Bread Disaster~ Well, not a complete disaster
BREAD DISASTER
I do believe I should have sent my inner child to bed before baking bread yesterday afternoon. I decided to take on Grace's bread recipe for 6 loaves of bread at once. Big mistake. Not Grace's mistake--all mine.
I don't know what I was thinking, but I decided to use Julia Child's suggestion for rising bread--flip on the oven to 200 degrees for two minutes and turn it right off. Allow the dough to rise in the oven. Plus, I believe the second rising went too long. NEVER try new ideas when you're not JULIA CHILD! I've baked many loaves of bread in my life, and I've never had this happen before. Live and learn.
I believe the problem here is called "bread collapse". The mistake? Over proofing
In any case, the bread still tastes great! I'm serious, it makes great paninis and toast. It wasn't yeasty tasting.
My second mistake--well, actually I knew I shouldn't do this, but I did it anyway, was to butter the top after baking. It simply softens the crust--not huge deal unless you only eat crunchy crust.
Here are three of the six loaves:
Of course, I had to experience this when I decided to bake 6 loaves!
I'm not giving up...