Hello bread and grain friends,
I’ve been traveling, mostly visiting with friends and family, so we’ve had time to dream up new breads and bake together. I’m also looking forward to getting back home and seeing my family, including my little dog, who can’t text me back like the others, so I miss her with a bit more distance.
Here’s what’s going on in my kitchen this month:
Mama Bread
This month’s Mama bread is made with High Extraction Appalachian Dirty Blond from Carolina Ground. This is one of my favorite mills in the whole country, and I loved visiting with Jennifer Lapidus when I was in the area visiting family. The feel of the dough as I was folding was nothing short of luxurious, and the first time I made this with my nieces, they all kept going to the bowl, lifting the cover, and taking deep whiffs. This flour is a stunner!
Sesame Einkorn
This has become a staple in my home, and my favorite place to get einkorn is Bluebird. I buy it whole and grind it the night before I’m mixing my dough. The sesame is Anson Mills Sea Island benne seeds or sometimes I splurge on Daphnis and Chloe Evros heirloom sesame seeds because it’s a nod to the traveler in me, even when I can’t leave.
Challah
Now that Pesach is over, Challah is back on the menu. I love making Challah on Fridays and putting it out reverently on the dinner table, watching it whittle down as my family joyfully takes bites with our Shabbat dinner. This is the best way to end a busy week, and the loveliest threshold to a mandated time of rest. I feel so much gratitude in these small moments. My favorite recipe lately is from Breaking Breads by Uri Scheft of Breads Bakery in NYC (also in Tel Aviv). I’ve been making it lately with Glacier Peak flour from Cairnspring Mill.
Other news from the world of grain:
-Is sourdough more nutritious? This article tackled that question.
– 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.