Last week, the same friend who gave me some of her sourdough starter handed me a box that was labeled "banneton proofing basket kit." Take this, she said, I have an extra.
I think most people, when they hear sourdough, picture those round crusty loaves with intricate patterns carved into their tops. And one of the tools that the folks who make those types of loaves use is a banneton, which is a fancy name for a basket that holds the dough during the second rise. And I can not, for the life of me, figure out how those folks get their loaves out of their fancy baskets and into their Dutch ovens for baking without totally deflating the dough. My friend said she couldn't figure it out either. Because of that, and because there are so many other ways to use sourdough starter that my family is more likely to actually eat, I honestly had never given serious consideration to making one of those artisan loaves.
But then, the kit came into my life. When I opened the box, I was expecting to find a banneton and a banneton liner. I did find those things, along with a few other tools, but on top of all that laid the gorgeous book, Artisan Sourdough Made Simple by Emilie Raffa. I am a sucker for a beautiful cookbook, and this, my friends, is a beautiful cookbook. And now I need to make all the things, including the things that require a proofing basket. Up first, a Cinnamon raisin swirl loaf (without the raisins).
- Chicken fettuccini alfredo, green beans
- Burritos or tacos, taco toppings, carrots
- Beef stroganoff or fend for yourself
- Fend for yourself
- Pizza, salad
- Hamburgers or hot dogs, buns, chips, raw veggies
- Grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, grilled broccoli
- Sourdough brioche
- Cinnamon raisin swirl artisan sourdough loaf (without the raisins, and possibly without the walnuts)
- Cookies (maybe snickerdoodle or oatmeal chocolate chip)
- Taco bean soup