I needed a quick snack this morning and had insufficient heavy cream to make drop berry scone, and remembered Maggies Biscuits. These are delicious, short biscuits that are ready in less than an hour. Paired with jam or butter and they are perfect.
Maggie’s Six Biscuits
(Reproduced here in almost the original vernacular)
INGREDIENTS • 1 tsp Baking Soda • 1 tsp Salt • 1 tsp Sugar • ½ tsp Baking Powder • 1 ½ c AP Flour • 1 stick Cold Butter • 3/4 Sour Milk or Buttermilk (I soured whole milk with a bit o’lemon juice)
METHOD
Mix the dry ingredients.
Cut in the butter (fingers or pastry thingie, your choice) til it’s a shaggy mess … remembering that the less it’s messed with the flakier it’ll (like, I have to tell YOU that, 🤣).
Once it’s at the shaggy mess stage begin adding the liquid a bit at a time until it’s a soft dough … keeping in mind then”remembering” bit notes above.
Knead it a tiny bit.
Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, pat it into a rectangle about 1/2” high, spread some melted butter on it,
Fold in half, pat it into a rectangle about 1” high
Cut into 1½ “ circles, spread some melted butter on it, place on parchment papered baking sheet, and chill in the freezer as oven pre-heats, ~15 min
After reading a new recipe for sandwich bread I realized it was very similar to my “go to” artisan bread. The differences are two tablespoons of sugar are added to the water and yeast and allowed to rest for 10 minutes before adding the bread flour and salt, and the bread is baked in a greased loaf pan instead of a Dutch oven
The result is a very soft loaf with a softer crust than the artisan bread and perfect sandwich crumb. It’s amazing what such a small change can make in character of a bread. There is a time and place for everything.
Artisan Bread
INGREDIENTS • 450g (3 ¾ c) bread flour divided (For Italian Bread use AP flour)) • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast • 10g (1 ¾ tsp) kosher salt • 360g (1 ½ c) warm water between 120°F and 130°F (360 grams)
As an alternate add 2 tsp sugar, mix the water, yeast and sugar in a bowl and let set 10 minutes. Thoroughly mix in the flour and salt, cover with a towel and let sit for ~1 hour until doubled in size. Bowl fold as in step #4 below. Shape the dough, place into a greased loaf pan, slash the top, and let rise an additional 30 min. Bake 30-35 minutes at 375°F until the top is a golden brown or internal temperature is 190°F.
METHOD
In a large mixing bowl, add flour, yeast, and salt, stirring with a dutch dough whisk to combine. Stir in water until the mixture is very sticky, and no lumps of flour remain. a. Cover and place in a warm, draft-free area until doubled in size, about 1 ½ to 2 hours. b. Alternatively, for an overnight rise: After mixing the dough, cover and refrigerate until doubled in size. This will take about 8 hours but will keep in the fridge up to 24 hours total.
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a large dutch oven with a lid in the oven for at least 30 minutes.
If refrigerated, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
Using lightly floured hands, reach down one side of the dough to the bottom of the bowl, pull up, and stretch the edge of the dough over the center toward the opposite side. Turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat the folding and turning, working in a circle around the dough until the dough starts to hold its shape, about 8 to 10 rotations. Pinch any seams together at the center of the dough ball.
Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface, placing it seam side down. Shape into a boule or batard, depending on the intended use. Transfer the dough onto parchment paper lined banneton and sprinkle it with flour. (Alternatively, divide dough in half and form each into a small batard, place in a parchment paper line French bread form) Loosely cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel for 10 minutes while the oven heats to 450°F. Place a large dutch oven with a lid in the oven while it preheats.
Using a sharp knife or bread lame, cut a slit about ¼-inch deep across the top of the dough. Very carefully place the dough with the parchment paper directly into the preheated Dutch oven. Cover with the lid.
Bake for 15 minutes. (If making 2 smaller loaves shaped in french bread forms, bake for 12 minutes, on an oven rack positioned in the upper third of the oven then check internal temperature.) Remove the lid and bake until deeply golden brown and the internal temperature is about 195°F (~11 to 12 minutes more.) Carefully remove the bread from the Dutch oven using the parchment paper to help, and place on a wire rack to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing
This is the second Gathering of the immediate neighbors, plus a few others who comprise the QC Cadre. The Quality Control Cadre taste and review my bakes on a regular basis. This Gathering was offered both savory and sweet selections.
