I've been reading here for several months, but never managed to introduce myself. I'm a professional chef and filmmaker, but my breadbaking is mostly from love and obsession. I have a wood-fired oven and teach classes on how to use them (fornorustico.com). I'm so impressed by the incredible breads that people make and I've learned a ton from everyone's comments and instruction. There are only 3 websites I go to on a daily basis: nytimes, ravelry (I'm a knitting fool), and TFL. Thank you so much for this amazing resource and amazing community!

Lea

since returning from a month of wood-fired oven apprenticeship,

(a little example of the bread i was helping bake...)

i have been trying to recreate the magic in my little electric oven. lately i've failed mostly by over-proofing and being forgetful or impatient. in summary : really all over the place and not documenting anything. but in coming to this weeks bread i decided to be a slave to the bread and keep track of all its little movements and stayed true to the method i had previously been taught.

here's the outcome. CRITICISMS?  WELCOME.

the process:

Monday 9:30 am -- feed starter (kept at room temp after feeding til..)

            1:30 pm -- popped it in the fridge so i could get out of the house

Tuesday 11:00 am -- made up the bread, kneaded etc, let it hang at room temp

             5:30 pm rounded, rest, shape, back into the fridge for the night

Wednesday 10:30 am -- out of the fridge to come up to fully proofed

                  12:30 pm -- into the oven.

the recipe is as basic as it gets. flour, water, starter, sea salt.

Here's a pic of our latest toy -- a wood-fired oven ala Alan Scott. It makes wonderful bread and pizza as well as other tasty things. For example, after the bread is done, the oven is just right for loading up with a large pork butt or two. 12-14 hrs. later, perfect pulled pork to put on those fresh sandwich buns!

I'm new to this forum and I'm finding lots of useful information on breadmaking. All but what kind of mixer to buy, that is. Based on what I've read here, it'll be either a new KA or a Bosch. (It seems that no matter what I choose, 50% will be sure I made the wrong choice!) ;-)

ClimbHi
Pittsburgh, PA

Here's a look at my newest kitchen toy -- a wood-fired oven ala Alan Scott. It's just outside my kitchen door on our back porch. This thing is a blast to use and turns out great meals, including bread. One of the neatest uses we've found so far is that, after the bread is cooked, the oven is just right for loading up with a large pork butt or two. 12-14 hrs later, perfect pulled pork to put on those fresh sandwich buns!

ClimbHi