Technical details

I still have most of last week's loaf of bread, so I won't be making anything new this week.  Instead, I decided to write about the details of my process.  Let's start with my bread machine.  I've been baking bread with a machine for more than 30 years, I think.  The machine that I'm using is a Toastmaster TBR 15.  I was skeptical that this model was still for sale, but sure enough, you can buy it from Amazon.

When I started this sourdough-with-my-bread-machine project, I thought I might have to experiment with the various cycles available from the machine.  I sought out the manual that detailed the times for each of the cycles.  In the end, I just use the whole wheat cycle for everything.

While we are on the subject, I have also standardized on a starter preparation.  Earlier, some of my recipes called for 6 oz. of starter and some called for 4 oz. of starter.  I've found success with just using the 4 oz. procedure for everything.  Now, my standard starter preparation is:

Discard half of the starter from the fridge.  Add 4 oz. of white flour (by weight, that's 3/4 cup by volume) and 4 oz. of water (weight and volume ounces are the same for water).  Set in a warm place for about 6-8 hours until it doubles in size.  Remove 4 oz. of the refreshed starter (by weight) for the recipe sponge.  Add 4 oz. of water and 4 oz. of white bread flour and set it in a warm place for 6-8 hours.  Put the remaining starter back in the fridge for next time.

As I have adapted to my summer schedule (I usually play golf on weekend mornings), I have been allowing more than 8 hours for each step above.  The starter refresh procedure happens over night.  I usually prepare it after dinner, so I don't forget before going to bed.  That has it growing for about 10 hours before I prepare my sponge.  I do that at about 7AM the next morning, and don't get around to making the bread until around 3PM.  That is 8 hours.  I've had good success with this schedule, so perhaps longer growing times for these first two steps are better.

That's all of the details for this week.  Now, I have a question for you.  Who are you?  Every time that I post something to this blog, I see two views within a minute or two of posting.  I suspect that this might be some sort of automatic viewer.  Then, within a few more minutes there are a few more views.  It appears to me that I have a few loyal readers, but you've never left me a comment.  Let me know what you think of this blog.  Is there anything that you'd like to see?