Hello bread and grain friends,
It’s that end-of-the-schoolyear rush to get things wrapped up. I’m going to keep it short and sweet and just let you know what we’re eating around here.
Here’s what’s on the menu this month:
Mama Bread
This month’s Mama bread is made with a variety of flours from Hayden Flour Mills in Arizona. I love this mill, and when I saw that they were offering a baker’s bundle of different flours they developed with various bakers, I couldn’t help myself. What fun it’s been making my foundation loaves with nuances of flavor. Also, Emma Zimmerman (co-founder of Hayden and lovely human being) has a book out called The Miller’s Daughter, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
Sesame Einkorn
I got a new batch of Einkorn grain and I’ve been playing with it to figure out the hydration of the new harvest. In the meantime, I’m craving that alluring sesame crunch. The einkorn comes from Camas Country Mill, and the sesame is Anson Mills Sea Island benne seeds.
Ancient Grain Pita
I’ve always loved making pita, but I learned something new recently. The word pita mean bread in Aramaic! I’ve always wondered and researched about the origins of what we know as pita bread, those puffy pockets of goodness. When I learned that the word simply means bread, I was resolved to try it with the grains that were around when Aramaic ruled the world. I love the emmer pita a lot, but spelt and portions of einkorn and barley are wonderful, too! These grains come from Camas Country Mill and Lonesome Whistle.
With delight and gratitude,
Other news from the world of grain
-As mentioned above, this new book by the co-founder of Hayden Flour Mills is an exciting addition to the grain lover’s library. Check out The Miller’s Daughter by Emma Zimmerman.
-The Kneading Conference is happening this summer from July 26th to 28th. Keep a lookout on the Maine Grains site for more details.
– I am hosting a monthly Zoom meeting as a free resource for all bakers who want to ask questions and share ideas. It will be the first Sunday of each month, and you can join the by going to this link. Hope to see you there!
-For information about the Flour Hour experience on Airbnb, go here.