Bread and Tulips or When in Doubt…

I have not been happy with the crust on my bread. Months ago I had tried adjusting time covered and time uncovered. I thought more uncovered time would result in a crust that was more brown and well, crusty. Last week I was distracted and left one batch covered and at a higher temperature longer. The result was better crust, but the interior was bordering on gummy. However I am headed in the right direction. …

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Some Most Practical Gifts

Thank you, Celia, for sending me caps! Here is a pair for the kombucha I brew And after a visit on bread dough day, she also found caps for my bread bowls for the dough’s second rise I am so happy to have these reusable caps so I can stop using one time plastic. Thank you so much!

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Lots of Dough (not money)

Ken left me sourdough starter. My bread baking days in the 70’s included yeast. So I asked around and Sylvia graciously got me started. I enjoy making bread. I enjoy sharing bread. People seemed to like my bread. One only gets better by practicing – and I had lined up eaters for the practicing! This week I decided to branch out from bread to pizza dough. One part of my goal to practice dough is …

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Finding Continuity in Baking Bread

As I re-construct my life as a single person I search for continuity.  Swimming with distance goals is one aspect. Baking bread is another.  Ken left me a sourdough starter and a friend, Sylvia brought it back to life and showed me how she bakes bread.  I shall be always grateful. Baking bread, like any skill takes practice.  After a few months of practice, I was not satisfied.  Then I ran out of my regular …

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Bread and Crackers

I took on Ken’s sourdough when he died.  I am still learning about bread baking, but can do a passable loaf.         I ended up with extra sourdough.  I guess this is a fairly common occurrence.  I am not a big pancake eater – one of the ways to use the extra starter, but I decided to try the recipe using starter in crackers.  Today I made my first batch, and I …

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My First Bread in over Forty Years

Ken has been making sourdough bread for years.  I pulled his starters out , fed them and was happy to learn they are still alive! The first try  I added too much flour, but it worked for a pizza dough!  Today I tried a gain – and it isn’t dog or chicken food!

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