So many books
Hello all,
I'm new to this site and have am looking (desiring really) to start making my own bread at home, but I need your help please. I have experience making pizza from scratch, using store bought yeast and using a pizza steel - but now I want to start making bread. I lived in Italy many years and got so used to the great bread there from the bakeries that I cant eat the bread from super markets here in the US cause of the poor (horrendous) quality - too bad I cant find and support a local bakery.
My question is - Where do I start? I would love to purchase a book that explains to someone who knows nothing of making bread at home. I saw some of the books on this site recommended but I end up more confused because they mention amateur baker, which I'm not. Someone commented on a book that I was ready to buy I read a review that the author wrote you have to have your kitchen at a certain temperature for proofing, I'm not at that level.
I'm just looking for something that will help me make bread like they do in Italy. I have no idea about making your own yeast but if that's what it calls for I need to know how. Some commenters on reviews say the book calls for to much flour to waste making a starter dough and wouldn't recommend it. I have a home oven and basic kitchen appliances, nothing fancy. One book I was looking at, a reviewer said that you need rice flour, cast iron pots and pans, etc. really?
It seems that a lot of the reviews of the books I'm reading are for advance bakers. Some basic books I looked at mention, knead, no knead, sourdough, etc, etc, so it's confusing where to start. What book could I use that would start off with the basics and then advance in topics as I progress?
Thank you so much!!!!!