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[beulah59]

Do you use steam in the oven when you bake it? A tray of hot water on the bottom of the oven, or a hand-held spray just as you put it in the oven ... isn't that supposed to make it a bit lighter?

[Daphne]

Thanks for the tip about the water - I shall enquire. I know sometimes there is a little ramekin of water in the oven with the bread, but I'm not sure if it is always there. Even if it is, perhaps the surface area needs to be greater

 

I'll also take a look at the links

[Lesley]

We use an old roasting tin in the bottom of the oven and add a cupful of water to it just before the bread is ready to go in, close the door for 30 seconds or so then put the bread in, we also spritz the loaf with a fine mister .

[Purplemaniacs]

I had read this post with interest.

 

Did anyone see Paul Hoolywood made a sourdough starter tonight?

 

I am very tempted to have a go, his recipe used grapes, has anyone tried this?

 

Chrissie

[Groovychook]

I had read this post with interest.

 

Did anyone see Paul Hoolywood made a sourdough starter tonight?

Chrissie

No, I didn't, but thanks for the prompt. I'll go and see if I can watch it on iplayer.

My starter is still in the fridge and I haven't used it as yet. Mr Hollywood might encourage me to have a go at baking a loaf!

Having got it to the fridge stage, I've been too scared to get it out again in case it dies a death

[Daphne]

I was watching last night and thought of this thread . He raves about sourdough as toast, and I agree, it is delicious. But he also said you need to make the white choc and raspberry bread once before you die, so although I think it sounds weird I am going to ask OH to have a go. I also noticed he put water in a roasting tin, so I shall point that out as our bread is still heavy, but I noticed that PH's bread looked very close crumbed as well. I still prefer our sourdough by miles to most shop bought, although its not the quickest bread in the world, it has to be planned a bit like a military campaign

[Purplemaniacs]

I had read this post with interest.

 

Did anyone see Paul Hoolywood made a sourdough starter tonight?

 

I am very tempted to have a go, his recipe used grapes, has anyone tried this?

I am having a go, I have started the sourdough starter today. It seems to be bubbling so we will see.

 

How is everyones starters getting on?

 

Chrissie

[Daphne]

Well we got rid of ours when we moved and as the bread is much better here we haven't bothered making any more. However, as we live in the middle of nowhere we have a bread van 5 times a week. Unfortunately some days it arrives at 2pm and some days it doesn't bib its hooter so you don't know its there at all Consequently getting bread is even more of a military campaign than before. I am now a dab hand at rice/cous cous/bean salad for lunch

[Mercedes55]

I have just ordered a jar of sourdough starter as I've been making a couple loaves of bread a week for a few months now and thought it was time to try this. I am a bit clueless but am hoping it comes with instructions

[Purplemaniacs]

I made a sourdough starter last year, it is sat in the fridge and has not been fed since Christmas

I wonder if it will still be ok?

 

I have only made one loaf with it so far, it is a very slow process compared to normal bread which I make every week.

 

Good luck with yours.

 

Chrissie

[Mercedes55]

I made a sourdough starter last year, it is sat in the fridge and has not been fed since Christmas

I wonder if it will still be ok?

 

I have only made one loaf with it so far, it is a very slow process compared to normal bread which I make every week.

 

Good luck with yours.

 

Chrissie

 

From what little I have read I was under the impression that even if you don't use it that you should take it out of the fridge after a couple of weeks and do whatever it is you do with it and then put it back

[kinsk]

I made a sourdough starter last year, it is sat in the fridge and has not been fed since Christmas

I wonder if it will still be ok?

 

I have only made one loaf with it so far, it is a very slow process compared to normal bread which I make every week.

 

Good luck with yours.

 

Chrissie

 

It should be, take it out, give it a good stir, feed it and leave out of the fridge, feed it again the next day, leave out of the fridge, then remove half and feed again, should be okay to go back into the fridge after that.

[Mercedes55]

Over the last few days I have made a few sourdough loaves. My first attempt ended up in the bin as I couldn't get it into the oven

 

Last two attempts have been easier as I bought a baking stone and a peel which has helped a lot. Tastes really nice, quite impressed. Does take rather a long time from start to finish though

 

 

[Lavenders_Blue]

Wow, that looks completely delicious!

[redbug]

Looks real yummy. Mmmmmmm

[BlueSilver]

Nice one! I cook a lot of food from scratch, but I only just started making sourdough. I have no idea why I waited so long - it's now the primary stuff I use for baking. I made sourdough English muffins today which were incredible!

[Daphne]

Those are seriously impressive loaves Well done