The boule
Was googling for eggless bread recipes the other day, and stumbled upon this really challenging French Bread at Pixie's blog
here. Her pictures looked so pretty, I just had to have that bread and since there was no other way to have it, I ended up making it myself. I also felt happy that I was attempting a DB recipe as I am now a proud albeit so-so member of the group. I found the recipe
here as directed by Pixie - Breadchick has given a beatiful step by step pictorial on the making, and you should see Helen's bread
here with an innovative chocolatey twist - she makes all things look bright and beautiful:)
I made the mistake of starting the bread making process at 6:30p.m. I lost my Saturday night sleep, as the bread was still getting done at 1:30a.m. I managed to finish 'Absolute power' by David Baldacci which thankfully was gripping enough to keep me awake. I also made it to the next morning's cycling trip at 6:30a.m. though I slept at 2.00a.m. Only thing is I came back after 20km instead of completing the trip.
The first raise
The second raise
Third and final raise
Forming the baguette
The rockhard baguette
The bread itself looked nice - with neat holes and proper crumbs. My only complaint is that the salt is way too much - double the required amount - and that the crust was harder than any bread I have made!
Part of the baguette was a disaster. I got involved in the novel, did not realize that I had timed the oven for only 10 minutes when I put the bread in. The alarm must have gone off after some time but I was oblivious to that, and when I did remember after sometime, the bread was half baked. I again set the oven and baked it, but the baguette turned hard. So hard I could have actually hit a burglar with it! My husband doggedly ate it by dipping it in hot tea. I had a bite, and was afraid that my teeth may fall off so we had to throw the long one in the bin.
The other half - the boule - was good, but like I said earlier, the crust was harder than any other breads I have had!
I used them for making cheese chilly toast that evening. The recipe follows in the next post!
