The French Bread Experience

    Let me begin by saying that I have recently acquired an iphone.  Some of you may not be aware of my penchant for Apple products.  At the same time, some of you may be all to aware of this fact.  In fact, some of you may be super happy that I FINALLY own the iphone because now I may stop driving you crazy with my coveting chit-chat about it.  I said MAY.  Why do I bring this up at all, you ask?  Because these photographs were taken with my iphone using the Hipstamatic photo application.  It gives your photos a vintage look.  It is totally awesome!  There, that's enough talk about my new killer toy! 
   These snaps were taken during the process of making French bread for the first time.  The above photograph is of the dough after the first knead.  I know I mentioned this before but the Kitchen Aid mixer is really, really helpful when making bread.

    Above, the bread is in a covered bowl during the first rise.  This bread recipe called for the bread to rise three times.  But, I used fast rising yeast this time. That seemed to be just fine and cut the rising time in half.

    The photo above shows the dough after it has risen twice.  Also after the beat down and division of the dough.  Here, the dough is taking a five minute break before the shaping begins.

    Shaping all done.  I chose the boule shape rather than the baguette.  It seemed like an easier choice.  I may attempt a baguette the next time around.

    After the third rising time, I put the traditional tic tac toe cuts in the boule.  Next time, I will be a little more forceful with the knife. My cuts were not as defined as I would have liked.

    On the cooling rack.  So here's the way you get that crusty exterior on the bread. You put a pan of hot water in the bottom of the oven.  Go figure.

 more bread photos

 

And another photograph.

   Here is one of the finished loaves.  Look at how beautiful that is.  Really, this French bread experience was a good one.  I think the key to this bread is patience.  You must be patient and allow enough time for the magic to happen.
   I like that.  I think that can apply to everything in our lives.  Slow down, be patient and allow enough time for the magic to happen.