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Peter Reinhart’s Kaiser Rolls with Pâte Fermentée

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

The distinguishing characteristics of a Kaiser roll / bun (In German, it's known as a Kaisersemmel, Kaiserbrötchen or Sternsemmel) is the star pattern on the top, a thin, slightly crisp crust and a soft, dense, and chewy crumb. They are invented in Vienna, and thought to have been named to honor Emperor Franz Joseph. In the 18th century, the price and weight of the bread roll were regulated by law. In 1789, the bakers' association therefore sent a delegation to Emperor Joseph II to ask for free pricing for the roll. The emperor was so impressed with the bakers' craftsmanship that he approved the removal of the roll from the statutes and the roll was therefore called the emperor's roll / Kaisersemmel.
They are excellent for all kinds of savory and sweet breakfast toppings but also a great base for any sandwich variations. The traditional method for sharing a kaiser roll requires a series of overlappign folds, like making a paper flower. I am using Peter Reinhart’s simpler knotted roll design showed on The Bread Baker's Apprentice page 82. If you want them to be perfect, use a kaiser roll stamp or use an apple cutter to make the roll more like a rosetta.
Pâte Fermentée is the French word for ‘old dough’, a type of preferment that can either be freshly prepared or a piece of "old" bread dough separated from the last dough after bulk fermentation. It is made up of flour, water, salt and commercial baker’s yeast. It is the only yeasted pre-ferment that contains salt. It gives a complex flavour to the bread, it enhances crust colour and makes the gluten network stronger, making the resulting rolls significantly better than their commerical counterparts.

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Sourdough Bread with Old Bread and Seeds

Saturday, July 09, 2022

To keep bread fresh for longer, it really only needs one thing: more water. Easier said than done, because simply dumping more water into the dough just doesn't work. Depending on the variety, flour can only absorbs a limited amount of liquid. The higher the W-value of a flour or its protein content, the more water can be bound. For example, the most highly refined soft flour has a W index of between 90 and 180. It absorbs up to 50% of its weight in water. Plain flour has a W index of between 180 and 250 and absorbs up to 65% of water. Spelt contains less gluten than wheat, and can therefore bind less water. As a general rule, the darker the wheat flour, the better its ability to absorb liquid. The lighter the flour, the more coarse-pored, fluffy and soft the crumb of a loaf can develop. Basically, old bread porridge is just flour cooked with water, which causes some of the starch to gelatinize, very similar to 'tangzhong' method, which helps retain a lot of moisture in dough. But in this recipe I am using old bread instead to make this 'pudding or porridge-like' starter.
I love adding nuts and seeds to my bread. If you do too, then one thing to rememeber is to soak the seeds and nuts beforehand. Otherwise, they take the moisture out of the dough and the bread will become dry again. The seeds are brewed with boiling water and get swollen with water. Cool it before adding to the bread, where they provide taste, bite and great nutritional value.

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Single Strand Swiss Butter Braids / Einstrang-Butterzöpfchen

Thursday, July 07, 2022

Sweet braided buns made from only one strand! Butterzopf is probably the most famous Swiss bread and usually baked in the form of a plait. These single-strand braids are about the size of regular buns, and can be halved and spread deliciously with butter and honey or jam, and enjoyed for breakfast or afternoon coffee. For these mini braids, I used a commercial yeast dough without a preferment, so they are rather simple and quick to make. Retarding dough overnight in the refrigerator adds flavour, improves texture and gives you much more flexibility as to when you can bake your bread. If desired, sprinkle some large pearl sugar, nuts or seeds on tops.

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Chive Blossom Salt

Monday, July 04, 2022

Finishing salts are an easy and perfect way to use the herbs in your garden and they make beautiful and delicious handmade gifts for the family and friends. The chive blossom salt not only tastes fantastic, but also looks great with its light purple colour.
You can use chive blossom salt on grilled meats and veggies, sprinkle it over avocado toast, and salads, or use it to make a compound butter. My favourite way to use it is to season a blue steak, salad, roasted asparagus and Quark cheese-so simple yet so dang tasty.

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Hearty Whole Spelt Chia Bread

Friday, July 01, 2022

This spelt bread recipe is as delicious and easy to make as it is nutritious. Chia seeds and flax seeds contain nutrients like fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids and can help lower blood pressure, improve heart and bone health. This is a delicious, quick bread recipe for a wonderfully juicy spelt bread that's jam packed full of goodness with golden flax seeds and sunflower seeds. Easy to make yourself and super healthy. Enjoyed it with butter, cheese, and / or your favorite cold cuts, this wholesome bread is a delicious, healthy treat for breakfast.

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