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π Babka and traveling Morocco in search of bread
Babka and Traveling Morocco In Search of Bread |
I've been making pizza (stay tuned for a new recipe next week!) wildly often over the past several weeks. β But, much like the ill-prepared ant, I'm the frenzied fanatic at the market, grabbing tomatoes by the fistful. Winter is coming, and (flavorful) tomatoes will soon not be. β Yes, there is pizza without tomatoes, and those are amazing, but it's my last grasp of peak summer. β Maybe that's okay? Fall is my favorite time of the year, and what better way to say hello than with Babka? β β In this newsletter:
π Sourdough BabkaGet a head starter (Ugh, every time I write "start," it comes out as "starter") on all the Fall feels with this babka. The dough is tender, and even with the sugar glaze, the flavor profile isn't too sweet (thank you, natural fermentation). β I return to this recipe every year to usher in (and this year, perhaps encourage) the cool weather.
β π The Breads of MoroccoContributing writer Eric Pallant's latest is a travelogue of his recent trip to Morocco in search of all things bread. β Follow along as Eric takes a bread baking class, looks at the history of Morocco's grain and bread production, a few scenes from bakeries and markets, and, last but not least, several styles of bread that'll make you wish you could take a bite.
π¬ Member Discussion of the WeekQ: I just made your sourdough baguettes and need some practice shaping and playing with the oven temperature. I notice that in most of your recipes, you preheat the oven to 450F, then after 20 minutes of baking, you turn the oven downβbut you donβt with baguettes. Why? β A: I don't turn the oven down because their baking time is much shorter, and they benefit from high heat the whole way through (faster baking β thinner crust). Note that with most of my recipes, I do leave the temperature at 450F, but this is especially true for baguettes. β β If you β€οΈ this week's newsletter, you'll love our community of sourdough bakers. The annual membership helps support the site gets you access to our private chat and forum, recipe archives, recorded and live sessions, and all my baking tools.
π What I'm Reading and Watching
β β Until next time, happy baking. β Maurizio Leo P.S. With my recent article on high-protein bread flour, I just had to make sourdough bagelsβsee how they turned out. |
The Perfect Loaf π
Want to make bakery-quality sourdough bread from home? Subscribe for the best sourdough guides and recipes to take your bread from ordinary to incredible.
The most amazing sandwich bread Hey, Baker. I've been preparing for a baking class I'm co-teaching in Chimacum Valley this week (more to come next week). But before I leave, I have to stock the house with my favorite sandwich bread: my sourdough Pain de Mie. If you haven't made this ethereal loaf, it will be your favorite in short order. Make the levain today and you'll have a couple of beautiful loaves for the weekend! In this week's newsletter: Recipe: Pain de mie sandwich bread Baking Tip:...
Store your starter for vacation, hamburger buns & more! Hello, bread-making friends! As summer vacations approach, I wanted to share my trusted method for putting your sourdough starter into "hibernation" mode during your travelsβand then waking it back up when you return. The process is super simple. With minimal adjustments to your routine, your refrigerator becomes a temporary home for your starter, where it can patiently wait until you're ready to bake again. Once you're back, just a few...
Treats That'll Make Mom Happy Hey there, baker! The mom in your life probably isn't expecting anything, but even if they are, I guarantee any of the following will go above and beyond: Dark chocolate-cherry sourdough β My #1 pick, every year Chocolate knots β SO far superior to that ol' box of chocolates French canelΓ© β crispy shell meets custardy interior Scones for breakfast β every mom deserves breakfast in bed Chocolate chip cookies β everyone loves a good (great) cookie Are you making...