Tender Potato Bread: A Conversation In Three Acts
Cast of characters:
- Me
- Me
Act I, Scene 1
Hey, this month’s Daring Bakers challenge is bread, woohoo! Tanna has chosen Tender Potato Bread from Home Baking by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid. And she’s authorized us to make the recipe our own by seasoning and/or shaping it as we please. I’ve always wanted to make a fougasse. Now’s the perfect time! Let’s get started.
Hold on! Look, you’re used to working with ingredients by weight, and these measurements are given by volume. And, you’re used to using water to adjust the dough consistency, and the directions here say to do it with flour. You know you’re morally obligated as a Daring Baker to follow the directions, except where the host explicitly says you can use your creativity. Plus, you’ve never made bread with potatoes before, sweet potatoes don’t count. You don’t know how this dough will behave. Maybe the first time through you should just follow the original recipe and bake it in loaf pans, or as focaccia. Wasn’t it you who said you don’t tweak a recipe the first time you make it?
I changed my mind. I want to be creative! I want to be daring! How hard can it be? Bring it on!
Fine, be that way.
Ho, look, the directions say “as a beginner, you may be tempted to add more flour than needed.” Not me, I’m not a beginner, I would never do that! In fact, I’m going to use just the minimum amount called for, because I know how to handle wet dough. Six cups at 130 grams per cup, that’s 780 grams.
You are such a cocky idiot. And FYI, the directions say six-and-a-half cups, not six. And how do you know they measure flour at at 130 grams per cup and not, say, 150?
[With fingers in ears] La la la, not listening, not listening!
Act I, Scene 2
This dough is pretty slack. Maybe a focaccia would be good.
No! I said it would be fougasse and it will be fougasse! Shut up and divide the dough in half.
Um, look, the dough is sticking to your dough cutter. And now the cuts aren’t staying open. You didn’t use enough flour in the dough, and you didn’t use enough flour on the dough when you patted it out before you cut it. Flour’s not rat poison, you know!
Shut up and go get the cheese.
Act I, Scene 3
OK, I admit it tastes pretty good topped with smoked Gruyere. But it kind of looks like… oh never mind. Not to mention that it’s huge. And a little salty. Maybe that’s because, you know, you didn’t use enough flour in the do––
Fine, we’ll do it your way. We’ll make it again, and this time we’ll use plenty of flour to make for a nicely shaped fougasse, and we’ll make them only half as big. So with the extra dough, let’s throw in a couple of four-braids, I want to practice those.
[Sigh] Of course you do.
Act II, Scene 1
Hey look, another Daring Baker has come through with the weight equivalents of the ingredients, from the Dutch edition of the book. Hmmm… flour: 1000 - 1350 grams. I told you 780 grams was not enough!
That’s all behind us now. Kindly mash these four potatoes.
These weigh 22 ounces. The directions say at most 16 ounces of potato. If you use too much the dough might be too slack again.
The directions say four potatoes. That’s what we have here. I am asking you nicely to mash them.
But I thought we were doing things my way this time.
Shut up and mash.
Act II, Scene 2
You’ve been mixing that dough for 30 minutes! You’re breaking a sweat. What gives?
I just need to mix in a little more flour, I think. There, I think that just about–– oh no, not quite yet. This dough’s still too soft, I won’t be able to braid it. More flour! Just a little more!
Forget the braid! You can have a couple of nice fougasses and a lovely batard. Stop already! You’re kneading that dough into oblivion.
No! I said it would be a braid and it will be a braid. There, I think that about does it. I’ve used 1200 grams of flour, not even the maximum, so there!
Well good for you. It just took you twice as long as it should have to get it all in there. Now between the extra flour and the extra potato, you’ve got enough dough for a whole extra loaf!
Act II, Scene 3
Fougasses look pretty good. But your four-braids still need work. Look at that first one. What is it, still can’t tell left from right, can’t count to four, can’t distinguish over from under? But then why bother with four-braids at all? Six-braids are so much easier, and prettier too.
Oh come on, don’t you think that mummy-shaped loaf on the right is cute? That’s a new one I found in A Blessing of Bread by Maggie Glezer. And it’s really very easy!
It’s too flat. And too long and skinny.
Killjoy.
Act II, Scene 4
Smells like a baked potato in here! Maybe I can live with these. Let’s cut one open.
Dang! Really tight, not exactly tender. Guess I kneaded too long, and maybe a little too much flour.
You don’t say.
Act III, Scene 1
So what have you gone and done now?
