My Hilarious Misadventures in Baking
Sourdough Shenanigans PLUS a soda bread recipe that does work!
Picture this: flour flying, dough sticking, and a kitchen that looks like a flour bomb went off. That was me, diving headfirst into the world of sourdough with all the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store. Little did I know, my journey would be more of a comedy of errors than a culinary triumph. Join me as I recount my recent sourdough escapade—a tale of misshapen loaves, questionable crusts, and a whole lot of laughter.
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It all started innocently enough, with a jar of bubbly starter and dreams of crusty, aromatic loaves dancing in my head. Armed with a recipe and a can-do attitude, I set out to conquer the world of sourdough baking. Spoiler alert: the world had other plans!
With flour in my hair and dough on my hands, I embarked on the great mixing adventure. But alas, my dough seemed to have a mind of its own, stubbornly refusing to cooperate. It was like trying to wrangle an octopus into a ball gown—messy, chaotic, and utterly hilarious
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Undeterred by my misbehaving dough, I tucked it into a cozy corner and waited for the magic to happen. Hours passed, but my dough remained as flat as a pancake. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of it, deflated and dejected like a sad soufflé.
With a shrug and a sigh, I popped my misshapen creation into the oven, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. And wouldn't you know it, my suspicions were confirmed.
As I surveyed the wreckage of my sourdough dreams, I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. But it was still bread, darn it! And isn't that the beauty of homemade baking? It's not about perfection; it's about the joy of creation, no matter how wonky the end result may be.
Armed with a healthy dose of humor and a newfound appreciation for the unpredictability of sourdough, I'm ready to tackle my next baking adventure. Who knows what delicious disasters await? One thing's for sure: there will be plenty of laughter, plenty of flour, and plenty of memories made in the process
So there you have it, my sourdough misadventure in all its flatbread glory. Though my loaf may have been more flop than masterpiece, it was still a journey worth taking—a reminder that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places. And hey, if all else fails, there's always toast. Here's to embracing the chaos and finding joy in the doughy messiness of it all!
My Soda Bread Recipe THAT DOES WORK!!
250g plain white flour
250g plain wholemeal flour
100g porridge oats
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp salt
25g butter, cut in pieces
500ml buttermilk
STEP 1
Preheat your oven to 200°C (gas mark 6 or fan 180°C). Lightly dust a baking sheet with flour. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients and then rub in the butter until well combined. Pour in the buttermilk and mix quickly using a table knife. Gently bring the dough together with your fingertips, handling it as lightly as possible. Shape the dough into a flat, round loaf about 20cm (8 inches) in diameter.
STEP 2
Place the loaf on the prepared baking sheet and score a deep cross on the top. This traditional step is said to let the fairies out, but it also ensures the bread cooks evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. If it’s not ready, turn the loaf upside down on the baking sheet and bake for a few more minutes.
STEP 3
Transfer the loaf to a wire rack and cover it with a clean tea towel to keep the crust soft. Allow it to cool. To serve, break the loaf into quarters, then break or cut each quarter in half to make 8 wedges or slices. Alternatively, you can simply slice the loaf. Enjoy it very fresh.