Country Music, Sourdough Baguettes and Lahmajouns
Much excitement. Kind of a busy weekend. But late last night after getting home from a friend's birthday party, I mixed the levain for baguettes. Today I tried to do a bit more baking than I should have. I wanted to make Lahmajouns for lunch while the baguette dough fermented. So I mixed the baguette dough first thing, with my first cof of cuppee. It's a wonder I didn't put sugar and milk in the mixing bowl (I'm not much good first thing in the morning especially after a late night).
Once the baguette dough was mixed--using a variation on proth5's 65% hydration formula, which my spouse adores--I started the lahmajoun dough. I followed the recipe that Xaipete had posted last year (http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/12631/lahmejun-lahmacun-lahmajoun-armenian-or-turkish-pizza), hoping it was something like the lahmajouns of my Fresno boyhood.
What I hadn't really figured was that the various steps in the baguette process and the various steps in the lahmajoun process would make the day just a tad impossible. The lahmajouns are easy to make, but the topping takes some time, and they bake two at a time for 12 minutes each. So the oven was tied up when it needed to be preheating for the baguette. And I couldn't fit the baking stone, cast iron pan and sheet pan for lahmajouns in there all at once. I was afraid the baguette dough would over-proof, but it all worked out. I didn't really have a leisurely Sunday, though.
Here are the lahmajouns. The dough was a bit too elastic, so I couldn't roll it out thin enough. Besides being a bit too thick, they were excellent. Thanks, Pamela.
The baguettes, as I said, were a slight variation from Pat's formula. I used KAF European-Style Flour instead of AP. They sprung up good, but no big ears. Totally delicious, with thin crispy crust and moist crumb. Thanks, Pat.
After dinner (Lahmajoun Encore], we went to hear Rosanne Cash, a great modern Country singer and her incredible band. Rosanne Cash is the daughter of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash (of the Carter Family). So, yes, she has a Mama June and we had a Lahmajoun. It was meant to be.
All in all, a very exciting day. Of course, Tasha slept through the whole thing.
Glenn
Comments
That almost had me spewing cuppee over my keyboard :).
Lovely baguettes. Love reading about your adventures!
How rude!! [smileyface].
The party Saturday wasn't really a drunken brawl. And The Spouse was the designated drinker, so I only had a couple glasses of wine. Just enough to make it more of a challenge to do something involving a handful of brain cells (approximately 30 grams, moistened with just enough caffeine to make a shaggy mess) first thing the next morning.
Thanks for the comments on the bakes. Not the prettiest things I ever made, but good to eat.
Glenn
Now that you are moving into the world of multi use of your oven you need 2. I have the Miele Double Ovens and love love them. I have used them for 4 1/2 yrs and they are really great. I got the floor sample about this time of year....end of season as it were. You can get great deals that way.
Beautiful bake. I have proth's formula...need to make it too...c
Getting multiple bakes going...looks like all turned out well and loved the post :) and photos!
Sylvia
and welcome to the world of multiple bakes - what I have learned can be a case of misplaced mise en place.
Larry
I'm finding I can get edible results even when I'm a bit frenzied. But to get a beautiful bake (like my previous baguettes, but not these), it takes more attention to detail. I will seek inner calm next time I bake baguettes.
Glenn
but as far as I know Rosanne Cash is Johnny Cash's daughter by his first wife, not June Carter, the only child they had was John Carter Cash as far as I know!
Rosanne Cash was singing before June and John got married.
Thanks, Eva.
Glenn