Submitted by flour-girl on May 3, 2009 - 3:29pm

The BBA Challenge

Hi --

I'm embarking on the BBA Challenge with a couple dozen other bakers around the world. We're going to bake each of the recipes in The Bread Baker's Apprentice, from beginning to end, starting with the Anadama.

I think it'll be a great learning experience. Though I may be changing my tune at some point ...

You can learn more about the project at Pinch My Salt.

And you can follow along at Flour Girl.

Anybody care to join me?

Happy baking!

Flour Girl

 

user icon

Was just thinking about doing this.

I'm starting to feel better, but I'd have to do most of my baking later at night due to morning sickness *still* being a small issue. I'm still thinking about it. Since my blog is back up, though, I'll think a little harder and perhaps join you. Maybe not for all of them, though.

 

user icon

Signed Up for BBA Challenge & Twitter

I think figuring out Twitter may be a larger challenge for me than baking my way through BBA!

Thought I signed up, but.....

I thought I signed up for the BBA Challenge, but my name is not on the list of participants.  Hum.  Do we have to twitter?  I've never done it and don't know anything about it.  I've ordered the book, and can't wait to get started.  Maybe I'll try again.

Gaaarp, was that your Rosemary Olive Bread recipe I made today?  It was sooo good. 

Syb

user icon

BBA Challenge

Syb, if you sent Nicole (of Pinch My Salt) an e-mail, you'll make the list eventually.  She's been doing a good job of updating the list, but there have been so many responses, it takes a while sometimes.

Sorry to report it's not my recipe.  But I do want to try it.

user icon

This may help

Hi Phyl,

Assuming you are at least a little bit serious, this article may help:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/technology/personaltech/07basics.html?em

David

user icon

Arrrrgh~~~~

Thanks, David.  And by thanks, I mean, wow! I thought I had starterd to figure this Twitter thing out, but after looking at that article, I realize I don't know nothin' from nothin'.

yea!

So glad you've signed on ... FWIW, I just signed up for Twitter a few days ago and now I'm hooked. It was like a foreign planet at first (I'm on Facebook ...) but now that I've got it figured out, I'm really enjoying it. I've found a great community of cooks and bakers.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the challenge. I think I'll get my cornmeal soaking tonight to make the Anadama tomorrow.

Happy baking!

Heather

user icon

Anadam Good Bread It Is!

Heather,

I've made the Anadama bread from BBA before.  It's a great recipe.  I'll probably make it next weekend - we have seven loaves to eat from this weekend's baking craze!

Phyl

user icon

I signed up, too...I think.

This is going to be fun. I love the book, but all I've gotten to make from it so far is the sweet dough recipe for the cinnamon rolls. I actually added a little to it, too, and I think that this will be a chance to bake as outlined in the book.

user icon

Count Me In

I am a rank novice but you can count me in. I have to order the book but looking forward to the adventure.

OMG, would you believe it, I found it at the library.   I still intend to purchase it, or have someone do me the honor for my upcoming birthday, but now I don't have to wait for the mailman to rush it here before the challenge.

that's great

We're posting our efforts on Twitter, with the tag #BBA. Pinch My Salt is organizing.

But you're also welcome to post on my blog.

The more, the merrier!

Happy baking!

Flour Girl

user icon

14 down...

I've been engaging in my own informal BBA Challenge - 14 down! 

Good luck!

karladiane

user icon

Sounds like fun.  No time

Sounds like fun.  No time here since the business in going into its season.  Will try to find a group in the winter to do this.  Enjoy!

Newbie

I would be willing to give it a try. I am a newbie to bread baking.  I have mostly been making bread for my family, and home made pizza.  I have tried french bread with mediocre results.  I do have quarry tile in my oven for pizza and would like to try some artisan breads. 

I have ordered the BBA from the library.  I should have it today or tomorrow.  If I enjoy it I will have to get it from Amazon.  They have a good price on it.

user icon

It's a great book to have on

It's a great book to have on hand, even just for the explanation of techniques.

I have to say that I'm really looking forward to the anadama bread.  But I have to get some cornmeal first.

user icon

I want to join

BUT, I do no have the book, and it is not available in my country, no shipping to my place is available, what can I do, I really wish to buy all peter Reinhart's books plus the cake bible for Rosy, any suggestions !!! :(((

how does one "do" twitter?

for some reason, I was under the impression that this requires use of a blackberry? Please advise, as I would love to join.  Right now, I am making the campaigne (sp?) bread with cumin! :-)

TIA,

ivy

twitter ...

is just a social-networking site, like Facebook. No special devices needed, other than a computer and an internet connection.

