February was the month I went to Paris and remembered why I love so much being there.
February was when I promised (for the 3rd time...) I'd take French lessons and not make a fool of myself at any two sentences en français.
February was the month I told the world my love for a French Chef (and didn't get divorced).
February was when Paris had better weather forecasts than Lisbon.
February was the month French Cuisine had a call to become 'World Heritage', opening the discussion.
February was when I decided I'd have another take at Portuguese Cuisine.
February was the month I baked madeleines, clafoutis and brioche.
You do understand I had to smile when I read the Daring Bakers Challenge for February, don't you? Is there any recipe more fitting then Julia Child's French Bread? Merci beaucoup Breadchick Mary of The Sour Dough and Sara of I Like to Cook!!
February was the month I baked 2 baguettes & 1 epi following a 10 pages' recipe!
My thoughts on the challenge:
- The recipe worked like a charm. It's definitely time consuming - it took me 12 hours to taste a slice of delicious French bread!
- I used T55 flour. It's a high gluten flour, just perfect for this type of bread needs.
- Yeast's quantity was slightly smaller. I used dry baker's yeast, about 3/4 pack.
- My baguettes' slashes are very clumsy. I didn't have a proper blade. I'll definitely use one if baking baguettes again.
- I used a little semolina to prevent baguettes and epi to stick to the tea towel I used after shaping the bread.
- My pizza stone was perfect. I used parchment paper for the first 10 minutes, moved the bread to the stone then and baked normally.
- The epi turned out better than the baguettes. For a great explanation of how to cut an epi, go here.
- I froze the baguettes. We already ate one - it was also very good after defrosting according to the recipe notes.
- Patience is hardly one of my qualities. I waited patiently for the bread to cool before slice it! I didn't know I had it in me. Thank you Daring Bakers!
Check for the original recipe at Breadchick Mary of The Sour Dough and Sara of I Like to Cook.
36 comments:
your french bread looks wonderful!! especially the epi!! great job!! I wanted to try the epi too, but I got scared!! =P -kk
Your bread looks terrific, well done!
Your crust is gorgeous! Great work!
Looks perfect..well done!!
Your bread looks amazing, it is a miracle that you waited for it to cool before having a bite. It looks so good I don't think i could have.
Fantastic Success!!
wow your bread looks great! I love the great big holes in the inside!
a minha amiga Monika (americana a viver na Bélgica) avisou-me da existencia deste blog de uma portuguesa. Fiquei super interessada em ver e portanto aqui estou a dar-lhe os meus parabens pelo excelente trabalho. Adoro cozinhar e viajar e penso muito em construir o meu blog tambem mas confesso que sou pouco experiente nas coisas da web.
Este fim de semana vou testar algumas das suas receitas e voltarei...
Your breads look so lovely! The epi is very nice! Great job!
I love your epi! So cute! Great job!
-Clara
http://iheartfood4thought.wordpress.com
those look perfect! i wish mine had turned out as pretty as yours :)
Your bread looks fantastic! I especially love the epis.
February sounds like your month!! Beautiful bread!
Very nice, Suzana. Your bread looks perfect :)
Tis beautiful Suzana! I love the epi I because one it looks a little fancy and two because it makes it so easy to pull off a bite!
The two hours between oven to eating were almost painful!
Your bread is beautiful! What a wonderful challenge!
What beautiful bread.
Well done.
BEAUTIFUL JOB!!! Your bread looks fabulous and your post made me want to go on vacation :O)
Your bread is picture perfect! But I also got my eye on that brioche down below! Yummmmm
Wow, your bread looks fantastic.
I wish that mine was half as good, and you take very beautiful pictures too!
It really looks amazing! Great looking loaves!
I love your intro...it was very fitting for you that this month's challenge was French Bread! Great job Suzanna, the bread looks scrumptious!
Such great-looking bread and how perfect that it was the February challenge!
wow the crust looks so lovely!
You're mastering all things French, that bread looks awesome!
Lovely baguettes, feels like I am there.
Ah so glad to have kept your Feb love with Paris/France going. Your bread looks perfect
Thanks for baking with Sara and I
Your breads look great! Very well done!
Cheers,
Rosa
Sounds like February is just meant for French bread for you. :)
Great job, beautiful breads, and lovely air pockets!
I can see that french bread was a fitting and beautiful end to the month of February for you.
Btw, I remember this from about 6 years ago, there is an Indian restaurant somewhere in Rossio (near the square) where you can eat naan.
What gorgeous bread you made.
Fantastic! It looks perfect.
You've got really lovely looking bread there, especially the last picture. I'm salivating. Bien fait.
What fantastic looking french bread! And that epi looks marvellous! Suzana you have done yourself proud with this challenge :)
And the brioche below looks just as perfect!
Ahhh, I too just returned from Paris (my first trip) and I am in love with the food and the food markets (cheese shopes, poissinarres, the butchers, OMG, I was in heaven!) I am already counting the days until I can go back again, unfortunately it is far int he future! Pain au chocolate or raisin....just got a recipe for it, it takes 9 hours and 3 cups of butter but I am going to give it a try!
I like to cook very at home.Cool fun. Like me. Thanks. Greetings from Poland. :|
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