Any other leaven lovers baking today?

I'll be baking tomorrow, doing a comparisson of Jobe and Candice

I am baking today. I have about 2 and half hours before the loaves go in the oven. I can't wait!

So there could be a fight going on between Jobe and Candice then? Flourbags at dawn.

Spamboule, was your dough still quite sticky when you put it in the loaf tins?

I'm not a leaven lover, since we live my parents and I fear they'll think I'v gone totally bonkers if I start receiving fresh yeast in the post...however, I have just prepared dough for olive bread (it's a greek recipe with coriander, mint, onion) and I have never made it before - must make sure I eat before offering to anyone else ?

Yes it was. I had to use a silicone tin & a proper tin though (don't tell Nick!) so hope that doesn't make much of a difference.

They are still rising nicely in my kitchen. Another hour and 45 before they go in the oven...

Thank goodness for that. I have half an hour of proving to go. Atm my dough resembles a really fat bloke sitting in an armchair, kind of falling out of the sides ?

I baked yesterday - one in a tin and one on a flat tray. Came out well though stuck to the tins a bit. I didn't use as much salt but I should have. texture god though - amazing for no kneading.

*Confession* tomorrow I am going to start experimenting to see if I can use the leaven in the breadmaker. I don't spend enough continous hours at home to manage the recipe as it stands. Don't tell Nick. Nick, don't read this. [laughh]

I've just been reading about this and I'm curious as I don't get it. What actually is leaven? Do I need some? And can I get some?!

Oh and does bread with it taste better than breadmaker bread ?

Well, they're out of the oven, and I have to say they don;t look anything like BGBs or S's from the leaven lovers gallery. One of them is like Frankenloaf ?

I guess the proof of the bread will be in the eating...we will see.

Fingers crossed Ginni.

Zoay, I'm curious for an update on your experiment but pls don't tell NickJ I said so;-)

Not baked yet because I've been too ill all week but should finally get to use my leaven tomorrow.

Send pics ginni, zoay too.

shouldnt really be "sticky" per se, give me a run down on the comments thread and i can check all is well.

gryf, look at the link in my signature, will reveal all.

breadmaker wise, dont see why you couldnt - you d just have to add in say, 3 tsp of leaven to the tin in the machine, then press start. you d have to use dried yeast too though, and put it on a long proving cycle.

really interested in this.

Me me!! Mine is in the oven now, slightly nervous not sure my tin size is right and I have a very old gas oven so can't look through any glass.

It really was so easy, the only thing I would do next time is get up early to make the bread, so the rest of the day is free.

My whole house smells of bread though now that is such a good smell.

Well, my bread is out of the oven now & smells delicious. Now all I have to do is figure out how to email the photos to Nick for the gallery

The loaf that was in the silicone tin looks 'interesting', the one that was in the Kaiser tin looks rather professional, even if I do say so myself ? Will be eating some tonight with my skate I think. Yum.

Nick, I have lots of pictures I'll upload and send as soon as I can find my camera lead. I have just eaten the first slice and the taste is amazing, really, really lovely. The crust is so crunchy though, you could ear me crunching through it all over the house ?. I may not have made the perfect loaf, but I love it! I could hardly wait to let it cool, but I did.

they're both in their bowls getting ready for tomorrow at the minute

Candice is a stiff little b*tch compared with Jobe, but we'll see if it makes a difference tomorrow

This is so exciting I cant wait for mine to arrive so I can get started.

I think mine exploded ? too small a tin made no difference the bread goodness is currently cooling.

Ginni congrats on yours, did you feel good today baking bread? Like you were doing something weirdly worthwhile.

I have to say...it really is worth it though. Thanks Nick for this.

Kaz, it felt great to eat a slice - I didn;t relax until then as I messed up at the folding and shaping stage so I was really worried it would all be a waste of time ?

However, despite my ineptness, it tastes fab.

What about you?

what do you mean arrive? ? it still hasnt? i sent againit on thursday

Wahhh no no sign of the little bugger yet. I have kept looking for the postman and everything.I think it was another person who was sending it me? Mrs B ?

I hope its not sad and dead in the post office somewhere.

Disclaimer...our foster dog bit the postman last sat but we have had mail since so he is not totally cross as us, Maybe he kept the Leven as revenge though?,wahhhhhhhhh

Right e-mailed them so here's hoping ?

Just out of interest, how long does post take to get from mainland UK to you? You're in Jersey/Guernsey aren't you?

Nick, I'm happy to send to Gryfon as long as the postal journey isn't so long that she needs dried leaven. Let me know if you want me to.

Ginni it was seriously lovely despite my small tins (fnar, fnar) and weirdly it didn;t give me indigestion like other bread does. I am going to freeeze the other loaf methinks and have it for toast each day.

I feel your pain! The first batch of leaven that Nick sent never arrived, I think our postman gotr sick of me accosting him every morning. However, he kindly sent me some more which arrived safely (although it had made a break for freedom) yesterday. He's now gowing happily in his kilner jar. Thank you Dough Master General. xx ?

I know I have just sent some this week but happy again as soon as I can to send some more. I have promised someone at work some, but she has no kitchen at the mo so doesn't want for a couple of weeks.

Usually it arrives next day, or maybe the day after. Depends whether Customs sits on it but if it's well labelled there shouldn't be any problem.

Is that Nick's website then? *clueless icon needed*

Whenever I've tried to make bread before it comes out like breeze blocks, but this is actually bread! I have two lovely loaves, its the lightest bread I've ever made. I'm so chuffed with it, and it tastes gorgeous. Will post pics on the blog when I get them off my phone. Thanks to whoever posted the leaven to me.

Debbie

Yep, NickJ is the doughmaster general. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if he is, in fact, JamieOliver, since he's using the 'pass it on' technique from Jamie's Ministry of Food. He says he's oop north, but maybe he's really a cheeky cockney geezer ?

Sorry Nick, please don't cull me from doughblogs.

Ah! Never realised Nick was such a whizz with bread ? Pictures all look very yummy, trouble is like all homemade bread in this house I have a worry I'd never have enough left for children's lunches!

I tend to make bread for tea/lunch and before it gets to the table half has been pinched ?

its something i started for fun, its a blog as opposed to a "proper" website because I am dimwitted when it comes to technology, but i can just about manage to update a blog and do html links ?. now i think about it, there is kind of a serious message too but the point is to have some fun with it. From not being able to bake bread for years, and then suddnely reading one or two particular authors, it really inspired me to try it again, and it clicked. I leanrt very quickly that "real" bread can be fully controlled in terms of its depth of flavour, crust etc, and that oddly, bread made this was doesnt give me (or others who ve tried it when i make it) indigestion at all, and no "heavy" feeling or bloating after eating it. I guess one could call it a hobby really, though the word hobby sounds wanky to me ?

Whats great about this is that you dont need commercial yeast of any kind, so no faffing about with all that , and since the leaven people are being sent was originally created where i live, its a bit like sending honey all over the place from one hive, but yet, each time it hits the new place, it develops again and peoples personalities end up in it somehow, and i think thats quite cool. anyway, its late, and i m pissed ?

Here's a little picture to tempt you Gryfon: