Baby Steps … to Bread

The Premise

Family is visiting to help my wife and me with some medical issues. Baking some bread is the least I should do.

It turns out that my wife loves bread, cheese and sunflower seeds. I had originally planned a Focaccia so I had a few inclusions standing by. Instead of using Sun Dried Tomatoes, Olives, and various herbs, I simplified the recipe. I decided to use seeds, cheese, and raisins.

The Recipe

I made just one minor variation from Elaine Boddy’s Master Recipe. I didn’t stray far: 25% King Arthur Whole Wheat and 75% King Arthur’s Bread Flour. If unfamiliar, stop by foodbodsourdough.com and peruse Elaine’s Master Recipe. It works every time; even the no-preheat cold bake. I also took some liberties with the AutoLyse of just flour/water for an hour, followed by another hour of FermentoLyse with Starter, Salt, etc.

When to incorporate the inclusions? Well, I forgot to do so and it ended up being in the first shaping after Bulk Fermentation. I tried to eek out eight or nine more stretch *& folds, allowing the ingredients to incorporate. I don’t think this is Elaine’s preferred method but it seemed to work on this occasion.

Usually I’m quite picky about inclusions, weighing each and being fairly judicious. In this case I just went by feel and I went heavy, knowing I’d bake in my new Artisan Bread Maker pottery from Emile Henry. Quality cookware does make a difference in my humble opinion. I picked up this pan during a 65% Black Friday deal and it might already be a favorite.

Ingredients

• 400g King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flower 12.7%
• 100g King Arthur Whole-Grain Whole Wheat
• 375g Bottled Water heated to 90 degrees for the Autolyse
• 50g Active Starter (Bread Flower w/Whole Wheat)
• 10g Redmonds Salt
• 150g 24 month aged Vermont Light Cheddar, large grated…no chunks
• Approx. 50-75g of Sunflower Seeds
• Approx. 25g ground meat-pulp pistachio’s
• Approx. 50-75g California Golden Raisins

Conclusion

Everyone loved the bread and even to my surprise, my step-son said a lot of good things. He’s a really good cook and likes healthy cooking, but we still might have convinced him to give sourdough and breads a try. His mother also approved the bake, making me very happy.