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π 100% Whole wheat, Italy trip update, and hiking!
Published 5 months agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
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100% Whole wheat recipe, Italy trip, and hiking
For the past three days, I've been off-grid in the mountains hiking, canoeing, and doing a bit of archery with my son's school class.
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Gosh, we had fun, I mean, look at this view:
My son and his classmate "rowing" while I did the actual rowing. Can't beat that view, though.
But while we had a fantastic time, I came home craving freshly baked bread of any kind.
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It's me, so of course that was the case.
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Thankfully, I recently refreshed and updated my 100% whole wheat sourdough recipe, and it's precisely the type of nourishing bread I was in the mood for. One quick levain build later, I'm back mixing my dough and eagerly anticipating bake time.
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If you have yet to try a loaf with all-whole-grain flour, you're in for a treat. But a few other options might also get you in the kitchen!
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But first, here is an update on my upcoming Italy trip in September of this year.
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In this week's newsletter:
Update: The Perfect Loaf x Taste Travels to Italy
Recipe: 100% Whole Wheat Sourdough
Recipe: Apricot and Thyme Sourdough
Recipe: Bread Baker's Banana Tea Cake
Baking Question: Why are my baguettes splitting on the sides?
Links: Wayfarer Bread in San Diego and UK's top artisan bakeries
π TPL x Taste Travels Update
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Many of you have emailed asking about my baking, bread, and pizza trip to southern Italy in September, and I realize I never closed the loop with an update.
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Unfortunately, the trip sold out much faster than we imagined. Yes, it's a good thing, but sadly, we couldn't accommodate all the bakers who wanted to attend.
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The good news is, we're already planning trips next year! I'll announce it here in the newsletter once booking is available.
I just wanted to let you know that more information on new trips coming soon. Thank you all for your enthusiasm and patience while I work through the kinks with all of this! I hope to see you on an upcoming trip.
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Now, let's get on to bread π
π 100% Whole Wheat Sourdough
100% Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread. Photo by Aubrie Pick.
This is the same 100% whole wheat recipe in my cookbook, and I've recently overhauled the recipe at the website with new timeline guidance, tips on sifting your flour (which is optional), and much more.
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This is very healthy bread, and I hope you try it!
This bread is decidedly spring, one I return to every year around this time.
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I'm an apricot lover, and dried apricots might as well be candy, given how sweet and plump they are. The stone fruit pairs so well with the lemon zest and hint of fresh thymeβyou'll love this loaf!
This moist, dark, sultry banana loaf is definitely in cake territory. It's a treat you likely already have all the ingredients for in your pantry (with a few swaps mentioned in the comments at the bottom).
If you enjoyed this week's newsletter, you'll love our community of sourdough bakers. The annual membership gets you access to our private chat and forum, recipe archives, recorded and live sessions, and all my baking spreadsheets & tools.
When using your home oven steaming method, do you put your ice cubes on a tray but on the bottom in the middle of your oven? It seems it would melt way too fast at 450Β°F.
Yes, the ice goes directly into the preheated pan. Actually, the ice melts far slower than if it were water from the tap since it has to first pass through its liquid phase before becoming steam.
Don't have a Dutch oven for baking? Use my home oven steaming method for a thin, crispy crust and beautiful color
π What I'm Reading and Watching
I've been a longtime fan of Crystal White's and can remember when she opened Wayfarer Bread in San Diego, CA, years ago. So great to see her place in this video of her bakery (YouTube). β
In the membership group we were recently talking about the UK's best artisan bakeries (Olive Magazine) and it has me wanting to book a trip out that way to verify π
Want to make bakery-quality sourdough bread from home? Subscribe for the best sourdough guides and recipes to take your bread from ordinary to incredible.
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