Bread and other stuff
Just before the end of last year I sent a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to The Friends of Carl to get a sample of Carl Griffith’s 1847 Oregon Trail Sourdough Starter.
About a week ago I finally got around to reviving it and working up enough quantity of active starter to start a batch of bread. Finally yesterday morning I got started at about 9:30am. Now if you’re in a rush to make bread, sourdough is probably not the right leavening to use. After everything was put together and dough was kneaded, the first rise until doubled took 4 hours. The dough was then punched down, divided into equal pieces, put into loaf pans and second rise for an additional 2 hours. Into a 350F oven and 50 minutes later, two lovely, brown loafs of bread.
Recipe and baking comments are on my Cooking Blog.
Since I had to sit around here for 7 hours yesterday, I spent time on the blog. I’ve already mentioned the “100 Things” listing, but I spent time just doing tweaking of the blog, most of which will never be noticed.
At least one thing will be noticed… I’ve added a plugin that creates ‘Monster avatars’ depending on a commenters email address. That means that each person who comments will have distinct monster and that monster will continue to be yours as long as you use the same address. Cute, huh… 
Popularity: 37% [?]
Chery wrote:
Your bread looks wonderful, bet it smells and tastes great, too!
Got Feather and Fan tinked, yet?
Posted on 31-Jan-07 at 11:39 am | Permalink
Jennifer wrote:
Hi, the bread looks great. I haven’t been reading your blog for long, but I have enjoyed what I have read. I am hoping that you wonderful cooking references will inspire me.
I am also curious what my monster avatar looks like. What a cool gadget.
Posted on 31-Jan-07 at 1:45 pm | Permalink
Sheila wrote:
Hell, I couldn’t miss the chance to get my own little icon. The bread looks wonderful! Is it nice and sourdoughy?
Posted on 31-Jan-07 at 1:51 pm | Permalink
KC wrote:
Wow, sourdough Yum! your bread looks perfect!
Posted on 31-Jan-07 at 2:45 pm | Permalink
Lark wrote:
OMG!! Those loaves of bread got my mouth watering! They look delicious! You sure wear a lot of hats, Jerry. Writer, gardener, knitter, culinary expert, railroad tracker, photographer, biker, pizzaman…the list goes on and on. You are remarkable! I love reading your blog. And keep the gratitude list handy when you’re feeling down. We all love you!
Posted on 31-Jan-07 at 4:19 pm | Permalink
Mary de B wrote:
Oh, I have to comment just to see the monsters!
And maybe I’ll make some bread this weekend!
Posted on 31-Jan-07 at 5:25 pm | Permalink
Sheila wrote:
Oops! I missed your post yesterday, and didn’t want to miss seeing my monster. The bread looks heavenly.
Posted on 01-Feb-07 at 4:34 am | Permalink
Barbara wrote:
Those loaves are a thing(s) of beauty, if not a joy forever! Bring on the butter and jam. Umm.
Posted on 01-Feb-07 at 5:03 am | Permalink
Judy wrote:
Yum! That bread looks so good. I had a sourdough starter for awhile, but I was never very successful with it. I think I just didn’t wait long enough for a good rise.
OK… I really want to see my little monster. I’m a sucker for stuff like that. Is it a plugin?
Posted on 01-Feb-07 at 7:50 am | Permalink
Jerry wrote:
Thanks for everybody’s comments on the bread. It’s very tasty, though not as sour as I had hoped, but it may get better as the starter gets used.
And, ain’t the monsters cute?
Judy and any other wordpress users out there. MonsterID is a plugin available for wordpress and is *fairly* simple to install. You need to make an edit of the comment template, but the instructions on the website were easy to follow.
Posted on 01-Feb-07 at 9:08 am | Permalink
Molly Bee wrote:
Yum! Good looking bread! Save me a heel!
Posted on 01-Feb-07 at 1:36 pm | Permalink
Molly Bee wrote:
Oh My Gosh! My avitar IS a heel! I am the toast monster!
Posted on 01-Feb-07 at 1:36 pm | Permalink
Laurie wrote:
Was it very sour sourdough? I love the more sour sourdough and it isn’t always easy to find.
Posted on 02-Feb-07 at 11:22 am | Permalink
Jerry wrote:
Laurie — Unforturnately, this batch wasn’t very sour. The last time I used this starter (which I managed to kill off), it had a nice tang to it. But, while it made a tasty bread, it doesn’t taste like sourdough. I’m *hoping* that it gets more sour over time.
Posted on 02-Feb-07 at 12:30 pm | Permalink
Sarah wrote:
Ooh, the bread looks delicious! I’ve contemplated sending away for Carl’s Starter, but I fear it would go to waste since Blake hates sourdough bread. Sigh.
Love the monsters!
Posted on 03-Feb-07 at 1:55 pm | Permalink
Cheryl wrote:
The bread looks delicious!
Posted on 12-Feb-07 at 8:03 pm | Permalink