First win was this month's bread challenge, Red Pepper Coques, selected by the Babe's Kitchen of the Month, Karen at Karen's Kitchen Stories.
The dough was easy to prepare, and rested in the refrigerator for a few days. By the third day, the dough was actually showing some signs of life.
For not being handled very much, it was certainly a springy dough. It took quite a while to roll out to the proper dimensions. I gave up when I was about an inch short in the long direction, and while I did dock the flat dough, it still puffed up during the first bake.
The red pepper and onion topping was quick to make, and delicious as well, especially with the pine nuts sprinkled on top. I used jarred red peppers from Trader Joe's and Late Harvest Riesling Vinegar.
I just made half a recipe, and the results disappeared quickly. I didn't leave the bread for as long as instructed, because I think my oven runs a bit on the hot side. For the last part of the bake, I did drop the temperature by 50 degrees and made it a point to watch so it wouldn't get extra crispy. I could have removed it a bit earlier than I did, but it is still definitely worth baking and eating. You can get tips from Karen for rolling out the dough.
To get the recipe, go to Karen's blog, and if you want to be a Buddy, bake the coques by May 29th and share the results with Karen to be included in the roundup.
- Blog from OUR Kitchen – Elizabeth
- A Messy Kitchen – Kelly
- Karen’s Kitchen Stories – Karen
- Notitie Van Lien – Lien
- My Diverse Kitchen - Aparna
- Bread Experience - Cathy
- Thyme for Cooking - Katie
- My Kitchen in Half Cups - Tanna
- Bake My Day - Karen
- Feeding My Enthusiasms - Elle
The second success was a no-knead Dutch oven bread from Alton Brown. Easy to make and it turns out beautifully. But that's another story.
