What a difference a week makes…

Paying attention to technique works! Currently I’m baking only once a week so my chance to “try again” comes once a week. Last week baked Batards for the first time in I don’t know how long. I’ve been focusing on Pullman loaves. The ear development didn’t come out as well as I desired. My hypothesisContinue reading “What a difference a week makes…”

Skills Get Rusty…

If you don’t practice your skills get rusty! I’ve not made Batards lately. I’ve been making Pullman loaves every week and not shaped and slashed Batards. Slashing needs to be at a shallow angle (16-20°) and NOT as vertical as I do with the Pullman loaves. The more vertical reduces the “ear” that is producedContinue reading “Skills Get Rusty…”

Creating Desired Dough Temperature (DDT)

Lately I’ve been really paying attention to “desired dough temperature” as a variable in my process. Basically, it is about knowing what temperature you’d like your dough to be to get the peak reaction for whatever you’re trying to accomplish (e.g. bulk proving etc) To get to the desired dough temperature requires knowing the flourContinue reading “Creating Desired Dough Temperature (DDT)”

Aliquot Jar Experiment

I’ve seen some posts recently about the use of Aliquot jars in sourdough baking. They are useful to judge your starter or when your bulk ferment is at the optimal time. “Well, why not experiment with that method?” I thought… Aliquot jars are narrow jars which allow you to see volume expansion readily since expansionContinue reading “Aliquot Jar Experiment”

New Dough Sheeter!

I’m excited! Going to be upping my croissant lamination game. I received my new Kneader Official table dough sheeter from Japan yesterday! Here’s my unboxing… I was a bit disappointed in UPS’s handling of my package. The hole in the packaging went all the way thru and caused a small scratch on the cover. MinorContinue reading “New Dough Sheeter!”

My Baking Implements

Previously I posted about my “Most Important Baking Implement“. I had someone ask me the other day “What’s a Dutch Oven?”. That made me think that maybe it would be helpful for me to write a post about what my other baking implements happen to be. This post will list my baking implements. I won’tContinue reading “My Baking Implements”