It wasn't much of a firepit, but last night I did have a small fire to commemorate the summer solstice.
When I started the wind was 9-10 miles per hour, normally the top of my limit for having a fire since usually the winds lessen steadily after sunset. But last night the winds were to increase as night came, blowing in some very hot weather for the next few days for us. Anyway, I got an early start and pretty much just burned the fallen branches and sticks that had accumulated, not even taking the cover off the firewood rack. It didn't take long until the bigger stuff had burned down and began smoldering. Smoke was starting to blow everywhere so I had to put the lid on it, which I rarely ever do but it works well to suffocate it at times like this.
Today I tried a new recipe picked by my wife from King Arthur's Big Book of Bread, an Olive-Rosemary Fougasse.
The dough felt good, but was a bit sticky so my first attempt at shaping leaves leaves a lot to be desired. It came out very tasty, crusty outside with a light and airy crumb. Not bad, and I may try this again with different flavors. The recipe called for semolina as the bench flour, so I got some for the first time and I like it a lot. I may try it for pizza and peel instead of parchment paper next time.
I have another recipe from the book that I may try tomorrow, an everyday wheat bread. I still use the frozen, store-bought bread dough for my work sandwiches, and sometimes my own flatbread, but I need a good sandwich bread recipe in my repertoire.
7 comments:
Does your weather feel stranger than normal for this time of year? Ours does.
I have rescued Nice Nearest Neighbour's replaced water pump metal expansion tank (in BW Blue) from being taken to the tip and hope to get Mr BW to saw it in half and make a firepit out of it. We have plenty of old roof wood to burn!
- BW
Actually, no, seems kind of normal here but for these hot few days. (Currently about 33ºC.) But we will be more comfortable from Tuesday on.
I'm not out by the fire as much, anymore. But it's still very nice to have, and with your space I'm a little surprised you don't have that kind of area yet. Have fun creating it.
I'd always intended to have some kind of 'firepit area' down in the 'slate garden' at the bottom of the field/orchard. This is the area where the old slates from the 2nd phase were dumped (and some extras the origiinal builder's roofers brought along to dispose of without charge, although we didn't realise that at the time).
The idea of a firepit was not a good thing to suggest until now... no time to enjoy them before, but the opportunity for Mr BW to make one from an old cylinder that was otherwise going to the tip was too good to miss.
I shall no doubt post about it in due course!
- BW
I had to look up Fougasse as I had never heard of it. Mmm sounds delicious and yours looks good.
During the last few months I have been eating flat breads, particularly wholemeal and herby / seedy ones. I should return to baking and try this out and use the oven. I’ve decided the bread maker we bought was a waste of money as I now have ample time to bake and I should do so.
I didn't know what it was before this, and now that I have the recipe I'll try different accents to add as well. I can give you my basic flatbread recipe, if you want. I kind of put it together myself from ToYoube vids and it is very good, consistently.
Yes, we had a bread maker many, many years ago. It was fun for a little bit, then not.
Yes please to the basic flatbread recipe. Our bread maker is put away in the cupboard and surplus to requirements.
Sure thing! I wanted to write something today but was unsure what, so thank you.
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