Nice soft dough, lightly seasoned with black pepper and garlic. Sixteen ounces of potatoes and just enough flour. No fancy shaping, just four simple boules, baked seam-side-up. Satisfied?
Why yes, it looks and tastes great.
Thank you Tanna! We’ll be making this one again!
kellypea November 26 2007 at 01:45 am 1
Hilarious! What a lot of creative work. I was going to do a fougasse too, but got side tracked. So many possibilities, only so much sticky dough, right? Your bread is bee-you-tee-ful.
Foodfreak November 26 2007 at 02:43 am 2
Your fougasse looks absolutely gorgeous!
Pille November 26 2007 at 03:01 am 3
The soft crumb on the last photo looks amazing - soooo delicious!!
Bev November 26 2007 at 04:41 am 4
I have looked at your blog a few times before so I am not surprised your bread looks so fabulous!!
Maybe I will be a bit more ambitious with shaping next time.
courtney November 26 2007 at 05:48 am 5
way too funny post, loved the acts!! your bread looks great
Lewis November 26 2007 at 05:57 am 6
Absolutely amazing! I love your comedic way of relaying the challenges you experienced. This dough gave me some serious issues as well but the end result was fabulous!
Good Job!
Michelle November 26 2007 at 06:11 am 7
Wow I loved the way you wrote about your bread…and from seeing what you did I am sure that I had the same problems and now know how to fix them.
zorra November 26 2007 at 07:17 am 8
Just awesome! All of them!
Bart November 26 2007 at 07:38 am 9
They all look great!
Fruittart November 26 2007 at 07:58 am 10
This post made my day! I love it. I did the challenge three times too.
rachel November 26 2007 at 08:29 am 11
Love the way you write..Very amused by the scenes and the acts..ultimatley love your outcome..different looking ones..You are one true DB unleashed!
chronicler November 26 2007 at 09:06 am 12
Excellent! Wowzer, you really baked up a storm! Your bread looks fabulous.
Jane November 26 2007 at 09:14 am 13
Very nice looking bread!
barbara November 26 2007 at 09:18 am 14
WOw they are fab loaves. I really like the rustic look in the top photo.
breadchick November 26 2007 at 09:40 am 15
Great job on your breads. I love the shapes you made. It was fun to challenge ourselves with the new shapes. Hysterical post too!
kitten November 26 2007 at 12:26 pm 16
All I can say is wow. Your post was very entertaining and I loved your fougasse. Very daring !
Shawnda November 26 2007 at 12:41 pm 17
Great write up
The braids are extremely impressive!
Astrid November 26 2007 at 12:54 pm 18
Best post I’ve read in a long time, very entertaining but also informative about how to bake this bread. Thank you so much!
DawnsRecipes November 26 2007 at 01:28 pm 19
Wow, the fougasse and braids are both so pretty! You know, I’d never even heard of a fougasse until this challenge.
MyKitchenInHalfCups November 26 2007 at 01:30 pm 20
Good Lordy, got to be careful what gets unleashed around it. That is totally fantastic Susan. So incredible showing just the effects of key bread baking elements!! Yours is a fantastic post! Thank You.
Deborah November 26 2007 at 01:47 pm 21
What a great post!! And some great bread, as well!!
laurie November 26 2007 at 02:37 pm 22
Hilarious. sooo funny. And ALL your bread looks oh so good! Great job on the bread and fantastic post! xo
ejm November 26 2007 at 04:04 pm 23
Wonderful!! I love the script. And the fougasse LOOK beautiful - especially the second one.
-Elizabeth
Ivonne November 26 2007 at 04:55 pm 24
Both you and you deserve the Oscar! And whatever award they give for beautiful bread. Lovely!
Mimi November 26 2007 at 05:31 pm 25
I visit four or five of you daring bakers on a regular basis just by accident of having certain favorite blogs and who would have known that bread would have been the most entertaining thing for all of you to bake!
All of your potato breads looked great! Too bad the fancy ones weren’t quite as tasty as the minimalist loaf at the end.
I think I’ll need to go look at the DB blog list to see what the other bakers are up to. I’ve looked at less than half a dozen blogs and have seen over a dozen variations on this recipe. Too cool!
Kevin November 26 2007 at 06:19 pm 26
Your bread looks really amazing! I like the sound of the garlic potato bread.
Julius November 26 2007 at 07:08 pm 27
Hilarious post!
What beautiful breads you made.
