What small mse things will you do this week? 12/02

foxgloves

Hi PurpleFairy,
I've been making a weekly sourdough loaf since last summer & am still using my original jar of culture. Am amazed, as was complete sourdough novice & thought I might have killed it by now! We both like sourdough toast but they are expensive to buy......£3 or £4 is not unusual in the farm shops up our way, so I decided to look into baking my own.
I borrowed a book from the library.....author is James somebody or other who was on 'GB Bake-off' a few years ago....a young Scottish student. I used the instructions for his sourdough jar but I used half a grated apple instead of whatever it was he suggested, in with the usual flour & water. Our house is very cold, so I am taking the jar our of the fridge 24 - 48 hours before I want to make the dough & feeding it. It's very easy. I give it 4 heaped tablespoons of flour & enough water to make it the right consistency & a good stir, & that's it. I really struggled with shaping the first few loaves. I don't have proving baskets & any fancypants paraphernalia, so I was leaving it to prove in a bowl, then turning it out & shaping it before lifting it into a bowl lined with a heavily floured tea towel for 2nd proving, then I'd tip it onto a pre-heated baking sheet sprinkled with semolina & bake it. The flavour was lovely but the loaves looked like big cow pats. I did improve my shaping when a very nice person gifted me a sourdough baking book. I learned a few tips & how to shape, but it was still tricky without a proper basket, so (here's the cheaty bit....), I bought myself one of those weird-looking Lekue silicon bread tin thingies from Lakeland. £20, but I don't regret a single penny of it, as although I still mix up the dough in a normal bowl, I give it a thorough knead, then transfer it straight to the Lekue thing, cover it with an oiled recycled bread bag & leave it to rise. This is slow progress in our cold kitchen, so I leave it overnight & bake the following day when it looks sufficiently big enough. I chuck a bit of water in the bottom of the oven when it goes in as the steam is supposed to assist with rising. So far, I've only attempted standard white sourdough, but we love it & I'm making one every week. I also use the Lekue tin to bake a weekly standard wholemeal loaf. Lakeland have just brought out a titchy one, but mine is the standard one you'd want for a proper sized loaf.
You're right that the dough is wetter. It feels different to knead, & that's why I think it's so difficult to shape without cheating. Anyway, I was interested to hear you are trying sourdough baking & thought I would share my limited experience as this time last year, I'd never baked one either!
Cheers, m'duck,
F xx

PurpleFairy26

foxgloves wrote: »

Hi PurpleFairy,
I've been making a weekly sourdough loaf since last summer & am still using my original jar of culture. Am amazed, as was complete sourdough novice & thought I might have killed it by now! We both like sourdough toast but they are expensive to buy......£3 or £4 is not unusual in the farm shops up our way, so I decided to look into baking my own.
I borrowed a book from the library.....author is James somebody or other who was on 'GB Bake-off' a few years ago....a young Scottish student. I used the instructions for his sourdough jar but I used half a grated apple instead of whatever it was he suggested, in with the usual flour & water. Our house is very cold, so I am taking the jar our of the fridge 24 - 48 hours before I want to make the dough & feeding it. It's very easy. I give it 4 heaped tablespoons of flour & enough water to make it the right consistency & a good stir, & that's it. I really struggled with shaping the first few loaves. I don't have proving baskets & any fancypants paraphernalia, so I was leaving it to prove in a bowl, then turning it out & shaping it before lifting it into a bowl lined with a heavily floured tea towel for 2nd proving, then I'd tip it onto a pre-heated baking sheet sprinkled with semolina & bake it. The flavour was lovely but the loaves looked like big cow pats. I did improve my shaping when a very nice person gifted me a sourdough baking book. I learned a few tips & how to shape, but it was still tricky without a proper basket, so (here's the cheaty bit....), I bought myself one of those weird-looking Lekue silicon bread tin thingies from Lakeland. £20, but I don't regret a single penny of it, as although I still mix up the dough in a normal bowl, I give it a thorough knead, then transfer it straight to the Lekue thing, cover it with an oiled recycled bread bag & leave it to rise. This is slow progress in our cold kitchen, so I leave it overnight & bake the following day when it looks sufficiently big enough. I chuck a bit of water in the bottom of the oven when it goes in as the steam is supposed to assist with rising. So far, I've only attempted standard white sourdough, but we love it & I'm making one every week. I also use the Lekue tin to bake a weekly standard wholemeal loaf. Lakeland have just brought out a titchy one, but mine is the standard one you'd want for a proper sized loaf.
You're right that the dough is wetter. It feels different to knead, & that's why I think it's so difficult to shape without cheating. Anyway, I was interested to hear you are trying sourdough baking & thought I would share my limited experience as this time last year, I'd never baked one either!
Cheers, m'duck,
F xx

I'm so impressed with your knowledge I've taken a photo of my screen with your post on so I can refer back in future. Cow pat would be a good summary of the shape before it went in the oven :rotfl: it's currently still baking so I will let you know later how it outurns.

Last weekend my smallest small had beans on toast Whilst we were away and they came on cheese and ale sourdough which was amazing. That'll be my goal if I can master it.

One-step-at-a-time

Thanks Happy Kitties!

Today's things:
All accounts logged into and checked
Spreadsheet updated
SOA tweaked to show new phone deal

Tomorrow's things:
Photograph and list a bunch of things on eBay
Carry on making bits to sell at craft market next month
Start clearing utility room and sort out recycled boxes I can reuse for eBay stuff


Wishing everyone a lovely weekend! :beer:

foxgloves

PurpleFairy - oooh, I will have to try mixing a sourdough up with beer instead of water....what a good idea. I've just got my loaf out of the oven. Shape never a problem now that I always bake it in aforementioned cheaty thing.....big golden crusty rugby ball!

