The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Plain Old French Style Country Bread

OldWoodenSpoon's picture
OldWoodenSpoon

Plain Old French Style Country Bread

I just pulled this out of the oven tonight.  This is a loaf of "ordinary" french bread using the King Arthur Flour recipe for French Style Country Bread.  I was trying for a loaf of "sweet french bread" for my wife to use about half of in an egg casserole for a family brunch this weekend.  We get to eat the other half. :^)

and

This was baked in a La Cloche baker, only partially pre-heated, and then left covered for 20 minutes with the oven at 475F, then uncovered for about 15 more minutes at 450F.  I gave it a couple more minutes just to color up more because it was even more pale than it finished.  And the best part for me...  This loaf sang to me for nearly 10 minutes!  This is my first experience with this, and what music it was.  Way exciting.  I'll never get to sleep tonight now.

OldWoodenSpoon

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Lovely boule, OWSpoon!  How about a crumb shot?

Sylvia

OldWoodenSpoon's picture
OldWoodenSpoon

to make up the brunch casserole I'll take a crumb shot and post it.  I'm leaving it uncut to help it stay fresh till then.  And thank you!

OldWoodenSpoon

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

From the profile, it looks like it wanted to break out of la cloche! 

David

OldWoodenSpoon's picture
OldWoodenSpoon

a tiny bit for a few minutes!  I wondered what was going to happen, and then gravity prevailed.  La Cloche left it's imprint though, as you could tell.  Thanks David!

OldWoodenSpoon

dwcoleman's picture
dwcoleman

Beautiful loaf, so much that I had to make my own.  I only used a 2 hour poolish, but the loaf looks great, sang, and it tastes great too!

I used an inverted pyrex bowl on my stone insert, cooking at 475 for 10 minutes, and another 15-20 at 425.

 

country loaf

OldWoodenSpoon's picture
OldWoodenSpoon

I think the singing is the most exciting thing I've run into so far in baking.  That and the bread itself.

OldWoodenSpoon

AnnaInNC's picture
AnnaInNC

wonderful !

arlo's picture
arlo

Both loaves look like something I'd want on the table for all meals of the day! Wonderful work!