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Back when I first started this blog, I was trying out the San Francisco starter from sourdo.com. I was never able to get a flavor I loved from it. Almost six years down the line, I've learned a ton about sourdough in the interim. I was also growing bored with the rye strain I've been baking with for the last few years -- so I'm trying again with it. I've been building the starter for the last week, finally it was active enough to use.

I used to be a very active member on this board.  

Use to be...

Life has a way of mucking with your plans. 

So an update. 

Since 2011. I have added 3 grandchildren.  Moved twice, bought a house in the stix.  Stated,  ran  and closed a small business. Nearly lost my wife to an illness (she is fully recovered)  Built a wood shop.  Raised a bunch of chickens gained some weight.  Lost a lot of weight. 

And stopped baking! 

Earlier this week (I'm 80% sure it was Tuesday), for some reason, I mixed up two full size (~1.5kg) batches of dough. The FWSY country brown, and the Tartine brioche. Last night I started a Westphalian pumpernickel from The Rye Baker.

The brown:

   Wine, Walnuts, Cranberries and Porridge....what's not to like?  I have to say, nothing!  This one is chock full of flavor and good enough to eat by itself, but even better with some cheese.  I gave 2 of these away to some work colleagues.  I think they will enjoy them, I hope.

There is just enough wine in this one to add a nice flavor without overpowering the bread or inhibiting it's fermentation.  The crumb is nice and moist and you get a mouthful of walnuts and cranberries with each bite.

Hi everybody,

I‘m making Stollen for the first time and I noticed that my Kitchen Aid Artisan model electric mixer had the hardest time mixing the dough, so much that I kept holding the head to minimize the shaking.

The recipe called for 4 cups of flour but I‘ve made other breads with that quantity without noticing any strain on the mixer. Has this happened to anybody while making this Christmas bread?

Thanks, I’d  appreciate any ideas or commentaries.

Didn't know making panettone was a challenge until I read a recent article on the New York Times referring to this traditional Italian bread as "the Mount Everest of baking."  I tasted an exceptional piece of panettone made by Jim Lahey. Met him on his book tour in New York city when he spoke about his new book The Sullivan Street Bakery Cookbook. How difficult could it be to make the panettone armed with a detailed five-page recipe in the cookbook? This is what I've found.

This week I made some sourdough focaccia! One of them was plain with just olive oil, rosemary, and flaked salt, and the other was made into a tart topped with shallots, bird's eye chili, and rosemary, then brushed with jalapeno honey after coming out of the oven. 

Sorry for the subversive reference but it had to said as I am convinced the sourdough heads are kinda hooked on the stuff ;) <- little wink to soften the blow ... Shoot! And theres another one ... Eek ! 

Ok, moving on, so here's a little sourdough batard accompanied by the usual 'yeasted' bake but, done with a twist and wondering if I have broken any cardinal rules.

have been looking for the perfect loaf to go with the many cheeses I always have in my fridge and I believe I am on to something. :) I have prepared this though on a weekend and baked it straight from the fridge on a Monday morning - it definitely chased away my Monday morning blues. 

I love how the buttery and nutty taste of the kamut and spelt compliment the sweetness of the figs and the rolled oats that cover the loaf make the crust extra crunchy. 

There it goes:

1. Prepare your starter in advance.

2. Leave to rest for 8-12 hours.