat from top and bottom. Remember to have good air circulation all around. Please learn from my errors.
hester
is your stove top gas? I have a ceramic stove top and can't quite figure how this would work on it.
Leslie
It is gas. What I should've done was ensure there is air all around the loaf. A trivet inserted in the bottom of the dutch oven or anything that elevates the loaf. I was pleasantly surprised at the browning. It's because (I think) I have a true dutch oven with an indented top leaving room for hot coals (lava rocks, nuts and bolts, etc). So I had heat from above and below. I just should've remembered about the trivet and ignored hubby. Oh well.
Good luck
hester
Edible is a win! I think the purpose of a 'no oven bread challenge' is to expand horizons, to test the limits of our experience and knowledge. You've done that successfully - learned lessons that will stick with you, and shared them so they will stick with us, too.
One note (no accidents, please!): hot coals must be used outdoors only!
Cathy
no coals for indoors. I should've limited my comment to lava rocks and nuts and bolts
Good point.
hester
I am totally enjoying reading about all the different breads and how they were baked in tjis challenge! You did a great job!
It was challenging.
hester
for blackness, harness and ability to write with it on the sidewalk like black chalk:-) I'm pretty sure that like you, I too know what Lucy probably needs to do to fix her massive screw up for this bake too!
I'm glad you were able to salvage the rest of it. I too will be sawing off the bottom and eating the rest of the loaf. Heating from above is the key to getting it to brown well.
This was such a fun bake you can't help but feel like it was a success since you can still eat most of the bread!
Well done and happy baking hester!
IT was fun. I'm almost tempted to try it again, since now I know where I really screwed up.
Cannot wait to see your black bottom, lol.
Enjoy and thanks, Dab
hester
I've had breads with worse burns than that, yet they are still edible and better than most store bought breads.
Nice decision to have the courage to cut off the burnt bottom and continue cooking the loaf. The top is still beautiful and rustic. How did it taste? Did you like it? I hope you enjoyed this one and thank you for trying it.
Happy baking!
Yes, I loved doing it. I'm tempted to try it again.
The taste was very good, but b/c of the burnt bottom in an enclosed space, the taste was also a bit smoky. But we ate it until it was gone.
Thank you for offering the challenge. It was worth it, totally.
:-)
hester