hommage to Lucy's and Dabrownman's JDR
Although I do have dogs, or should I say I share a house with two Canine-Americans, neither could be called a baker's apprentice, so I had to get help from Feline-American Beulah for my take on DAB's latest sorta tzitzel.
Rye was soaked, sprouted, dried and ground, hard bits fed to the God only knows how many weeks retarded starter, along with some whole rye since I didn't want to wait an extra couple of hours for the levain build to be done and started while the rye berries were still in the dehydrator. I didn't have any porter in the house, and substituted a bottle of wheat ale flavored with citrus and coriander, so this 'un's not as dark as Lucy's. Otherwise I think I followed the formula pretty closely, although Beulah expressed reservations about taking any advice from one of Them.
Loaves were baked one at a time in the huge caldera. For some reason it hadn't occurred to me to bake batards in it before. Mr Jeano pronounced the bread VERY good and Beulah says whatever you do, DON'T Forget the cat food.
Comments
Jeano: Fantastic baking. Can't wait to hear what dabrownman has to say....Congratulations as the loaves look delicious. Great cat, too! Best, Phyllis
And has lots of cattitude. She was named for her purr. Beulah the Buzzer, which fresh loafers of a certain age will recognize as an inanimate TV personality from the Golden Age of schlocky game shows.
To make up for several stylish loaves in a row, today's attempt at a miche is as flat as a Frisbee. If it tastes ok and has open crumb we'll eat it, if not, we might have to let the chickens turn it into eggs. I'll open it up tomorrow.
came out better than Lucy's inside and out! Now that is some fine crafted bread. Ours was under proofed a bit and caused extra cracking between the slashes on the outside when it sprang and a more closed crumb than your perfect examples. Just beautiful photography too. The great thing about this bread is its taste. With the extra rye and sprouts in the mix we imagine this is the way Killer JDR should taste:-) Lucy is already modifying this recipe for next time to include a scald like the one in her version of Adri's Westphalian rye. There is no hope for the wicked.
Beulah looks lovely and has to be a fine baking apprentice. Lucy hasn't been her normal self lately so we went to the vet to have her checked out yesterday. Lucy hates cats more than anything else in the world. Anyway while she was being looked at, the resident house cat came over jumped up on the bench I was sitting on and sat on my lap to get a good rub down and just stayed there the whole time.
When they brought Lucy out with the cat still on my lap, I thought for sure there would be a problem but Lucy and cat didn't go at it at all. Lucy jumped up on the bench and laid down next to me as it petted the cat on my lap. Eventually Lucy sat up up and gently nosed the cat from behind and got the cat to jump down so she could sit in my lap. It was very touching. That is when I knew Lucy was really sick, instead of sick like she is normally:-) I told my wife i wanted to get a cat since Lucy gets along with them so welll now but.... my wife dodn't buy it or my story.
Happy baking Jeano. Lucy is glad Mr Jeano liked the bread and says hi to Beulah.
Fotografie e produzione straordinaria, complimenti meritatissimi.
Anna
Forgot to mention I snuck some first clear flour in there with AP, as I have no bread flour. Mr jeano sliced the inch tall miche sideways and said it made a fine sandwich that way.
I hope Lucy is feeling better. It is very worrying when their behavior lets you know they are very ill. My Angel Dog lost her tail wag and collie smile and failed to bark at 'who d'at?' overnight and I told Mr jeano I was certain it was time for the last ride to the vet. I never wanted to be wrong so much in my life. I wasn't.