Great Balls ‘O Dough
This Daring Baker challenge was a wonderful one! I was seriously hoping it wasn’t a sweet one, as I’m still battling the last few holiday pounds. Our lovely hostesses, Breadchick Mary of Sour Dough and Sara of I Like to Cook chose bread… and just happened to pick my most favorite, French Bread. It just so happens to be one of my favorite chefs too, Julia Child. So from the beginning, I was doubly excited about the challenge. I followed the recipe to the letter, and chose to do Petit Pains (or boules?) instead of baguettes, as I just made baguettes a few months ago.
The recipe came along very nicely, but did take about 8 hours to complete in one day. Next time, I would probably try to stretch this to two days, and retard the dough overnight in the refrigerator. I started very early in the morning, and since I’m such a darn good wife, I actually kneaded the bread by had to avoid waking my sleeping husband with my loud mixer. I should be sainted, right? I haven’t made bread by hand in over 8 years, as I always use my Kitchenaid mixer. It was surprisingly calming to stand in my pajamas, kneading the dough while drinking my morning coffee. Quite peaceful. However, next time… I’ll continue using the mixer!
The recipe called for spraying or brushing the bread with cold water three times, every three minutes when the bread first went into the oven. I was thinking, there was no way I was going to brush it… it would take too long and the oven temp would lower. I didn’t have a spray bottle, except the ones with cleaning solution, so that was out. At the last minute, I pulled out (and dusted off) that old Pampered Chef Kitchen Spritzer that I haven’t used in at least 5 years, and put it to use. If you do a lot of bread baking and like to spray the bread with cold water, this is the PERFECT tool. You fill with cold water, pump it a few times, and you have a perfect light and even spritz. I never liked the spritzer for oil (what it was originally made for) because the oil would go rancid very fast. I don’t know if it was the incorporating of air or what, but it never worked for me. So now I have a new use for it, and am thankful I never threw it away. I also threw a few ice cubes in the bottom of the oven to create extra steam.
Here’s the recipe for this bread. I’m looking forward to next month’s challenge!
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Your rolls look wonderful! I have that Pampered Chef mister too, I put canola oil in it and sprayed my loaves with it (the 2nd time around) LOL. Congratulations on yet another successful challenge.
Your little boules look really nice and I love the shot with the blade. Using a spritzer like that is a great idea.
Great job! Your bread looks beautiful!! :O)
Excellent job on this challenge! Your rolls look great.
I’ve always been a hand kneader, but now I’ve got my kitchen aid, but I’m a little nervous to let it do the work. Do I need to add any flour to it as it kneads (may seem like a weird question, but I know I always knead in a little flour while working it with my hands and I didn’t know if the dough would turn out weird without that extra flour)?
Your roll look fantastic! I have to do mine by hand since i don’t have a mixer yet, but man i can’t wait to have a kitchen aid to help.
Great Job!
Thanks!!!
Sarah, I MUCH prefer using the mixer to make bread. I tend to add too much flour while kneading, which in turn makes the bread a bit dense. I personally think I would have had a better outcome with the mixer.
So freaking gorgeous! the bread, the pictures, everything. I am so jealous! Mine was not that fab. Great job!
-Clara
I love french bread! And yours made my mouth water! they look so good…Great job once again. I have Julia Childs cookbook but have never tried making any of the breads there. They look complicated to me.
the slashing picture is really helpful, I’ll know what to use and how to do it next time!
Your rolls are stunniong!
They look beautiful!
Your little boules look great!! they look so cute and looks delicious! I made this bread once with a mixer, and the second time I knead it with my hands in my pajamas too!! you’re right, it did feel very peaceful! -kk
Great job on the challenge, your rolls look great!
Wow I am so making rolls next time they look SO good!!
Nice job!
x x x
I love that last picture! It’s full of promise for really good fresh bread.
Your little rolls looks fantastic! And what a good wife you are that you thought about not waking your husband up. I nominate you be canonized!
Yumm, such delicious-looking rolls. Heehee, there’s nothing more comforting than kneading dough in your own jammies, no?
Oh, they are so beautiful! =)
Your petit boules are so cute!
Next time I make this, it’s definitely going to be rolls. Yours look so crusty and delicious.
How kind of you not to wake up your husband; I know I most certainly would have! I kept opening my oven to brush my bread *sigh*. Your rolls looks great!
What a great idea to shape rolls, they look mouthwatering.
Beautiful rolls. I hope you get to do this again with a pre-ferment. Yum.
I’d say the little rolls are absolutely perfect
So glad you joined Sara and I for this month’s challenge
Your rolls look fabulous. Just the right color. I would love one with a bowl of soup .
Sharona May
I have to admit, it was so many blogs to look at when I first joined the DBers, I ended up not checking out half of them… I’m sorry I missed yours but will surely not again as I’m RSSing it. Your pictures are sublime, your writing clever, funny and witty and I’m amazed by how you’ve succeeded in this challenge; your great balls o’ dough are a delight to look at! LOL
Those are some cute looking rolls!
These petite pains look so elegant and they would make perfect mini sandwiches! You photograph is beautiful!
What fine looking rolls you have made!
Your rolls look perfect. I combined spritzing with ice cubes for steam too, and loved the result!
Candace, your little boules are adorable! They are perfectly formed. Great job!
Your rolls are shaped to perfection! Something I’m still trying to learn…
Really nice looking bread. I wish I had dusted some flour too!
Love your pictures, the buns look great!
I actually bought a new spray bottle (I figured we’d been needing one for bbq season anyway!) Your bread looks great. Well done!
I bet your bread was delicious.
Actually, I do like making bread when I am feeling stressed. I find it very therapeutic kneading the dough and beating it up !!
Afterwards, the smell of freshly baked bread and the anticipation of butter melting in it just make me forget all worries and be happy again!
Your boules turned out gorgeous! Kneading this one by hand was actually rather relaxing! Perfect execution!
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