Loafing

Okay, so perhaps a loaf of bread doesn't rank up there with a painting, sculpture, or photograph, but it is a creative work, and even better, it can be delicious. Besides, unlike a sculpture, a loaf of bread doesn't clutter up the place for very long. It usually disappears rather quickly. This is my latest loaf, baked Wednesday. The flour is 50% unbleached all-purpose and 50% whole wheat. Total flour weight is 600g. Water is about 80%, yeast is 1/8 tsp, and salt is 12g. From start to finish it took about 29 hours. During most of that time it was just hanging out, developing flavor. 

Tour Eiffel

When we lived in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was not very far from our apartment, so I would jog around the Champ de Mars in the early morning, scattering pigeons and inhaling the fragrance of fresh baked baguettes emanating from the nearby boulangeries. Our favorite was Poilâne on Boulevard de Grenelle, especially noted for their miche, the best (and most romantic) bread I have ever eaten. Not to mention their tarte aux pommes, which alone is worth a trip to Paris.