The Perfect Loaf - Sour Dough Blog

 Sour Dough Focaccia based on the recipe from the Perfect Loaf website

I have read many books, websites and practised sour dough making multiple times always with average success. But knew I was missing the next step up to making great sour dough bread, which is what I am seeking.

 A few months ago I stumbled on to this fantastic website The Perfect Loaf its just plain dirty bread porn at its best! The photos make you want to get straight in the kitchen and make bread. 
What I like about the site is the explanations are clear and concise, loads of great photos to show you each step and the timings help to fit the baking into the weekend without stressing. 
As I do have a habit of starting baking and waiting up at night for the bread to cool from the oven as I have miscalculated timings somewhat.

Beginners Sourdough Bread

So I followed the Beginners Sourdough Bread recipe noticing that his first attempts at making sour dough sounded like mine. i.e. very sour tasting and sad looking loaves of bread.

Had to cut a few corners on this recipe as at the time I did not have a banneton basket, so had to resort to using a tea towel in a bowl with loads of flour to prevent sticking for an over night proof in the fridge as in the directions. So the end result does not look as good as it should due to all the flour I left on the loaves. Don't judge me, i will do better next time I promise.

 Overnight in fridge all bagged up (with loads of flour)

Loaf One - Cross hatch undercut

Loaf Two - Basic cross hatch on top

Focaccia

So a few days ago I get a great email drop into the inbox from The Perfect Loaf - A Simple Focaccia I do love a good Focaccia. But a sour dough version you can make in a day, now you are talking!

As usual the pictures are drool some and it just has to be made 

I think the bread god's were against me today, it didnt seem to rise as much as i expected. I made sure the starter was healthy and fed the day before. Temperature was a bit low today and I rely on ambient temperature when proving dough.  Will give it another go another day and see if it comes out any better. Need to get  one of those nice bread proving ovens!

 Still not bad at all taste great, olive oil used was infused with garlic.

 
The bread proving oven I am looking at is this one from Brod & Taylor have seen it used in several places.  It is also used on The Perfect Loaf website. 

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