What about you?
Thank you for coming up with this idea - so much more comfortable than all of the angst which to a newbie was quite disturbing. I am a recently obsessed senior baker and my family approve - guess they think it keeps me off the streets and out of the bars. My mother never let me cook because she could do it quicker and better, and I don't remember her making bread. Hot cross buns once a year. I went to Birmingham Technical College in England and studied domestic science - again, no bread. I worked as a demonstrator for the local power company showing customers how to use their new appliances and putting on demonstrations for various groups. Came to America in 1967 and moved around a lot - Georgia, Wisconsin and California with 4 years in Singapore in between. I remember buying a box of pizza mix there which was full of bugs and they all came to life when I added the water. Back in the States I owned a needlework store, worked as a home health aide and for an ear nose and throat doctor before retiring when my first grandaughter was born. That was in Oregon and now we live on beautiful Whidbey Island and there are 2 girls - and they LOVE Nana's bread. I kept checking out books on bread baking from the library and finally decided I can do this. My sourdough starter was from Bread Winners II by Mel London, and used organic yogurt, and it is going gangbusters. Yesterday I made the Sourdough Pagnotta posted by BlueZebra. I carefully read the comments and knew that the dough would be wet, but didn't have the sense to cut down the water! Duh. So I stretched and folded many times, hoping that it would firm up. No such luck. A most abundant dough, full of bubbles and raring to go. I decided the only way to cope was to use loaf pans and it made 3 good sized loaves. I didn't have olives and so it made terrific toast and a great grilled cheese sandwich. Last night I started the process for Pane Sicilian from the BBA, and the dough is rising as I write. Just bought that book after hearing so many raves - and so far, so good. I hope one day to figure out how to post pictures but right now I have a hard time posting anything - Floyd said it was something to do with my browser accepting cookies. All a mystery to me - would appreciate any advice from someone more computer savvy, please? Must go, the critters think it is time to eat, A.