Rev 7.21, last revised:
12-Nov-09
Provender:
(pròv´en-der) noun; 1. Dry food,... 2. Provisions, ... [Middle English provendre, from Old French,
alteration of provende, from vulgar Latin *provenda, alteration (influenced by
Latin providêre, to provide), of late Latin praebenda.]
My Provender
consists of
flour,
water,
sourdough culture, and
salt. Bake at 450F, for 35-40 min.
1: 1/2c
2: 1/2c WW, 1c BF, 1c water;
mix; ferment at room temperature ~2-4 hours
[0700]
3: 1 cup BF; mix; ferment at
room temperature ~2-4 hours
[1000]
In a fairly large bowl, whisk/stir/mix each of the indicated quantities of water, starter, and flour as directed, and in order. Cover and ferment for the indicated time at a room temperature of 70F (~65F - 75F) or so. Ferment longer if cooler, less if warmer--but don't exceed 95F! Why 3-steps?
1-Tablespoon
salt
1-cup whole spelt (or Durum; i.e. Semolina) flour
1-cup of BF [1300]
Coarse cornmeal for sprinkling
on the stone or sheet
Dry
mix together the remaining flour and salt. Add the
sponge created earlier. Mix, turning it
out and using your hands as it thickens up. Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes or so. It takes time for the water to be absorbed by
the flour.
When
done, the
dough should just pull off the walls of the
bowl, and not stick to everything in sight. Flour your work surface and turn the dough
out. Do 6
Stretch & Fold
iterations.
Gently
shape into loaf, or if desired, loaves. Fold edges under and to center, overlapping and
pinching them shut as you go. The point
being to stretch the outer surface while wrapping the excess--being pulled
tight, under. This makes a round loaf. I prefer long loaves, as they make better
sandwiches.
Transfer
to a cornmeal dusted baking surface. Cover, put into COLD OVEN and let rise. The boule (round bread, pre-loaf) should have doubled or more in ~4-5
hours or so at ~72 (68-75)F. If your
culture is exceptionally active, it may rise in as little as 2-hours...
If you like,
you can
coupe your bread at this point. Next, pour 1/2 cup boiling water into a pan
or bowl at the bottom of the oven 10-15 min before baking.
Turn ON.
Bake: 450F, for 35-40 min. until crust is
very dark brown. Turn oven off, open
door. For a thicker crust let bread
remain in oven 5 - 15 minutes more.
(NB: Cool to
room temp before slicing).
This is a cut-down version of the recipe above. I had to make it because an oven that I'm using is too small for the "regular" recipe. Follow the instructions & temps above.
NB: This recipe is intended for an unknown or relatively dormant starter--as mine was so many years ago. When it's not being stored in the fridge, I keep my starter on the counter, ready to go. Then I collapse the multi-stage sponge start.
1: 1/4c
2: 1/4c WW, 1/2c BF, 1/2c water; mix; ferment at room temperature ~2-4 hours
3: 1/2 cup UAP; mix; ferment at room temperature ~2-4 hours
1/2-Tablespoon
salt
1/2-cup Durum (i.e. Semolina, or whole spelt) flour
1/2-cup of BF