Wednesday, July 31, 2013

THE PROMISE OF The Next Loaf OR--WHITE OOBLECK

I will blame it on Michael Pollan. I posted back in May about becoming fascinated by his research on the symbiotic relationship humans have with bacteria.

As he says, since people discovered bacteria we have become obsessed with cleanliness. Yet we don’t realize that there are trillions of microorganisms living in our bodies.  In fact, he says, “we are 90 percent microbial…we’re kind of like a coral reef.  There’s a great many other species occupying us, sharing our bodies, and we need them, and we need to look out for them.”

Mr. Pollan’s interview with Ira Flatow on NPR’s ScienceFriday brings up many more points about the importance of caring for our immune system, easing up on hygiene and getting away from processed food. Then they went into a discussion about fermentation, cheese, and making bread with a sourdough starter.

Anyway, I bought his book, Cooked, A Natural History of Transformation.  It’s a fun and informative read—two things that seldom go together.  Among other topics he tells about learning to cook sourdough bread.

The little black specks are chia seeds--very yummy and crunchy.
“I’ve come to love the feel of the dough in my hands as it develops…I love (and a little bit dread) the moment of truth when I lower the oven door to discover how much “oven spring” (if any) my loaf has achieved.” He goes on, “The Next Loaf always promises to rise higher, taste more complex, caramelize more gorgeously…”

Most people probably think this is all a bit strange and that maybe he needs to get a life.  However, I totally get it and have become a bit preoccupied myself in my quest for the perfect loaf—or even a passably edible loaf.

I’ve gone to the internet and looked at a few too many bakers’ instructions on mixing, kneading and baking; and read and tried more than enough recipes.

I’ve been able to come up with my idea of a great crunchy crust, and the last loaf I made had a nice sourdough flavor.

 I’ve found that cooking the dough in a hot oven using a cast iron skillet helps the oven spring.  (unless I didn’t let the bread rise enough before baking).

Some of those loaves were so solid and heavy they could be use to build walls.

Cooking the loaf in a dutch oven holds in the moisture and adds to the crunch and the caramelization of the crust.

I even bought a brotform basket when I saw gorgeous bread at a farmer’s market sporting that artisan design.

Another brick in the wall.

Yet my quest is a fairly inexpensive one, and I’ve learned to let the first rise happen overnight so I won’t be tempted to rush the process.

Through my internet searches I’ve found a whole community of others who are as obsessed over such things.  So I’m not alone in my weirdness.

And I continue to feed and care for my healthy starter.  I’ve named him Oobleck.

11 comments:

joeh said...

Not about to make my own bread, but I'm with you on the microb thing. People way overdue the germ phobia thing.

Puppies eat poop for crispy sake!

RURAL said...

I am in there like a dirty shirt...that bread looks wonderful. So far I've only managed to make a moldy starter years ago...but I do like to experiment.

Jen

Alica said...

Rising overnight...now that's a good idea. I'm an impatient bread baker! Ooblek...:)

Anairam said...

I can make one bread (the famous kneadless Internet one made in a pot or Dutch oven, baked at high heat) but I would LOVE to be able to make a sourdough bread. Point me in the right direction concerning the starter you use?

Joanne Noragon said...

Naming is important! My cars have names. My google maps directions come from Helen. Emily names her flutes; the new one is Ginny.

Buttons Thoughts said...

I always enjoyed your weirdness and you are not alone that is for sure. I think you are on an incredible quest and do hope you can eat those lovely looking bricks soon:) Hugs B

TALON said...

I've only ever made quick breads...yeast terrifies me (there, I've made a confession), but your loaves look gorgeous, Leenie!

Funny enough, I was just recently reading an article about Chad Robertson of "Tartine Bakery and Cafe" in San Francisco...only bakes 240 loaves a day and they sell out within an hour...so bread is definitely an amazing thing. I think I'll be putting his bread on my bucket list. :)

Janice Grinyer said...

nope nope nope im still gonna use hand sanitizer after using a public washroom and washing my hands..and using a papertowel to open the door...

I have a machine that i can push buttons on and make bread. i have also made building bricks from it...

Leenie said...

Feral: I TOTALLY agree with you about public bathrooms. They are the petri dish of contagion.

Pearl said...

I always enjoy a friendly relationship with microbes. Too much "clean" is not for me.

I do wish I enjoyed sour dough...

Pearl

Carla said...

I dabbled in the fine art of sourdough starter/bread. I never got anything that tasted any different than most grocery store sourdough. The trouble at our house is, when I make bread we eat it. A lot of it. With a lot of butter. I quit making it because our pants were shrinking. :)