You can find out more at Twitter.com

Happy baking!

Flour Girl

Aww, man!

I'd love to join in, but I don't yet have the book! It's on back-order for me, and not expected to get in for a while. Someone mentioned Amazon has a good price, though. Maybe I'll cancel my original order and go grab it there. Hmm... now I have to go look at my finances. LOL

user icon

First Bake

The suggested completion date for the first recipe is two weeks away, so you should have plenty of time to get the book.

user icon

And with 43 bread recipes listed...

even if you start late, at let's say one recipe per week, this will take the better part of a year to go through. Starting a little late won't matter. There's no actual schedule, from what I understand so it's rather open ended anyway.

Work it at your own pace, I guess, depending on how much bread you make and can actually eat/give away before getting on to the next batch.

 

This site is a bad influence!

Now I've gone and looked at Amazon, and what do I find? The book's barely over $20, AND it qualifies for free shipping! I soooo shouldn't buy it... but it's so very, very tempting...

Responsibility or indulgence? Evil, evil site! ROFL

evil site?

Naaah.... enabling, maybe..... Just do what I did... I told my hubby these are the books I want for my birthday.... make up an occassion if you need to...>g<

Just think of all the breads you can make. And, if you are in a serious pinch, there's always the public library.

Peace,

ivy, ny

Darn that public library!

My library doesn't carry ANY Peter Reinhart books. Not a single one. But maybe I'll try convincing my man it's a b-day present... a month-early b-day present... LOL

I'm in too

OK I just went out and bought the book, early birthday present to myself:)

I am very new to baking, really only have done french rolls, cinnamon rolls and pizza dough. I am looking forward to all of this. Very fun!

Denise

so... I *think* I'm on twitter....

not even sure, however, please count me in for this bread baking bonanza!

I made the cumin sourdough bread...no clue, maybe all the rain we've had, but it is hard as tack! Good in taste, but... hard!  Would make a great hammer, I suppose? LOL

peace,

ivyb,ny

twitter-twitter-tweet!

I've actually resisted to join tweeter because i doubt very much that I'd have the time to tweet all day long (but I did join word press and the learning curve is oh...so steep).  now that a couple of posters say they're hooked, I think I'll take a peek and see if I feel the same contagion.

as for BBA, i'll probably join the challenge later in the future when i'm convinced that my breads are decent.

I did buy the book 2 months ago.  It's a sacred item in my collection!

Happy BBA challenge to all.  Hope you keep us in the loop regarding your experiences!

user icon

Twitter, Flicker, and Other Birds

I'm not a great fan of Twitter.  Much to do about nothing IMO.  I'm only there because it seems to be the strongest link for this challenge.  I may try focusing on Flicker as an information thread for this project.  Take a look at it and see if it better meets your own needs.  The Google link is also a possibility.

user icon

Oh wow!

I was actually thinking of something similar the other day as I came to the French Bread part of the book. I'm reading it every other day.

But this would be an awesome project to undertake, especially since I'm still trying to adjust to my DLX and German Flour (hi from Berlin!).

This sounds like fun

I need to expand my repertoire and I do not own this book yet.  So I am going to join also.  This is a great idea.

How to do this

The only way I can find #BBA is to do a search.  There does not seem to be anything to follow.  Am I missing something?  Do I need to contact someone (PinchMySalt)?

 

I think I figured it out...

Join the Challenge!

If any of you are still interested in joining us on this crazy journey, e-mail me and I'll add you the ever-growing list!  Twitter is not a requirement, it's just a fun way to keep track of what the other bakers are doing in real time.  We actually have a google group set up now and that's been a great way to communicate.  Once you e-mail me, I'll add you to my email list and send out an invite to our google group.  I'll be adding new people to the list until Sunday, May 10. 

More info: http://pinchmysalt.com/the-bba-challenge/

But even if you miss the cutoff, or if you're interested but not ready to commit to all of the recipes, you can still jump in and bake along with us.  Several members of the group will be blogging, so you can keep up with our progress and join in whenever you are able. 

Happy baking!

Nicole  eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%70%69%6e%63%68%6d%79%73%61%6c%74%40%67%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%22%3e%70%69%6e%63%68%6d%79%73%61%6c%74%40%67%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b'))

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.