The Bread Challenge is officially launched
Hi,
As noted in a related thread, The Bread Challenge is officially launched. The Bread Challenge is similar to the Bread Baker's Apprentice challenge, only we will be baking our way through Jeffrey Hamelman's book, Bread: A Baker's Book of Techniques and Recipes. If you are interested in joining us on this journey or would just like to check it out, you can find out more information at http://www.glacierboats.com/the-bread-challenge [1]
It is important to note that a similar effort, http://www.mellowbakers.com [2], is also starting ...nearly simultaneously. I think that if someone wants to participate in both efforts, that that would be fine. As far as I can see, other than the different content at the web sites, the biggest difference comes down how you go about baking your way through the book:
Mellow Bakers
- It appears to me, noting that it's not my site and I may accidentally get the information wrong, that recipes are selected on a month by month basis with the intent that the participants bake those recipes more or less in unison ...I think. Again, I have not read every single post in their forum.
- The primary user interface is a forum with several boards within it. A rich and informative style.
- People join up by registering at the forum and then participating, no need to play "catch up" if I recall
The Bread Challenge
- People join by filling out a very short form which may or may not include information about their blog or web site where progress and baking processes are illustrated by the baker
- (Soon) there will be a recipe list from Jeffrey's text, recipes grouped by type. "By type" means that if there is more than one variation of a recipe, e.g. Vermont Sourdough with a bit of rye in it versus Vermont Sourdough with whole wheat instead, then those recipes for a group. To avoid fatigue in baking the same type of bread several times throughout the book, those taking The Challenge just need to pick one from each group. Note that the decorative breads in Chapter 10 are optional.
- While some may bake from the front of the book to the last, it's important to note that you may bake in any order that you like. You can join up and then choose to only bake breads from a particular chapter rather than taking the whole challenge.
- You pick which breads you bake each week or month
- A blog (or web site) is recommended so we can all share in your process(es) and results, but a blog (or web site) is not required in order to be on the journey. I'll be producing instructions/tutorials for how to start a blog here at TFL and at the most popular free blogging sites. There is already a list of free blogging sites posted, along with pros/cons for each, suitability for first-timers etcetera.
- A forum is coming, as is a world map where you can place stickpins to indicate your location in the world
I think that about covers it. Stop by and take a look! Join with us if you like (we have 6 or 7 on the team already). Take a look at the Mellow Bakers as well, joining one or the other or both. But most of all, let's just go have some fun together and share the fruits of our labor as we bake through Hamelman's book!
Thanks,
Brian