tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18069876.post6381219067743149631..comments2010-09-09T12:33:22.074-07:00Comments on loaves and wishes: The Quest For The Perfect BaguetteErikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089100062833089264noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18069876.post-25856399074329316032010-08-05T13:50:29.394-07:002010-08-05T13:50:29.394-07:00I love this post. It's great how much we all s...I love this post. It's great how much we all still have to learn about baking, no? Even those advanced students, they're still learning.<br /><br />Flour is something I find very weird. After not baking for a long time, I baked my first loaf in Germany, and it was a disaster. I picked up baking, and with the help of the BBA, was able to master German flour. Last winter, when I visited relatives in California, I noticed how the flour over there was ground finer.<br /><br />On the lame, I usually use a double edge razor blade (the kind you have to ask for in drug stores) on a wooden coffee stirrer.<br /><br />But you know what. You're still right. No matter what any other baker says. For your flour and your yeast and your bread and your <i>kitchen,</i> you are the only one who decides what is right and what is wrong about your bread. You can pick up a few tips, but it is ultimately you who decide when the bread is ready and when it goes in the oven. It's something you learn with experience by baking in your own kitchen and also by baking somewhere else, whether it be the dream course you took- wish I could take one there- or at a friend's house where you have to bake bread in a cake pan because it's all they have.<br /><br />I never do a window pane. It would never come out, even though I thought the bread was ready. And then again, sometimes when I just felt like it. The bread came out awesome.<br /><br />Last thing, check out the stretch and fold technique. I was totally skeptical until I tried it and the bread came out awesome. See, even I have tons to learn.<br /><br />I look forward to more posts and more bread!misterrioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13592448795429871681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18069876.post-75073644192213904492010-07-30T13:18:15.341-07:002010-07-30T13:18:15.341-07:00Hi! I just read your comment on my TFL blog, so go...Hi! I just read your comment on my TFL blog, so good to read your write-up! I really want to go back to SFBI to take more classes but real life and distance make it a bit hard. ;) Can't wait to see what other great breads you make next!<br /><br />-- txfarmer/yingtxfarmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526311473848217386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18069876.post-30492123118681096422010-07-24T17:25:33.337-07:002010-07-24T17:25:33.337-07:00I can tell you the freedom that comes from your la...I can tell you the freedom that comes from your last comment... "Stop staring through the window pane."<br /><br />For me it is a window "pain."<br /><br />I would love to do this. Maybe I can get hubby to send me out there. Need to start saving now. The airfare (from TX) will probably cost more than the class. :)<br /><br />DonnaDonna @ Way More Homemadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023742893411141413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18069876.post-74958787673310728052010-07-23T20:08:54.729-07:002010-07-23T20:08:54.729-07:00I'm glad you all had fun hearing about the cla...I'm glad you all had fun hearing about the class. I really wanted to share all that I learned, since all of you bba bakers who have gone before me have taught me so much. One of my fellow students was Ying, who was one of the first to finish the challenge. You should check out her blog on the Fresh Loaf (search for "txfarmer"). She makes some seriously beautiful bread.Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04089100062833089264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18069876.post-65124433072928079762010-07-23T16:58:13.138-07:002010-07-23T16:58:13.138-07:00Awesome write up. It sounds like you had an incred...Awesome write up. It sounds like you had an incredible (and envy-inducing) 2 days. I know I have to keep reminding myself that practice makes "perfect" - it sure is fun practicing, don't you think? :)Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03341825553830122060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18069876.post-77952416229639209972010-07-23T14:27:42.778-07:002010-07-23T14:27:42.778-07:00Great write-up! It sounds like you had an amazing ...Great write-up! It sounds like you had an amazing experience. I'm convinced that the two best things you can do to improve your baking are (1) learn from a pro and (2) bake tons of bread. I think you're well on the way to baguette perfection.gaaarphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06554281973064103131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18069876.post-21089424968435992762010-07-23T06:39:00.637-07:002010-07-23T06:39:00.637-07:00What an amazing experience. You've inspired m...What an amazing experience. You've inspired me to find a bread making class in Iowa.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18185341747130449307noreply@blogger.com