Not Kosher …

… more lapsed Catholic: Challah burger buns shaped as turbans.

Feedback

So far this week I’ve had feedback from two satisfied customers. The first said of “Bethesdabasics – Sourdough Made Simple”: I think your paperback book is, frankly, one of the best for getting started in sourdough baking. The second said of my two day Microbakery course: My time with you just turned my bread making […]

QED

Show your workings: equals: QED Nina’s Simple Danish Rye + Chocolate & Raisin Rye

Bad Breads

Here’s a dysfunctional family: the louche Dan de Campagne (look at those kiss marks), his consort, Black Olive, lurking behind, and their bastard offspring, Braidy, genetically two strands Campagne one strand Olive, cockily upright – the little prick. And what about this gang of ruffians: think they’re ciabatta but they’re more boot boys than slipper […]

Bethesdabakin10@Twickenham

The 10th annual Bethesdabakin’ weekend will be held this year in Twickenham, London August Bank Holiday weekend 27/28. A weekend’s baking for bakers of all standards based on shared costs which should be around £80.00 which includes hire of a catering kitchen, flours and ingredients + food. Details here Please share this information.

Fast Work

Look at this: No, it’s not mine. Maggie Parkhill in Australia bought a pdf version of Bethesdabasics. I only emailed it to her yesterday morning. This is her first loaf. Stick with me kids. I can make bakers of you all! Great stuff Maggie.

For Ted

For Ted, my Brother-in-Law, whose funeral we went to on Friday: I met one of my Nieces at the bar after and she said “Your Sue here?” which I heard as “You still here?” which as I remarked is a nice thing to say at a funeral. We died laughing …

In Knots

Passover was coincidental. Steffi next door has had her tonsils liberated and was in need of soft bread plus I wanted to try a single braid challah. Well it was going to be two loaves but I promise you I was totally unable to repeat a figure of eight knot and the dough was getting […]

Marcus’ Masterpiece

Was passing through Chester on Tuesday where us country folk pop into the huge Waitrose to marvel at all the goods on display for the city sophisticates. What do I spy on the cut-price shelves? And what does Dark Wheat Beer remind me of? Marcus Row’s Red Onion and Dark Wheat Beer Bread – a […]

Converting Yeast to Sourdough

Just had an email from Jeff, a recent student, saying that his breadmaking had really come on since doing the course. Feedback like that always cheers me up greatly but this time I also felt a pang of guilt. Why? because I said I’d covert his favourite recipe to sourdough and several weeks later it […]