More baking in the WFO

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I continue to bake in my mud oven - in fact I haven't baked any bread at all in my "indoor" oven so far this summer.   It is a steep learning curve.   Since I last posted, I have added a thermometer and a door (essential) a peel (helpful) and have started to use parchment paper to keep things cleaner.   I continue to make my slow progress through Hamelman's Bread.   Today I tried Semolina with a levain.  (page 171)   I split it into three small loaves which are a bit more manageable.    Here they are. 

and the crumb

When I finished baking, I put tonight's dinner (chicken and vegetables) in a dutch oven into the oven and let it cook with the "leftover" heat for several hours.   And served with bread of course.

Great work!  It certainly is a steep learning curve.  I have come to plan a day of baking in my oven with the residual heat.  The greatest trick is having your oven at the right temp when your bread is ready for baking.  Takes a little practice but I'm getting better at it.

I have been scorching the first loaf in, maybe because I seriously undercooked a few loaves before I got a thermometer and now I think that it just can't be hot enough.