It’s been a big baking day, and largely a positive day. I’m pleased with how the work has gone, and it’s been a nice relaxing way to catch up on my rest and at-home time. I’m feeling pretty well rested and ready for a busy weekend. 🙂 Yeah, right. Though and I have lovely plans for the weekend, between J and S’s party on Sunday, and dinner engagements on both Friday and Saturday. It should be nice.
Well, here’s a picture of the first loaf:
It should taste ok, but from a strictly aesthetic standpoint, it’s not what I wanted. Not nearly.
So, I tried again. Here’s what I got the second time:
Hmmm. Better. Bittman’s suggestions on creating a boule clearly worked, and I have something that’s far more boule-like than the first loaf. Still, although it smelled great, the shape was a little off what I wanted it to be. What was I doing wrong? Go back, read the directions…. D’oh!
Second rising. You let it rise in the bowl, then punch it down, then shape it to the loaf, then let it rise again. Which means these first two loaves are going to be doughy and chunky inside, and they’re not going to be very tasty or very good at all. Silly Andrew. No rest for the stupid.
So, the third batch of bread is going through its first rise. Then I’ll punch down and shape, and let it rise a second time before baking the boule. We’ll see if that results in something I can take to the party tonight. And it means that I should consider carefully my plan to cook a challah tomorrow morning. Still, I have the flour, and I’m liking the work.
It’s theraputic and it feels good to do the labor in the kitchen. Bread is like poetry for somebody, and it feels great to do.
And here’s the photos of the third loaf….
After shaping but before second rise:
After second rise:
just before baking:
Fresh out of the oven:
The Three loaves together:
So, that’s my bread. So far, it looks good, and I can only hope that it tastes good. Report on the challah experiment tomorrow.
Oh, yeah. And I got a photobucket.com account. Maybe this wasn’t the best plan, actually. Can anyone speak as to its reliability and usefulness?
ALas….
Alas, love, you won’t get to taste any of this batch, since it was all eaten at tonight’s party, except what father Joe took for Eucharist on Sunday… but I’ll make more, and you’ll certainly get to try that.
Love you, and sleep well tonight!
It did turn out well….
now I just have to keep up the baking lifestyle, once every other week or so.
Thanks for the compliments.
So, we’re coming to dinner tomorrow?
and I’m bringing (my attempt at) challah. You want us to bring anything else when we come to you?
it looks great love! Looking forward to trying some….
it looks great love! Looking forward to trying some….
ALas….
Alas, love, you won’t get to taste any of this batch, since it was all eaten at tonight’s party, except what father Joe took for Eucharist on Sunday… but I’ll make more, and you’ll certainly get to try that.
Love you, and sleep well tonight!
nice…it is good to see progress in your work 🙂
I hope your bread turns out lovely!
nice…it is good to see progress in your work 🙂
I hope your bread turns out lovely!
It did turn out well….
now I just have to keep up the baking lifestyle, once every other week or so.
Thanks for the compliments.
oh, wow, that looks GREAT!
oh, wow, that looks GREAT!
So, we’re coming to dinner tomorrow?
and I’m bringing (my attempt at) challah. You want us to bring anything else when we come to you?
done right, challah is YUMMY. 🙂 Heck, even done halfway right I bet it’s yummy. 🙂
You’re not the only one who wants to know how the challah turns out. I’m kind of eager to try it, myself.
Don’t you have to punch it down a second time with most bread? I don’t remember, it’s been a while, but that’s what I’d thought.
They all look yummy, BTW. I’m looking forward to seeing how your challah turns out.
Don’t you have to punch it down a second time with most bread? I don’t remember, it’s been a while, but that’s what I’d thought.
They all look yummy, BTW. I’m looking forward to seeing how your challah turns out.
You’re not the only one who wants to know how the challah turns out. I’m kind of eager to try it, myself.
done right, challah is YUMMY. 🙂 Heck, even done halfway right I bet it’s yummy. 🙂