Bachelor breadbaking!

[Crow]

If y'all decide to make calzones, don't forget to poke a few little holes in the top crust to let the steam escape.

Otherwise......it's not pretty.

[lao tzu]

I always heard you had to poke holes in potatoes before baking them. I never do. In thirty years, I've only had two of them explode on me, and what was left was still okay to eat.

[Crow]

Some potatoes do explode--I've had it happen.

My biggest concern is the cleanup. Sure, dogs and possums can handle that for you, but then they leave their hairs and microbiotic buddies behind to taint your next meal.

In a calzone the problem is that if steam doesn't escape it forces the stuff inside to unglue the seams and all the good things ooze out.

[lao tzu]

My soon-to-be-infamous "Very wheat and walnut" bread is on its way.

Attachment 73825Attachment 73826

[Crow]

That looks like pretty decent dough.

[lao tzu]

Very wheat and walnut bread

2c whole wheat
1c white (bread flour, not all-purpose)
4T gluten
2T dry milk
1T farina (yeah, the cereal, don't ask ... it was there!)
handful walnuts (processed into paste in a coffee grinder)
1t salt (eyeballed, not measured)
3T peanut oil (same way)

1T yeast (scant ... probably closer to 2/3)
1T sugar
1c warm water

[lao tzu]

Comparison between first knead above and I dunno ... maybe a half hour in? Still first rise.

Attachment 73833Attachment 73834

[Teallaura]

Very wheat and walnut bread

2c whole wheat
1c white (bread flour, not all-purpose)
4T gluten
2T dry milk
1T farina (yeah, the cereal, don't ask ... it was there!)
handful walnuts (processed into paste in a coffee grinder)
1t salt (eyeballed, not measured)
3T peanut oil (same way)

1T yeast (scant ... probably closer to 2/3)
1T sugar
1c warm water

If you're having to add gluten...

Oh, never mind. Just pass the tomato soup...

[lao tzu]

Whoa! My photobooth app names files using timestamps!

11:54a dough snapshot
1:00p first rise third snapshot (I'm gonna make up an animated gif later.)

Attachment 73835Attachment 73836

Ready for punching.

[lao tzu]

1:00p punched
1:14p rekneaded
1:15p second rise, first snapshot

Attachment 73838
Attachment 73839
Attachment 73840

Sorry if this is getting photo-heavy, but I am reducing them in photoshop first.

[Crow]

gharfish still has you beat.

[lao tzu]

If you're having to add gluten...

I'm reading from the Gospel of Ma Cline, as revealed to Auntie Crow of the Possum Rugbeater.

Oh, never mind. Just pass the tomato soup...

I dunno. This dough feels like a good one. The gluten's supposed to keep it from crumbling, and it's definitely seen enough kneading to develop the strands.

Any way, I'm gonna make you bring the tomato soup. I'm a baker, not a soup-maker, Jim!

[Crow]

Ma Cline was a great cook.

She could make just about anything edible into a feast.

[lao tzu]

1:26p second rise
1:37p second rise
1:48p second rise

Attachment 73841
Attachment 73842
Attachment 73843

[Crow]

That is really rising fast.

You ought to get some good bread out of that.