When Vince is home (or where ever I am), it’s surprising how hard it is for me to get bread made. There are multiple reasons but Vince buys bread. He goes to the store and they have old (gross) bread marked down and he will buy it. After he left yesterday, I threw out three almost full loaves of bread and most of them had started getting moldy. This morning I threw out two packages of bagels that had been in the fridge for at least a month. Even though I’ll hardly eat storebought gross bread, there’s no use making more when so much is sitting around so . . I just don’t make it.
Second, I kinda plan my day and even though making bread isn’t hard and doesn’t take long, it needs a few minutes of my time several times a day when I’m making it. I’ll ask Vince: Are we going anywhere today? and he’ll say no but within an hour or so, he’s wanting me to go somewhere with him. I’ll tell him to let me get this or that done and then we’ll go. When we’re ready, I’ll say “I have to be back in two hours”. He assures me we have one place to go and four places and three hours later, I’m begging to go home. So, it’s easier to not try to make bread with him here, especially when he was just here for a short time. Once he’s living here, we’re going to have to come to terms about how often I follow him around town.
Anyway, Monday I fed the neglected sourdough. I planned to feed it again on Tuesday, then start the bread today. Tuesday morning, before Vince ever left, I realized the dough was active enough to go ahead and stir up the dough. So, I did.
I use Elaine’s master recipe (Sourdough by Foodbod) for all my basic sourdough these days. Yesterday I pulled and stretched and did what needed to be done with the dough. By about 3 p.m., it was ready to go into the fridge overnight so I took it out and baked it this morning.
That is a nice looking loaf of bread!
From the top, you can see nice, crunchy “ears”. I wish I didn’t love homemade bread so much and I wish I didn’t love making bread so much. I love having my hands in dough as much as I love knitting.
Look at those holes! As far as my breadmaking goes, this is close to as perfect as it gets. I’ll never be skinny and it doesn’t even bother me.
Rebecca says
That is a beautiful loaf! My husband just doesn’t eat bread much, so any baking I do will be eaten by me (and I’ll still have to feed him.) That slows me down.
Judy Laquidara says
I love bread so much that even though I’m here alone, I still make it. If a loaf is starting to get older, or I’m ready to make bread again, I’ll cut it into cubes, flash freeze it, vacuum seal it in bags and stick it in the freezer. Then, I can take the cubes out, toss in olive oil and spices, toast in the oven and they are perfect for soups or salads. Homemade bread never goes to waste here.
Elle says
That is a gorgous loaf of bread!! Wowser.
Sara says
That is a beautiful bread. I’ll bet it tastes even better than it looks. I love homemade bread, but have never gotten any good at making it. One of my best childhood memories is seeing the bread rising in the big crockery bowl my mother used, and then the smell of it baking. Yum!!
Teri says
Beautiful. I can almost taste it – warm and smothered with butter . Delish!
Nelle Coursey says
This is perfect! There is nothing I love more than hot bread from the oven and butter!! These are pretty!
Cindy F says
It looks wonderful! I used her method for the first time over the past weekend and we loved it! I didn’t have as many holes as yours but since it was only the second round of sourdough I made we thought it was great! The first one I used another method and I found Elaine’s method and recipe better. Tomorrow will be a snow day so I’ll be prepping another loaf for baking on Friday
Judy Laquidara says
I get better holes the longer I leave it in the fridge. I put it in around 4 p.m. yesterday and planned to bake it first thing this morning (around 6 a.m.) and it was close to 10 before I had time to do it.
Glad you like her method. She has some amazing recipes.
Kathy says
Beautiful loaf and I can smell it from here! When I was a kid and the bread was getting old- we would throw the pieces in the backyard for the birds to eat (assuming it was winter) – this could be an option for you. I can still see bread sitting on top of the snow.
JustGail says
I love sourdough, but whenever I make it I’m the only one who eats it. The problem is DH thinks bread should be soft and squishy like factory made store bought. Do you have any tips on making a bit softer sourdough, or is being a sturdy bread just nature of the beast?
Judy Laquidara says
The crust on this sourdough can get crunchy but I think the inside is pretty soft unless you toast it. I sometimes make it in a loaf pan and slice it for sandwiches. When I make it in a loaf pan, I only leave the dough in the fridge a few hours so it doesn’t develop the big holes like the typical sourdough has.
I’m not sure what to tell you except maybe make it and see what he says. Of course, you have to deal with a starter and then if he doesn’t like it, you’ve wasted that effort.
Laura says
“I’ll never be skinny and it doesn’t even bother me.” I love this!!! I’m super active but I love good food, so I’ll never be skinny either. Thanks for saying that.