Wheat bricks.

Again, no recipe.
Sorry... I've been distracted the past few weekends so not enough experimenting time has been available. Usually I make something a couple times to see if it comes out the same and doesn't taste like ass before I post it.

A few years ago, I bought a book called the "Science of Baking". Actually this is a text book for some cooking schools. I learned a few things... what fats and sugars do, how many different types of flours there are and their properties. I suppose I could read about the theory of baking until I'm blind but then I'd just have to grab my helper monkey and try making bread. Which, now that I think of it, might be fun. I like monkeys. Well... I think I like monkeys. The reality of a monkey may be a little less exciting that the idea. Tiny hands, birdlike movements and very sharp teeth, not to mention the diapers.

ANYWAY.

This weekend I attempted to make wheat buns. Why start with the low-gluten wheat flour? Because it's what was in my cabinet and I have vital wheat gluten. What I don't have is a kitchen scale. I think that is going to be a purchase this year. (FYI- Cooks Illustrated a.k.a. America's test kitchen has fantastic reviews of kitcheny stuff.) I also have a giant mixer that uses dough hooks but frankly, it's a bitch to clean and I like the way dough feels when you knead it, so I don't use it for bread. ALL of the recipes I have call for a mixer to knead. I need to get the Bread baker's apprentice or the Bread Bible. Something that has pics of technique for kneading. I find that I wind up kneading bread dough like I wedge clay so the inside of my breads come out sort of spiral-y.
Books books books.

All that being said, I didn't knead long enough so my buns are lead. They taste ok and if you cut them into thin slices it's just like wheat bread from the store. I'm buying a scale and will attempt to try it again this weekend with or without said apparatus.

Mister and I went to the art museum this weekend and we think we're going to try to have a wedding there. We also want to check out the local artspace and one other place in wake forest before we decide... so we might have a date soon.

Lost my thought...
Oh well. Hope you're having a tolerable week. Slugs and Hugs all around!