The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Bread Baking Withdrawal Syndrome

SallyBR's picture
SallyBR

Bread Baking Withdrawal Syndrome

Should we call it BBWS?

I bet lots of people here suffered from it at one point or another well, mine is going to be over soon - this weekend I'll be back in my own home, with a H-U-G-E oven waiting for me.... now the important question - what do you guys think I should bake? Should I do a sourdough boule (Dan, my starter, will be bubbling away in the long drive home), or go for a baguette type bread?

Rolls? or fancy shapes? Help me decide.... I don't even have my bread books with me to help me narrow down recipes

flournwater's picture
flournwater

Inasmuch as this is a coming home celebration, why not consider Artos (Greek Celebration bread)  -  or perhaps a Challah?

Sjadad's picture
Sjadad

PIZZA. You must bake PIZZA!

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

Hi, Sally!

I go into serious withdrawal if I haven't baked for a couple weeks. When I get back, I usually bake at least 3 kinds of bread over a weekend. The type doesn't matter. It depends on what's in the freezer already. Need I say that San Joaquin Sourdough is most often one I need to keep "in stock?"

David

SallyBR's picture
SallyBR

Ah, the St Joaquin Sourdough....   a favorite of mine indeed!

 

You folks have NO idea how much I miss my oven - I think I might shed a few tears when I see my stovetop WITH FOUR REAL BURNERS, and the beautiful, spacious oven underneath: Nirvana.

 

Now, I was going to take just a small amount of starter with me in the car, because space will be a problem - can you imagine a 2 cup size container full of starter tipping over in the car?   My dear husband, who is very forgiving and accepting of my (many) quirks, might just lose it   :-)

 

We'll be making pizza for sure very soon  - although we do it on the grill, but still counts

As to challah or the Artos - I am a bit rusty on my shaping technique - I think I better do something a bit more forgiving for the first weekend or two....

 

thanks for all the suggestions, it is really exciting to plan how to get rid of my BBWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Sally,

A 21 hour drive....so why not start up a loaf before you leave and let it do a long cold ferment in an ice chest.  You can do a few stretch and folds at rest stops. When you are within a hours time from you house you can shape and proof the loaf and let it sit in the back window of you car.  Fresh bread within an hour of hitting the front door :-)

You can also wrap some chicken breasts in tin foil. Drench them with marinade and let them cook under the hood of you car and you can have a complete meal without much fuss at all!  (I have never done this but have read about it so I know it is doable.)

Would make for a more interesting drive......and I would love to see pictures of the process!

Take Care,

Janet

 

 

SallyBR's picture
SallyBR

Well, it's a cool idea if we would be making the drive in one stretch - but we'll drive 8 hours on Wednesday, stop for one day to rest, and do the final 13 hours on the third day

 

plus, we will be VERY tightly packed in our pick-up truck - barely any leg room  :-)

 

But I see a couple of loaves of bread on the weekend for sure!

Syd's picture
Syd

I'm all with ChaiKnuckles on this one.  He/She described my sentiments exactly. Happy planning!:)

Syd

highmtnpam's picture
highmtnpam

Nirvana, indeed.  I've missed your posts!

Pam

freerk's picture
freerk

Thank you for putting a big smile on my face with this thread,  Sally and all other good people. You inspire me!

freerk's picture
freerk

And I'm just going to shamelessly plug my own pan de reina to bake

SallyBR's picture
SallyBR

Thanks, everybody!

I am finally net-connected, in our own home, in a regular-sized kitchen!     My bread books had been shipped to our neighbor but we had so much to do I could not deal with extra boxes to unpack, so.... I improvised and made a kalamata / red pepper / rosemary loaf

I will post a photo here, and if you want the full story and the recipe, here is the link

 

http://bewitchingkitchen.com/2011/06/15/spicy-kalamata-sourdough/

 

Syd's picture
Syd

That's a lovely looking loaf, Sally.  I like the addition of the pepper flakes. 

Best,

Syd

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Welcome home Sally,

What an beautiful loaf you have created.  I love how your scoring opened up so nicely....mine never does that ;-(  but I keep trying :-)

 

Take Care,

Janet

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

It sounds like your BBCS recovery is well under way (or is it weigh?)!

David

SallyBR's picture
SallyBR

good one!!!!  :-)

I am making pizza on Saturday evening - on the grill, it's impossible to bake inside at dinner time

and, if I am brave enough and my schedule allows, I might try baguettes on Sunday, that's something I could not even attempt in Los Angeles.