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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Bread - What are you baking today…..

    Hobbies and Pastimes
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    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      100% agree. Paula bought me Forkish a long long time ago. I was completely and utterly daunted and it sat on the shelf for years. Come the lockdowns and my determination to learn shit rather than sit around moping, I pulled the book down and concentrated. It seriously gives you such an amazing base of knowledge and understanding, that it is the perfect platform to move on from. I think the understanding bit is the key, I really understand what is going on at each stage, and that is what allows me to experiment (reasonably) successfully.

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • neph93N
        neph93
        見習いボス
        Joined:

        In the spirit of serious minded fuckery, here goes Pan De Cristal: The Second Attempt.

        IMG_9838.jpeg

        “Some of those that work forces
        Are the same that burn crosses”

        • Virginia Woolf
        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • neph93N
          neph93
          見習いボス
          Joined:

          Getting there…

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          There’s defo something off with the recipe. It calls for 30min bake time at 200C. They’re barely browned at that point. So harder and faster next time.

          “Some of those that work forces
          Are the same that burn crosses”

          • Virginia Woolf
          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
          • neph93N
            neph93
            見習いボス
            Joined:

            I doubled up on the dough to make those cute little loaves from the other day, as I needed an excuse to use my new lamé. 100% hydration is the shizzle. Gonna try it with pizza dough next.

            IMG_9847.jpeg
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            “Some of those that work forces
            Are the same that burn crosses”

            • Virginia Woolf
            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
            • JunkPantsJ
              JunkPants
              Haraki san Student
              Joined:

              Looks great! I've been intrigued by making bread. Particularly love sourdough bread.
              Only thing holding me back is taking on (yet another) time consuming hobby.
              I'm sure I'll get to it at some point.

              And my god, this is a hunger inducing thread.

              last edited by neph93N GilesG 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • neph93N
                neph93
                見習いボス
                @JunkPants
                Joined:

                @JunkPants thank you! It’s a fascinating hobby. Some folks get really emotionally involved in a negative way, freaking out if they don’t get results, but I just find the whole process very therapeutic.

                “Some of those that work forces
                Are the same that burn crosses”

                • Virginia Woolf
                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                • steelworkerS
                  steelworker
                  見習いボス
                  Joined:

                  So @neph93 that charming razor and attachment is for bread making? Only?

                  Those are my principles, and if you don't like them…
                  Well, I have others.

                  last edited by steelworker neph93N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • neph93N
                    neph93
                    見習いボス
                    @steelworker
                    Joined:

                    TRIGGER WARNING: REFERENCES TO SUICIDE.
                    @steelworker in principle yes. About 10 months ago I would have considered using it for other purposes.

                    “Some of those that work forces
                    Are the same that burn crosses”

                    • Virginia Woolf
                    last edited by steelworkerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • scarfmaceS
                      scarfmace
                      Haraki san Expert
                      Joined:

                      @neph93 holy shit, your bread looks soo good 🙂

                      "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • GilesG
                        Giles
                        IHUK Crew
                        @JunkPants
                        Joined:

                        @JunkPants said in Bread - What are you baking today…..:

                        Looks great! I've been intrigued by making bread. Particularly love sourdough bread.
                        Only thing holding me back is taking on (yet another) time consuming hobby.
                        I'm sure I'll get to it at some point.

                        And my god, this is a hunger inducing thread.

                        I'm going to add my 2 cents worth here, and it is likely to be add odds with others, but a) I don't give a shit b) It is significantly less involved than keeping a sourdough starter as a pet (I've done it, and it was fun for a while, but my lifestyle makes it very complicated to keep one going) and c) I think that a good Poolish will fool most people into thinking that they are eating sourdough (if indeed that has any import at all).

                        Get Forkish, read it and do some experimentation, then major on Poolish, it's easy and does not require daily involvement and tastes great.

                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                        last edited by neph93N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                        • steelworkerS
                          steelworker
                          見習いボス
                          @neph93
                          Joined:

                          @neph93 I was thinking splashy murder

                          Those are my principles, and if you don't like them…
                          Well, I have others.

                          last edited by neph93N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • neph93N
                            neph93
                            見習いボス
                            @steelworker
                            Joined:

                            @steelworker I know... I'm more of a blunt instrument guy on that end of things.

                            “Some of those that work forces
                            Are the same that burn crosses”

                            • Virginia Woolf
                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • neph93N
                              neph93
                              見習いボス
                              @Giles
                              Joined:

                              @Giles said in Bread - What are you baking today…..:

                              @JunkPants said in Bread - What are you baking today…..:

                              Looks great! I've been intrigued by making bread. Particularly love sourdough bread.
                              Only thing holding me back is taking on (yet another) time consuming hobby.
                              I'm sure I'll get to it at some point.

