Scoring ... smile

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JoeVa on 30 Nov 2009 at 09:24

It's about two or three weeks I bake the same basic bread ... I had a short discussion with Dan DiMuzio and I'm following his suggestion: "mastering bread one variety at a time, great bread baking is all about mastering the process, etc.". So I'm baking only a basic sourdough bread, that is a "Pain au Levain" with small adjustment in the process. I hear a voice in my mind - learn from the dough - and I think I'm mad.

The only thing I play with is scoring, and this is what I define "smile scoring".

                                                          

and this is the final effect:

              

 

Giovanni

A couple weeks ago, I made some French Rolls and Mini-Baguettes and I too played with the scoring.

I named my Rolls "Grinning Ear to Ear" and they are very similar to your "Smile Loaf".

Don

Hello Don,

Could you please explain your shaping technique to get those lovely mini-baguettes?

Thanks

 

The shaping for the mini-baguettes is pretty simple. I just roll out the dough like for a mini-batard rather than mini-baguette because it is not that long. Starting from the center. i just roll and stretch the dough outward with both hands applying even pressure. When I get to the end, I just apply more pressure to taper the ends sharply to a point. Remember to roll only in one direction away from you and do not let the dough twist on itself. I find that I can only shape it like that  with a dough of 66 to 70% hydration maximum.

Don

Thank you Don, I'll give it a try. With any luck I'll get results as pretty as yours.

 

So is the cut down the middle or slightly off to the side?  That is too cool and I want to try.

Hi, Giovanni.

SteveB has it right, as usual. You don't have to score with a curved cut. The "smile" will be a natural result of a proper straight cut. Usually, it will open with the bloom centered if you make the cut just slightly to the left of the center of the loaf, if you are right handed.

Nice looking bread.

David

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breadinquito on 1 Dec 2009 at 01:29

really, and thank for sharing it to the whole community of TFL! Cheers from Quito. Paolo

I just wanted to take a second to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who have shared your lives and your expertise with me!! I find I check for new posts more often than I do my email!!!!! I just love this site and the people on it!! You are all amazing!!! and Shiao---I am with you!! If this is Madness....I want to be MAD TOO!!!!!!

What a great idea.  After baking for a few years, I do a number of breads, but still wonder if I couldn't do better with each.  This approach, which should have been obvious, is the path I will now follow - mastering each bread before moving on to the next in the list.  Thanks for passing along Dan's suggestion.  i like the scoring example too.