Sourdough Bread Class at the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano

...eart-healthy, bread baking workshops: Saturday, June 21, 1-3 to make Sourdough and/or Sunday, June 22, 1-3p to make Sourdough rye! Topics discussed will include: How to make your own sourdough starter (also known as a levain) Types of flour How to simulate a commercial bread oven at home Hydration ratios Kitchen tools for bread baking Shaping a boule Working with whole grains Troubleshooting We’ll provide ingredients, and everyone will go home wit...

Read…

Our Daily Bread: Sonora Sesame Za’atar Bread

...ert in the 17th century. It has a light yellow color and makes a delicious bread. Sonora wheat tastes great plain but, inspired by Josey Baker’s book, I’ve been adding additional ingredients for some variety. This week I added some sesame seeds and one of my favorite spices, za’atar. Sonora Sesame Za’atar Bread The night before mixing your dough create a pre-ferment: 56 g Sonora wheat (or any whole wheat) 67 g water 10 g sourdough starter In a sep...

Read…

Baking Bread with Specialty Malts

...dough. Instead, I got better results by starting with a wet dough and letting the grain soften during a very long bulk fermentation and proof. An important last step was to put a bowl over the loaf after it came out of the oven to lock in the moisture. I would never do this with most kinds of bread, but this style of dense German/Scandinavian bread really benefits from a wet post-bake sauna. In addition to further softening the specialty grain it...

Read…

How to Bake a Traditional German Rye Bread

...I make it (recipe based on Hadjiandreou’s caraway rye sourdough): 70% Rye Bread with Caraway-based on a recipe by by Emmanuel Hadjiandreou from How to Bake Bread Starter 125 grams dark rye flour 125 grams water 1 Tbsp mature starter Final Dough 350 grams dark rye flour 150 grams white bread flour 10 grams sea salt 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 250 grams rye sourdough starter (see step one) 475 grams warm water Building the starter First build: take on...

Read…

The Food and Flowers Freedom Act

...Hall will change the law quickly and let L.A. become a leading center for urban farmers. Urban farming provides access to more local, organic, affordable, fresh and nutritious food. In this time of economic crisis and rising food prices, urban farming can help create green jobs and stimulate the growth of artisanal home-based businesses. Urban farmers help build community bonds and bring a truly local flavor to farmers’ markets. Angelinos care de...

Read…