Hello from Switzerland
Hello from SwitzerlandOver the past while, many of my search engine baking inquires have landed here on threads from TFL, it's apparent that something is going on here, i thought i'd join in.In an earlier life, i was a creature of the night, was up in the wee hours mixing doughs and tending to oven buzzers, that's going back a ways though.For the past ten years, i've been trying to get a grip on baking small batches here at home, at first with a K-aid mixer, baking stone and yeasted preferments.I've since set up in the basement hobby room with an old 1960's Diosna mixer, it originally came out of a bakery test lab, has two bowl sizes and allows for 500g to 4kg flour per batch.A 380v electric oven was added to that, 50cmx50cm stone floor, separate element adjustment, it was an inexpensive internet auction purchase that has turned out well.Recently i had the good luck of adding a really decent flour mill to this setup, an Osttiroler with 20cm stones, again an inexpensive auction purchase.Typically i'm baking twice a week, the batch sizes use 2kg of flour, i've got a happening SD culture going but have yet to completely cut out a fresh yeast addition in the final dough.I do feel myself headed down that road though. I'm hoping here among other things, to gain some insight on home milling and look forward also to posting some crust&crumb.cheers daniel
you are all set to make some fine bread. Welcome to TFL where all things bread are discussed from every view.
Happy baking.
Thank's for the words of welcome. Yes all things bread are discussed here and often in great detail.
Actualy a few months back, a baker friend recommended that i check out the "dabrownman's" whole grain creations here on the TFL, i have and i'm impressed by your creativity, your loaves look plenty appetising, the sunset photo's also add a nice touch.
Here in the basement i'm still tinkering with my setup, i hope to soon do some oven hot-rodding. I'm planing on lining the whole bake chamber with stone and rigging up a manual steam injector gizmo.
cheers daniel
Welcome, Daniel!
Welcome, Daniel!
Hi, Daniel.
Welcome to TFL!
From time to time, we have had very active members from Switzerland, and they have contributed some wonderful examples of traditional Swiss breads. I'm looking forward to hearing about what you are baking, and maybe trying some Swiss breads.
Does your furry assistant in the photo signify that you are from Bern?
David
Hello David
I'm much closer to Basel than to Bern, which makes shopping for flour in Germany a practical thing. The local Swiss flour offerings are also quite interesting.
The bear is from Bern though, but has been hanging out here in the basement helping with the baking.
Nice to see you here, Daniel. :)
Hello Julie
Ah what a pleasant surprise, somehow though it doesn't surprise me to see you here at TLF
cheers daniel
Willkommen at TFL! Ich bin aus der Schweiz, lebe jedoch seit 20 Jahren in der USA, NC. Dank TFL ist aus einer Hobbybrotbaeckerin (ich habe immer mein eigenes Brot gebacken) eine halbprofessionelle Brotmarktfahrerin geworden. Ich verkaufe heute mein Brot auf unserm lokalen Markt und freue mich jeden Tag erneut aufs Brotbacken. Ich nenne TFL meine Backuniversitaet. Ohne diesen weltweiten pool of knowledge und Hilfsbereitschaft waer ich nie zu diesem Punkt gekommen.
Ich schleppe jedesmal kiloweise Ruchmehl heim in die USA,lol, weil es das einfach nicht gibt hier. Ich habe auch angefangen mein wholewheat und Roggen selbst zu mahlen. Der Weizen und Roggen ist in NC gewachsen. Ich freue mich besonders ueber den Roggen, weil es hier nicht einfach ist gutes Roggenmehl und beinahe unmoeglich ist ein richtiges Roggenbrot zu finden. Ich backe ein 66% Roggenbrot und habe treue Kunden dafuer gefunden.
Ich wuensche Dir einen schonen Tag und Happy Baking!
PS Wo in der Schweiz lebst du?
Barbara
raise your bread (without added yeast) for the first time is a real "nervenkitzel" waiting out the rises, but well worth it!
Welcome,
Mini Oven
Thank's for the welcome Mini Oven. Actually i did take a step out of my comfort zone for todays bake, no added yeast and no white flour. Yes it does take longer, at the 2.5 hour point into the the bulk proof, i was cursing not having added a hazelnut sized piece of fresh yeast. At the 3.5 hour point , i changed my mind, divided the dough into 4 -800g loaves, 90 min. later they were in the oven and gave a pretty good spring. will give it a taste in the morning.
cheers daniel
Thank's for the messages of welcome
Hello Daniel,
Welcome, and I hope you will post your breads here :^)
I enjoyed reading about the pieces of equipment you've found at auction -
always fun coming across 'finds' at good prices!
Do you know of Bernd's Bakery? Gorgeous Swiss breads; Bernd writes on his blog:
http://berndsbakery.blogspot.ca/
Best wishes for your sourdough and bread baking,
:^) breadsong
Hello Breadsong
Yes i'm familiar with http://berndsbakery.blogspot.ca/, i check in regularly there. We live fairly close actually, i intend to soon contact him, hope to pay him a visit.
Regarding used bakery equipment, it does pay to keep an eye open. i believe that there are more than a few home bakers that would enjoy stepping up to slightly larger ovens, mixers, mills etc. All one needs is a little space and good electrical circuits.
Cheers and thanks for the warm welcome
daniel
and welcome to TFL! I am from Switzerland as well, living in the US now. As someone else mentioned above, this forum is my 'baking university' as well, just an amazing site giving me constant inspiration and ideas, not to speak of the incredibly helpful and nice members.
You'll enjoy it here!
Hello chouette
Thank's for the words of welcome, yes there is something going on here, searchs on the TLF do bring up a wealth of info
cheers
daniel
I recently aquired a diosna 000 with only the 6l bowl size. As spare parts are very difficult to come by, I am considering to rebuild a 10l bowl and matching arm from scratch. Would you care to share some measurements/pictures of the original equipment?
Here is a photo of the arms and bowls, unfortunatly, I sold this machine about four years ago. It did however make room for new equipment.
Having some basic info filled in on your profile ( what continent/country of residence) would help others, me included, come up with possible solutions/suggestions for your inquiry.
This photo might prove of some help.
Good luck with your project
Thanks for that picture, it is a good start although it is a pity you do not have the device itself anymore to take some measurements.
May I ask you why you sold the diosna? Refurbishing will take some time before I can use mine, but I was hoping this to be the final mixer I had to buy :)
I registered purely to get in touch witch you, but I added some basic profile information anyway.