The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Any challenges for bread/baking currently happening?

Laura T.'s picture
Laura T.

Any challenges for bread/baking currently happening?

I was wondering whether anyone runs or has started any weekly/monthly bread baking or general baking challenges around here? Have seen these regularly on cookery forums I frequent but wasn't sure how to find any on here. Thought it'd be fun as I have a lot of free time this summer :)

Syd-a's picture
Syd-a

I agree, that would be a lot of fun. As a newbie to bread baking and this forum it could be fun that a challenge is set and then we come back after a few days with our contributions. Maybe trying a new technique, or combination of ingriedients or particular type of read that has to be tweaked and then submitted?

i would find that a lt of fun. Maybe we could set something for the weekend and then post Sunday night? Any ideas  anyone?

Andy

Laura T.'s picture
Laura T.

That sounds good Andy. I'm a gluten free baker, so I'd like it if maybe we set a particular bread or technique or theme, but wouldn't be able to take part if, for example, the challenge was 'spelt flour' or something.

We can start a new thread for the actual challenge once we get a few interested parties and ideas together here :)

Laura T.'s picture
Laura T.

We could, for example have a challenge theme like 'berries' or 'foraged foods' or 'bagels'...anything really!

Syd-a's picture
Syd-a

A challenge to bake gluten free bread of different types would be a very interesting and fun experience. You are right, almost anything could be set as a challenge. I could see a bread type (baguette, bagel, loaf, bun) and then a foodstuff or theme (berry, nut, foraged) etc as a theme. 

Lets see if someone can help with ideas, but I would really like a challenge for the weekend and would find this a lot of fun.

Andy

Laura T.'s picture
Laura T.

Great stuff :)  I'm happy to go along with all the regular wheat bakers and just make a gluten free version of whatever the rest of you make.

We need a name for the challenge so we can start a thread for it! Also, which forum do you think it would go in?

Syd-a's picture
Syd-a

There is a challenge forum post section that we could post into. I am having a good think about a challenge for the weekend. I would like some kind of bun or baguette type challenge, but we need something exciting to "spice" it up :-)

Andy

Laura T.'s picture
Laura T.

Are you thinking of going with a particular ingredient as the theme or something else? We could also have more theme-y themes (if that makes sense), like 'inspired by a book' or 'historical' or 'summer', even 'local'. I have a lot of ideas!

dabrownman's picture
dabrownman

ago when ITJB came out in print some folks picked a recipe from it each week and they all baked it the same week and posted their results.  The the GMA's took it over last year to continue it.   Sadly, not everyone has the books to bake from so the people who can participate is limited and publishing printed recipes isn't, and shouldn't be, t allowed unless the author agrees.

dabrownman's picture
dabrownman

said i needed to post a comment after I hit save.  I went to look and it wasn't there, and now it pops up. Better than losing it all together.

MANNA's picture
MANNA

I ave been baking out of the Bouchon Bakery book. I dont have a schedule. I just bake what I feel like and have time for. So far the recipes have been great.

suave's picture
suave

There use to be a whole lot of them a year or so ago, but may be it's summer, and may be the fad is over.

Laura T.'s picture
Laura T.

I have started a thread for the challenge here http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/34147/weekly-baking-challenge

lazybaker's picture
lazybaker

Wasn't tangzhong a theme recipe that people tried recently? That went well. It wasn't really a challenge, but more of a "Hey, let's try the recipe" thing.

FlourChild's picture
FlourChild

My two cents are to keep it theme-based rather than cookbook-based, and to announce the theme at least a week ahead of the target posting date.  I normally don't have time to bake on weekends, but do a lot of it during the week so that would allow me to join in.  :)

Laura T.'s picture
Laura T.

Good idea :) Perhaps we could post on Thurs/Fri and have people send in their results anytime up until the next challenge? I've set up a thread for the challenge in the Challenges forum, so if you have any theme ideas we could get some suggestions together there.