Pain de CristalPain de Cristal with oil and vinegar Turkey Peperocini wrapsBruschettaCaprese BitesOrange Flavored Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate and Crushed MacadamiasMini Key Lime PiesLots of Drinks with Ilayne’s Punch as the StarDecimated Offerings
Thanks to my semester of college German (barely passed) and Google Translate, I knew this would be a crusty bread. I saw this recipe and method in YouTube and decided to give it a try. It’s not terribly different from other breads I make, but did you and overnight room temperature proof (12-18 hours) to develop flavor and structure.
This morning it was evident the dough over proofed during the night. I could see on the bowl how high the dough rose on the glass and was down ~20% this morning. I shaped it and let it sit for 30 minutes as the oven pre-heated, hoping it would recover.
I baked it as directed and it did exhibit some oven spring and resulted in a nice, small flavorful loaf, but was wet, dense, and disappointing. Some possible remedies would be to use much less yeast (1/2 – 1/4 teaspoon,) or refrigerate the proofing overnight. Either should retard the proof and make the 12 hours not over proof the dough.
I have another recipe that the author claimed she learned from an Italian restaurant bake and will give that one a try next week. I have other fish to fry… or rather bakes to bake before then.
INGREDIENTS • 390 g (3 c) AP flour • 5 g (1½ tsp) active dry yeast • 360 g (1½ c) warm water • 6 g (1 tsp) salt • extra flour for dusting
METHOD
Mix the first four ingredients together in a large bowl with a Danish whisk. The dough will be sticky and look a mess!
Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and rest it on the counter (at room temperature) for at least 12 hours and up to 18 hours. The dough will rise and the top will be bubbly and sticky.
Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit inside of Dutch oven. Place paper on counter and sprinkle lightly with flour.
Lightly sprinkle flour on counter. Gently put the dough on it. Sprinkle a bit of flour on top pat into a rough rectangle and fold the dough over on itself twice, shaping it into an elongated ball.
Gently place onto parchment paper. Cover with a large bowl that doesn’t touch the dough.
Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C) and put your Dutch oven into the oven to heat for about 30 minutes.
Slash the top of the dough with a sharp knife or lame blade.
Remove preheated Dutch oven and, using oven mitts, gently lift parchment paper with dough into it and cover with lid. Return to oven.
Bake at 450°F for 30 minutes. Remove lid and continue baking for another 15 minutes or until bread is golden brown.
Remove to a cooling rack and let cool for about 1 hour before slicing.
This month’s challenge was to make a Cinnamon Swirl Cheesecake or alternatively an Orange Sweet Roll (which was my entry choice.) While cheesecake is fine, no one bakes one better than my son Dan who makes two for every New Years.
My only comment on Sally’s method is I think chilling the rolled dough for an hour before slicing would make the cutting easier and would not deform the shape.
The taste and texture were outstanding (a word I use too frequently, but is typically appropriate.)
Without doubt my favorite bread, but it is a pain to make (heh, heh.) This bread takes about 7 hours, start to finish, with hands on about every 20 minutes for the first 5 hours, but it’s so worth every minute.
Pain de Cristal is “Glass Bread” developed in the Catalan region of Spain. It has a crispy thin crust that fractures like glass. The interior has large air pockets and an amazingly light, soft, chewy crumb, perfect to dipping in oil and vinegar. This is another addition to our QC Cadre Gathering, and may be my best bake of this bread ever!
It’s a 100% hydration bread, meaning equal parts water and flour. Initially, it looks like pancake batter, but after a few folds and coils begins to exhibit some structure. It is alway fragile so a tender touch is required to may this tender bread.
Pre-bake with large bubblesPost-bakedFinal, with oil and vinegar or butter.
Pain de Cristal
INGREDIENTS • 500g water (80 F in warm weather, 100F if cold) • 500g Bread Flour • 3 g (1 tsp) instant yeast • 10g salt • 15g olive oil (for the casserole pan)
METHOD This is KAB’s method
To make the dough: Weigh your flour.
In a medium bowl, mix the water, flour, yeast, and salt until thoroughly combined and homogenous. Note: The dough starts off very slack and wet and resembles pancake batter. It will transform itself through time and folds.
Oil a two-quart rectangular baking dish, or casserole pan, (10” x 7”) with the olive oil. The sides should be greater than 1.5” high.
Pour the dough into the pan. Check the dough’s temperature by inserting a digital thermometer into the center. If it’s less than 72°F, move the pan to a warmer spot, e.g., your oven with the light turned on. The dough MUST ferment at a constant 72-78 F.
Cover the pan and allow the dough to rest for 20 minutes. (Elapsed time: 30 minutes)
Start with a bowl fold: Use your wet hands to grab a section of dough from one side, lift it up, then press it down into the middle. Repeat 8 to 12 times going around the periphery of the baking dish 2 or 3 times.