Julius from Occasional Baker
Cherry November 27 2007 at 12:47 am 28
Hahaha…very interesting post! Sounds like you had much thoughts going on in your mind doing this challenge. Great job on the bread!
blog from OUR kitchen » It’s not a pretty sight November 27 2007 at 12:55 am 29
[...] misfortunes. There I was just hitting “send” on my reply to Susan’s (Wild Yeast) hilarious account when I realized how much time had gone by since I had put the buns in the oven. And smelled that [...]
baking soda November 27 2007 at 01:09 am 30
Hilarious! You got me ROFL…so much fun to read and beautiful (why do I always have to erase while I type beuatiful? Exactly; the ua thing) ok, gorgeous breads, absolutely smashing!
Naomi November 27 2007 at 01:17 am 31
What a fantastic post, an absolute joy to read! I too constantly have to fight my need to be so daring that I forget to make the recipe per instructions first time. But look at all that learning and personal growth you did along the way - you would have paid a therapist a huge wack to get those insights.
Although I’m a gluten free baker, I love to look at gorgeous loaves and wonder how I might recreate them myself - with writing this good, I’ll be back for a second helping…
peabody November 27 2007 at 01:20 am 32
Your shapes are fantastic!
ilva November 27 2007 at 02:04 am 33
Oh that fougasse looks beautiful! Brava!
Sarah November 27 2007 at 04:21 am 34
Wow! Your bread is fab, I love the post just the sort of conversation I have in my own head. I will be back for tips…
Sugarlaw November 27 2007 at 06:53 am 35
Ha! This was hilarious. Good way to start the morning! And they look beautiful (and tasty)!!!
Christina November 27 2007 at 10:39 am 36
Wonderful post, I really enjoyed reading it! Your braided loaves all look wonderful, even the “ugly duckling” of the bunch.
I didn’t add enough flour the first time and it resulted into a mass of cooked gluey bread!
Christina, She Runs, She Eats
Jenn November 27 2007 at 10:56 am 37
Great looking bread!
Sheltie Girl November 27 2007 at 11:58 am 38
Your bread turned out simply divine. I love the fougasses, they are beautiful. I don’t know if I could make gluten free dough turn out into a fougasse. I’d probably have to make a ring molds out of aluminum foil and pour the dough around them. It would be worth a try…
Natalie @ Gluten A Go Go
Miss Ifi November 27 2007 at 04:32 pm 39
I love your story!! is just soo much fun and hillarious, and by the way your bread looks lovely, I wish I could make fancy shapes like those (even if I got into a little bit of trouble *giggles*) AMAAAZING! you are great ! and congratulations on your challenge!
Gretchen Noelle November 27 2007 at 06:37 pm 40
This was really funny! Do you mean that you actually baked this three times over…Amazing! I love the creative looking breads.
Eva November 27 2007 at 11:13 pm 41
Hilarious post! You’ve certainly taken this challenge seriously!
monica November 28 2007 at 03:48 am 42
i admire your creativity with the bread! the fougasse and the rustic loaf look amazing…great job!
Jen Yu November 28 2007 at 07:45 am 43
My word, your breads are the most gorgeous I have seen. Just looking at the rest of the breads on your blog, I think I’ll have to hire you to come and bake breads professionally because you are the BOMB! WOW!!! Absolutely wonderful work there. Beautiful.
Ami November 28 2007 at 11:17 pm 44
When they cart you away for having multiple personality disorder, you’ll have something delicious to snack on in your padded cell. Nice work!
Jen November 29 2007 at 01:27 pm 45
I found your blog not too long ago through StumbleUpon, and your site is beautiful! I’ve never been much of a bread baker, but I’m inspired to try it now. I’m thinking of trying either this, the sourdough english muffins, or the Flax Seed Currant bread. Yum!
Julie November 30 2007 at 03:46 pm 46
Third time’s the charm, as they say! Though I would’ve gone the opposite direction … or maybe done the fougasse second, after the loaves … I don’t know–an inner battle for next time!
Your breads are all lovely, even in their experimental stages!
Rosa November 30 2007 at 04:46 pm 47
All your breads look gorgeous! Really wonderful! Great job!
Cheers,
Rosa
FoodFreak December 1 2007 at 01:19 am 48
[...] of the great variations the bakers and bakerinas came up with. I was particularly impressed by the potato fougasse at Wild Yeast. “The Saturday Food Show 2007/12/01″ vollständig lesen Geschrieben von FoodFreak [...]
Lisa December 2 2007 at 12:35 am 49
Hilarious! And your breads look amazing.
Dolores December 12 2007 at 04:10 pm 50
Thank you. THANK YOU. I’m so relieved to know I’m not the only one out there conversing — and arguing — with myself as I work out these challenges.