Baking Up a Storm!

I’m one of those people that gets interested in something, and then that’s all I do for the next month or two. Eventually a semblance of normalcy will return, but not too much (being too normal is boring). My most recent addiction is baking. Now that my sourdough starter is behaving I have been baking almost every weekend.

Last time we talked about bread, I had just made my first sourdough loaf. I loved it, but my husband wanted something less assertive, so I’ve been trying other recipes that use sourdough starter and commercial yeast together.

My first experiment was with Brioche. As in the last post, I used the recipe from Tartine Bread. If you are following along at home, I recommend that you use a half recipe when making this brioche. I made the full recipe, and it barely all fit in my Kitchenaid mixer! I had so much dough that I made 1 giant loaf, a dozen dinner rolls, and a whole passel of doughnuts!

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That’s right, I made doughnuts from scratch. Let me tell you: They were delicious!

I do need to brush up on my frying technique, though. I think the oil was not hot enough, so the doughnuts ended up slightly greasy. Still fantastc, but definitely something to improve on.

The bread has great flavor and texture with a nice, even crumb. It’s great for sandwiches and French Toast, or really anything you might use bread for.

The only thing I might change about the bread is the baking time. The bread seems a touch on the dry side, which makes me think I might have over-baked it slightly.

I am always amazed at how much there is to learn about such a seemingly simple topic as bread. Bon appetit!

The 4th Try Is the Charm

It is 7:30 on Saturday night: I am dreaming of knitting and starting a new project (For some reason none of the 5 million projects I have going is just right to work on right now. I’m studiously ignoring the fact that I have 5 million projects). I’m browsing Ravelry looking for something in brioche and I come across this cowl that I’ve had queued for months. Perfection. I buy the pattern.

8:30 PM on Saturday: I’ve rummaged through my stash and found the perfect yarn – Hedgehog Fibers Sock in Nutmeg (that I bought on my honeymoon) and KnitPicks Stroll in Midnight Heather. Yummy! I cast on, figure out how to do brioche again, and work a few rows. Exhausted, I go to bed.

yarn

12:30 PM on Sunday: *I pick up my knitting, work a few rows, and make a mistake I can’t fix. I rip it all out and start again. Repeat from * once more. Walk away frustrated. Clean house instead.

6 PM on Sunday: I notice my yarn is starting to show signs of wear. I stop to think before casting on for the 4th time. I decide to use a larger needle to cast on so the top will be nice and stretchy. I ask my husband to kiss my yarn for good luck before I start – he complies with no further questions, bless him. Using a US 6 circular needle I cast on the required number of stitches. I join to work in the round. I switch a smaller needle and work the foundation rounds. I join my second colour and start brioche-ing away. A few rows later I make a mistake, but it’s only a small mistake and easily fixable. I’m sailing away to Brioche land.

brioche!