The Morning After

In the Sunday morning light amongst the baking debris sits a lone Pain de Campagne. So what? you may say. We’ve seen hundreds of your campagnes before. But behind this picture lies a sorry story of dough abuse. Two events were coinciding. Bob from Ruthin had booked a sourdough course with me Friday afternoon/Saturday to […]

Multiple Choice Question

This is a rather fine Cheese, Roast Garlic and Black Pepper Bread using one of Carrie Rimes fabulous ewes cheeses – http://www.cosyn.cymru/en/home/ But should I: 1. buy an oven with more space between the racks; 2. buy bigger tins; 3. reduce the amount of dough; or 4. hang Christmas decorations from the overhangs?

Red Grape & Fennel Seed Focaccia

Summer Fruits

What can you do when your neighbour asks if you could possibly help him out by taking 1.5k of freshly picked blackcurrants of his hands? Creme de Cassis!!! This comes from Jane Grigson’s Fruit Book – much better than the expensive stuff you buy over the counter. We used it for kir, kir royale when […]

This is getting silly …

Advanced Shaping Techniques #34

Cloche Encounters for the Third Time

… well it was either that or hat jokes – put a turban in your cloche sort of thing. Back to road testing Crochendy Bethesda Pottery’s cloche. A Challah turban (two thirds white, 0ne third wholemeal) seemed an appropriate shape but this one (940g) was just a little to big: So when the lid was […]

One for Phil Joy

Phil wants the chile sauce recipe. I told him it’s not done to ask a chap to reveal the secrets of his chile sauce, but seeing as it’s you Phil … This is an adapted version from a favourite cookery book, Pickles, Pigs and Whiskey by John Currance. I’ve done it bakers’ percentage style giving […]

A Little Something For Marcus

Poor old Marcus was suffering withdrawal symptoms so I sent a little something in the post: That’ll keep the poor boy going for a little while but, don’t panic: Be ready about 2019 …

Gorilla Bread II

Some recently asked if there was such a thing as Gorilla Bread. Of course there is: Big, cheerful, rumbustious, loud, uncageable, bites your bum. First bake for about ten weeks what with having time out in France and trying to do some serious writing. 30 large ones and 12 Black Olive, Rosemary and Caramelised Onion […]