So, for the last decade plus I have been slowly cutting processed foods out of my life. First it started with making my own salad dressings. I forget where it went from there.
Now I make all my own condiments (ketchup and mustard are soooo easy and keep so long, and mayo is fast), and we pretty much cook everything from scratch. We keep things simple, but that can be soooo good.
Oh, we do not really go out to eat. There were only 3 restaurants we ever eat at, and one closed. One of the restaurants is the one we had our first date where we have also eat at 3 times a year before the pandemic and they even catered our wedding. We hope to get there this year for our anniversary.
Anyhoo, about 5 years or so ago I started on making bread!
Like really getting in there - making it as often as I could to try to learn the 'feel' which is so important.
Then I slowly lost the use of my hands - could not knead anymore. (Yeah, depression kicks in)
Then at the beginning of COVID our oven went out, and honestly we have not had the need to replace it, other than I miss baking cookies or cakes.
Then I think last year we bought a bread machine for our anniversary (we do not buy gifts for each other, we decide on something we both want and purchase that). So I got into making the usual breads, and of course pizza (we have pizza stones on the grill and make the best pizza in our opinions - no need to go anywhere). Sort of back in the saddle.
But I wanted a nice delicious european style bread - a crusty boule that smells so good you just want to tear into it.
Well, slowly go the right tools over time, and although I am still learning techniques, this is our first boule proofed in a banneton, cooked in a dutch oven on the grill.
I am a proud papa and will happily eat this little wonder!
Next step is exploring sourdough. I have one of those samples of the "150 year old San Francisco sourdough" starter, so we will see! I grew up near SF and dearly miss that San Francisco Sourdough taste. (the instructions are daunting though)
Okay, but I reached this point...back to soaping...?
And making MORE DISCO STACHE WAX! untz...untz....untz...untz...
Now I make all my own condiments (ketchup and mustard are soooo easy and keep so long, and mayo is fast), and we pretty much cook everything from scratch. We keep things simple, but that can be soooo good.
Oh, we do not really go out to eat. There were only 3 restaurants we ever eat at, and one closed. One of the restaurants is the one we had our first date where we have also eat at 3 times a year before the pandemic and they even catered our wedding. We hope to get there this year for our anniversary.
Anyhoo, about 5 years or so ago I started on making bread!
Like really getting in there - making it as often as I could to try to learn the 'feel' which is so important.
Then I slowly lost the use of my hands - could not knead anymore. (Yeah, depression kicks in)
Then at the beginning of COVID our oven went out, and honestly we have not had the need to replace it, other than I miss baking cookies or cakes.
Then I think last year we bought a bread machine for our anniversary (we do not buy gifts for each other, we decide on something we both want and purchase that). So I got into making the usual breads, and of course pizza (we have pizza stones on the grill and make the best pizza in our opinions - no need to go anywhere). Sort of back in the saddle.
But I wanted a nice delicious european style bread - a crusty boule that smells so good you just want to tear into it.
Well, slowly go the right tools over time, and although I am still learning techniques, this is our first boule proofed in a banneton, cooked in a dutch oven on the grill.
I am a proud papa and will happily eat this little wonder!
Next step is exploring sourdough. I have one of those samples of the "150 year old San Francisco sourdough" starter, so we will see! I grew up near SF and dearly miss that San Francisco Sourdough taste. (the instructions are daunting though)
Okay, but I reached this point...back to soaping...?
And making MORE DISCO STACHE WAX! untz...untz....untz...untz...