Good book (or resource in general) for making loaves/buns?
Hey all, so I had been making random youtube recipes for a little while and decided I wanted to get a bit more serious and picked up Ken Forkish's book as it came heavily recommended, however I now realize I didn't really understand what I was diving into and I have a better idea. While Forkish's recipes are cool and I've learned a lot from his book, I had my eyes more set on making the classic bâtards, rolls, buns, etc. than the DO styled breads (I also don't own a DO currently and in my area it's an investment that dwarves the other baking stuff I've invested in so far). I have a baking stone which I've been primarily been trying to use to fashion the FWSY recipes into baguettes, but it's not working out great for me currently some I'm wondering if there's some other book for me to consult.
So with that in mind, does anyone have any books or sites they'd recommend? I am not sure if the big ones that come recommended (FWSY, Bread Baker's Apprentice, Tartine Bread) focus on this type as well, and I'm not even sure how to ask what I'm trying to ask at this point ("bâtard" is a very new word for me).
Thank you for any help and recommendations!
Well, diving directly into Forkish is a bit daunting, for sure! I like Peter Reinhart's "artisan breads every day"; it has a lot of good recipes for all kinds of breads, from sourdough to rich breads and sandwich loaves.
America's Test Kitchen "Bread Illustrated" also has a wide range of techniques, recipes and tips, and the illustrations are very helpful.
If you are most interested in sourdough, Emmanuel Hadjiandreou's "How to Make Sourdough" is an excellent books with simple techniques and some very interesting recipes.
Do you have a library nearby where you can borrow some of these books, perhaps? Or you may be able to get them online used from Abe Books or Amazon, to minimize the cost in case you don't find them all that useful.
One of my favorites is Bread, A baker’s book of techniques and recipes, by Jeffry Hamelman.
https://www.amazon.com/Bread-Bakers-Book-Techniques-Recipes/dp/0471168572/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1529346195&sr=8-2&keywords=bread+hamelman&dpID=51C%252BMk6MAdL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
Book are great but don’t discount this forum. I have a gang of books. But when I think about it, I’ve learned WAY MORE on this forum.
Dan
Dan Lepards Handmade Loaf is a classic as is Maggie Glezers Artisan Baking
bought and paid for and then maintained in the most expensive way possible - in multi million dollar, near mausoleums, staffed with expensive book people who can help you find anything you want as long as you don't talk too loud or fast I go there, read the bread books I want right easy as pie. Quiet, comfy, with an unbelievable, massive pile after pile of bread books, hundreds really, that I do not even remember buying..... much less will I ever get around to reading them all. They are neatly kept together in one place and I am not expected to clean up after myself either, or put the books away. Those nice people won't even let me put then books away if I tried. I'm surprised they even let me touch them - so generous and gracious they are. Plus, I can take a few home with me if i want .....as long as I promise to bring them back in a couple of weeks. Who knew? I never hardly see anyone else there either. It's like having my own private library or something. I have truly been blessed with the very best - can't beat it. It did cost me dearly though, It wasn't cheap but I hear it is all going away pretty soon, but heck, until then, it is just there for me to enjoy..... so don't tell anyone. Come to think of it. I've got to go take some books back. Turns out I've been doing stuff all wrong. These loaner books were on how train a devoted apprentice to be your slave for life, with them loving you for it and not up chucking on your bare toes or biting your ankles too often. But now, finally, things will change around here once and for all.
Had to come back and get my binoculars. This library is located in a 110 acre riparian preserve and park with huge windows for bird watching of you get bored reading.
picked a few up and it looks like The Baker's Apprentice was 100% what I was looking for. List of bread form types, list of bread recipes and which recipes are good for which forms along with the typical intro segment that explains a lot of baking concepts.