More stuff:
*Entered competition.
*Forgot to mention....Waitrose had heaps of posh little YS desserts, I think intended for Valentine's day. All half price. We bought 2 of the little raspberry heart ones.....which worked out cheaper than the 2 yoghurts I'd been looking at earlier.
*Use-it-up......dregs of kitchen handsoap diluted, last of foundation extracted using coffee stirrer & still using that pesky last bit of lippy with trusty lipbrush.
*First seedling of the year has popped up.....a baby chilli plant.
Well mr f is having some leisure time blowing aliens up so I think I will head for a gloriously bubbly bath.
Am feeling really up for money saving at the moment. I feel it's THE most sensible approach, especially with the uncertain economic future & it's greener too, to be generally consuming a lot less stuff.
F x

PurpleFairy26

Ha ha foxgloves I went to mr w too as I couldn’t face mr t for just a couple of things and I got the same mousses for dessert. :rotfl: a smal attempt to mask the veggie dish we’re having first

Well sour dough didn’t look good but tastes lovely. Smalls had some for tea.

Going to investigate Lakeland thing, I was tempted before but talked myself out of it as I have the BM. May be worth it now though. I have enough spends left this month as a treat to us if needed.

Also got some ys kiwi which dd1 has just announced she liked and a free coffee, mag and paper at the shop. Also picked up a couple of nice looking recipes on free cards.

‘Treated’ us to some frozen croissants to cook from raw iyswim tomorrow as someone mentioned breakfast out so £2 or so instead for them will be a treat

Managed to vacuum downstairs and upstairs. DH currently deep cleaning part of kitchen.

We were planning to go to the big smoke tomorrow but foot has put paid to that. Think we’re going to stay at home and do some spring cleaning instead :money:

I’m off to read my free things and some of my book and maybe a deep bath with something from my use it up beauty box.

foxgloves

Lol, Purple Fairy....in my defence (re Lakeland spend), I bought one after my bread machine bust. I decided not to buy another bread BM because this was my 2nd & it developed exactly the same fault as the first.....refusing to mix properly, then refusing to mix AT ALL, until all I was basically hand mixing & kneading dough & using BM to prove & bake it. So I bought the Lekue thing instead of buying a new bread machine, so in context, it was quite money saving. I did baulk at £20 for essentially a rubber tin, but to be fair, I haven't turned out a cr*p loaf since I've had it. You just fasten the top when it's proved & into the oven it goes.
Not that I'm encouraging you to get spendy x

allydowd

Hi February Fabulistas,

Snatching a breath between a split shift.


Debt Free-Nillionaire Continuity Plan Year Three:

* Work very hard on my own mental health issues. Do App.

* Check online banking and broadband usage.

* Turned off alarm clock until tonight, it resets itself automatically.

* Checked DW's mobile phone internet allowance.

* I was desperate for a pizza when I got in from work and was contemplating walking to the supermarket to buy one. Made myself toast with tomato puree, basil and cheese on top instead.

To live without risk is to risk not living.

allydowd

News:

Stamp prices are going up. If you buy a stamp marked 1st or 2nd class now it will still be valid once the price rises on 26 March. (Link)

PurpleFairy26

Morning all :hello: bit dull and drizzly here so washing will need to go on the airer. Other things today:

Got some bacon and bread out of freezer to make stuffing for lunch tomorrow
Will peel veg later too probably and maybe make cheese sauce for cauliflower
Check banking
Check for surveys
Do some spring cleaning and sort out pile of paperwork
Sort through clothes in girls room as have a local sale coming up and I can start labelling will also have a charity shop and rubbish bag in there too
E mail details to cc they need for my complaint
Some relaxation later tonight, book and something off free tv
Try and make a decision on some carpet

Think that’s about all for now. Have a good day folks.

DawnW

Morning all
Up early with DH, as he has gone out for the day. As for me, I am here with my brother, who is parked in his usual spot and DD2 will be bringing the children round later :cool:

Given all of the above, I have decided that it is pointless to have too ambitious a list, so I have / will:
HG fruit from freezer instead of bought fresh fruit for breakfast Done
Folded dry washing off airer and put in airing cupboard - managed to get 2 loads fairly dry outside yesterday Done
Sorted out some items for brother to take with him to his HA flat - I won't be banking on this till he gets the keys, but it is my most fervent dream atm. He has had a long telephone interview, and was told he can have it, but there doesn't seem to be any official confirmation. Hopefully they haven't told others the same thing :eek:The HA get the keys back on the 25th and then have to check it over etc. Hopefully all will be ok, they will be happy with the information he has been asked to provide and he will be able to move in soon! I don't really know how these things work.

Anyway, I have put in a bag a duvet, 2 old duvet sets, some odd extra pillow cases, a couple of old towels and a bath mat. Some good decluttering there

Cleaned bathroom while I was upstairs Done
Checked banks Done
Did an online survey Done
Sold an ebay item
Got next week's RM surveys items ready Done
Got some rhubarb out of the freezer to cook for breakfasts (I like any kind of fruit with porridge and Greek yogurt) Now cooked, in oven with sausages
There is plenty of soup for everyone's lunch Done
Sausages, mash and onion gravy for dinner, with more of the veg I bought from the market Done
Dog will need a walk later Done
Not planning any spending, so hoping for a NSD Nothing spent, apart from handing neighbour money for a nearly new slow cooker I agreed to buy off her the other day. We agreed the sale / price on Thursday, so in my mind, the money was spent then - £15 and it has been used once. It is a nice big one, a good make, which she originally bought for her cafe, but it wasn't big enough for what she wanted, so then bought a bigger one Anyway, it will be great for batch cooking, and my old, smaller one can go to my brother.

And if I manage to get anything else done, it will be a miracle :T
It was a lovely day, so DD and I took the children to the park