                              And my god, this is a hunger inducing thread.

                              I'm going to add my 2 cents worth here, and it is likely to be add odds with others, but a) I don't give a shit b) It is significantly less involved than keeping a sourdough starter as a pet (I've done it, and it was fun for a while, but my lifestyle makes it very complicated to keep one going) and c) I think that a good Poolish will fool most people into thinking that they are eating sourdough (if indeed that has any import at all).

                              Get Forkish, read it and do some experimentation, then major on Poolish, it's easy and does not require daily involvement and tastes great.

                              I'd agree with G that Poolish and Biga can be as rewarding and as tasty as sourdough. And in my experience most people do not know the difference (although I can taste it from a mile off). I'm a massive fan of Forkish overnight white, which is a technique over method bread that is excellent for perfecting your moves.

                              That being said I like the dirty, fungal messiness of sourdough.. and enjoy dicking around by making new starters with different bases. My life style, (Bukowski with better clothes at the moment), does allow for it.

                              “Some of those that work forces
                              Are the same that burn crosses”

                              • Virginia Woolf
                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • neph93N
                                neph93
                                見習いボス
                                Joined:

                                Speaking of which… getting ready for tomorrow.

                                IMG_9862.jpeg

                                “Some of those that work forces
                                Are the same that burn crosses”

                                • Virginia Woolf
                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • JunkPantsJ
                                  JunkPants
                                  Haraki san Student
                                  Joined:

                                  @neph93 & @Giles Thanks guys.

                                  A friend got really into it years back, and to a certain extent his life did seem to revolve around the sourdough for a while there. It was a positive thing from what I could tell though. Certainly made some amazing bread at the time. Haven't seen the guy for ages, but can't imagine he's kept that up.

                                  Maybe Forkish, and poolish, would be a good place to start.

                                  I've always felt that there's something particular to sourdough, that other methods can't quite provide, but maybe I'm wrong, and just not experienced enough. More than possible.

                                  This also reminded me of that bit in Kitchen Confidential where the (drunk) baker calls in to Anthony Bourdain telling him to "feed the bitch".
                                  (Must be 20 years since I read that book...!)

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • neph93N
                                    neph93
                                    見習いボス
                                    Joined:

                                    @JunkPants Sourdough has unique qualities other breads don't have for sure. Longevity, and a unique taste. If you really get into it a unique opportunity to manipulate that taste. Put succinctly, the question is, is it worth the effort? For some who look for "the perfect loaf" then it may be, for those who really get a mania for it then ok. But for someone who enjoys baking, thinks it is fun, and wants good quality bread on the daily, there are methods both less intensive, and more stable/predictable.

                                    For example, I got into a routine a few years ago where my life and bread making aligned and I was able to do a double sourdough bake twice a week (eight loaves). Maintaining a starter was simple, there was enough bread for my whole family, and I could give one or two away. And most importantly I enjoyed it, and it fit into my life.

                                    At other times, when things were busy, I did one Poolish bake and one sourdough a week. Sometimes though life gets busy and an overnight dough, or a poolish is good enough. I have some time on my hands right now so I am mucking about with a starter, pan de cristal and other stuff, but when that changes the starter will be buried at the back of my fridge for 6 months, and a pre-ferment like Poolish will be my luxury bake, and certainly good enough.

                                    “Some of those that work forces
                                    Are the same that burn crosses”

                                    • Virginia Woolf
                                    last edited by neph93 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • GilesG
                                      Giles
                                      IHUK Crew
                                      Joined:

                                      Reuben, I have some enforced time on my hands at the moment (Strongly advised not to leave the country for 3 months), so I want to do some experimentation. Which recipe are you using for your Pan De Cristal?

                                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                      last edited by SeulS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • SeulS
                                        Seul
                                        @Giles
                                        Joined:

                                        @Giles said in Bread - What are you baking today…..:

                                        (Strongly advised not to leave the country for 3 months)

                                        I'm sorry but you can't just drop intel like this and not have a curious Belgian wondering........

                                        last edited by neph93N GilesG 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • neph93N
                                          neph93
                                          見習いボス
                                          @Seul
                                          Joined:

                                          @Seul I hear rumours of new bionic implants that can't fall into the hands of hostile agencies...

                                          @Giles this one https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/pan-de-cristal-recipe

                                          “Some of those that work forces
                                          Are the same that burn crosses”

                                          • Virginia Woolf
                                          last edited by GilesG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • GilesG
                                            Giles
                                            IHUK Crew
                                            @Seul
                                            Joined:

                                            @Seul said in Bread - What are you baking today…..:

                                            I'm sorry but you can't just drop intel like this and not have a curious Belgian wondering........

                                            https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum//post/802758

                                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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