Cover the dish and allow the dough to rest for 20 minutes. (Elapsed time: 70 minutes)
Next do a coil fold: With wet hands, reach under the dough and stretch the middle upward until the dough releases from the dish. Roll it forward off your hands, allowing it to fold over (or “coil”) on itself. Rotate the dish 90 degrees (a quarter turn) and repeat. Continue performing this folding action until the dough will stretch and elongate easily, usually four to five times initially.
Cover the pan and allow the dough to rest for 20 minutes. (Elapsed time: 90 minutes)
Repeat the coil fold: Note: Do coil folds three more times, covering each time, to build strength and developing the dough. (60 more minutes.) (Elapsed time: 150 minutes)
At this point, the dough should be easier to handle and feel tighter. Repeat the coil fold using only two or three folds this time. Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rest for 20 minutes. (Elapsed time: 170 minutes)
Repeat the coil fold one last time, (5th coil fold) using only one or two folds if the dough is relatively strong and large bubbles should have formed. Transfer the dough to a larger, oil coated dish, cover the dish and allow the dough to rest for about 80 minutes. It should about triple in size. (After this rest 4 hours 10 minutes should have elapsed.)
Divide the dough: Coat the top of the dough with flour. Use a bowl scraper to gently release the dough from the sides of the pan.
As gently as possible, turn the dough out onto a heavily floured surface, keeping the rectangle or square shape – be careful not to deflate the delicate dough. Sprinkle a generous amount of flour on top of the dough, leaving no exposed sticky spots. a. For four small loaves: Working as gently as possible, use a bench knife or other sharp knife to divide it into four pieces. Gently place two pieces on a piece of parchment, leaving space between them. b. For two long loaves: lay two pieces of parchment paper, overlapping 2”. Carefully divide the dough in half lengthwise. Using a bench knife carefully slide some flour under each loaf and shape into regular rectangles. As gently as possible slide the loaves onto separate pieces of parchment paper. (Elapsed time: 5 hours) c. Allow the loaves to rest at room temperature for 1 hour, uncovered until large bubbles appear on the sides and surface. While the loaves are resting, preheat the oven to 475°F with a baking stone on a lower rack. The loaves are ready for the oven when there are a few large bubbles on the surface of each loaf, and they feel light and airy. (Elapsed time: 6 hours)
To bake the bread: Carefully slide the two loaves (still resting on the parchment) into the oven onto the preheated stone or steel. If space is tight and the full sheet of parchment won’t fit on the stone or steel, cut the parchment between the two loaves and arrange them as best you can. Allow the other two loaves to continue to rest. a. Bake the loaves for 15 minutes, then transfer them, from the stone or steel, directly onto a rack in the upper third of the oven for an additional 13 to 15 minutes. Moving them allows the baking stone or steel to become hot again in preparation for the next two loaves. After a total of 30 minutes of baking, remove the loaves from the oven and allow them to cool on a rack. (Elapsed time: 6 ½ hours)
Repeat the process with the two remaining loaves or loaf. Cool the bread fully before slicing.
Storage information: Wrap the bread loosely and store it at room temperature for up to several days; freeze for longer storage.
It’s nearly time for another QC Cadre gathering. We welcomed new neighbors last month and will introduce them to the Cadre in a couple of weeks. The menu is under development and practice bakes are underway.
Yesterday I made baguettes in anticipation of today’s bruschetta. I made baguettes several times in the past, but none recently. (They came out great this time too.)
This morning I made the marinated tomato topping (along with an artisan bread for sandwiches etc.) It was delicious. Next time I will chop the browned garlic. I changed the recipe to reflect this alteration.
Classic Bruschetta
INGREDIENTS FOR THE TOMATOES • 2 Tbl extra-virgin olive oil • 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced • 2 large tomatoes, diced • 1/8 c. (2 Tbl) thinly sliced basil • 1 Tbl balsamic vinegar • ½ tsp kosher salt • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
FOR THE BREAD • ½ large baguette, sliced ¼” thick on the bias • Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing • 1 clove garlic, halved
METHOD
Preheat oven to 400°.
In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, heat oil. Add garlic and cook until lightly golden, 2 to 4 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool, then chopped.
In a large bowl, toss together tomatoes, basil, vinegar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Add garlic and oil and toss to combine. Let marinate for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, toast bread: Brush bread on both sides lightly with oil and place on large baking sheet. Toast bread until golden, 10 to 15 minutes, turning halfway through. Let bread cool for 5 minutes, then rub tops of bread with halved garlic cloves.
Spoon tomatoes on top of bread just before serving.
Daniels recipe: fresh basil and tomatoes, olive oil, salt, good quality balsamic, toasted baguette with olive oil, topped with fresh Parmesan
aBatteredOldSuitcase 