I've been making sourdough baguettes and focaccia recently. I usually make like a batard, but recently have been doing baguettes. I can't get the batard to be higher. Usually the dough is soft enough that when I put it in my dutch oven it flattens out. My sister and her family got me a baguette baker so I've been doing those recently.
And the focaccia recipe I use is this King Arthur Flour one. I started by putting rosemary on it and this last time I added quartered kalamata olives.
And for those making homemade pizza dough, I bought a plastic pizza dough proofer. Game changer. This is the 2-3 day receipe I make for pizza dough for the Ooni and using the proofer make the dough balls that much better. I only make small 10" pizzas, but I'm now able to shape them by tossing them up in the air.
For pizza? I use the ratios in that recipe. I have a spreadsheet that I use depending on how much flour I need (125 g per pizza). Looks like 69%
This recipe uses a biga (think starter) that is at 64% and the main dough is 74%. They use equal flour in each part. The biga is mixed with very little yeast, then sits overnight. Then mix the main dough and then mix together with the biga. Sit couple more hours, then divy up and put in the proofing box for 1-2 nights.
I need to buy a second one. I may go with the one I got you since I think the one I had isn't available right now. The Miata club is doing another picnic in Sept and each proofer only holds 6 dough balls so I need 1 more.
I have been experimenting with white koji - it's Aspergillus kawachii fungus using rice as a medium. Aspergillus flavus is a well-known food-borne pathogen that creates mycotoxins. It is also one of the reasons why you can't just re-cook food because the heat doesn't destroy the toxins. The Japanese somehow found an Aspergillus flavus version that no longer produced the toxins. The mold is used to chemically transform soy, wheat, and rice via enzymes that break down pectin into glutamic acids and other aminos to give it umami. The key challenge is that the shorter-chained aminos burn easily, so you have to cook them low and slow. I cooked a chicken with it on it. It was wild because it was cooked so low that it looked pale and white like poached chicken but tasted like roasted chicken. I put it on salmon mixed with miso and it intensified the roasted salmon flavor. Next, I am going to put it on some sort of fruit that I know has lots of pectin in it.
CHICAGO -- The Kansas City Royals plan to call up 45-year-old pitcher Rich Hill from the minors for a start against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, marking the left-hander's 21st season in the majors.
According to ESPN Research, when Hill takes the mound, he will tie Edwin Jackson for the most franchises played for in MLB history at 14. He will also be the first pitcher, 45 or older, to appear in a game since Bartolo Colon in 2018.
The Athletics dropped their series opener to the Texas Rangers on Monday evening in Arlington, falling to their division rivals by a 7-2 final.
On the mound for the A’s in this one was left-hander Jacob Lopez. The rookie entered tonight with a 4.20 ERA on the season, making 10 starts and looking impressive in his first real extended look in the big leagues. Making his first ever start against the Rangers, Lopez was looking good early on, allowing just one walk in the first two frames while collecting three strikeouts. He also got some major help from his new center fielder Lawrence Butler:
The San Francisco Giants lost 9-5 to the Atlanta Braves on Monday night. I’m starting this article by blandly stating the final score so that you can understand what we’re about to do here. We are not going to recap the game from start to finish, taking you on an emotional ride as you pretend to not know what happened and ooh and ahh at each twist in the adventure. There will be no narrative arc; no climactic moment, positive or negative.
Will Smith homered twice and Shohei Ohtani showed off his power at the plate and on the mound in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win over the Twins on Monday night at Dodger Stadium, snapping a three-game losing streak.
Ohtani homered for the third game in a row, with his first-inning home run on Monday coming with someone on base after new old leadoff man Mookie Betts walked. Those two runs marked the first score in the first inning by the Dodgers since July 8, eight games ago.
VP Vance scheduled to be at a fundraiser on Nantucket tonight. $100,000 per couple or $250,000 if you want to be on the host committee. He’s traveling in style because I saw a Marine helicopter landing at his residence as I ran by this morning.
The Bear Season 4 (18/19 FX). Binged the first 5 episodes of season 4 yesterday. Really like what I see so far. I was only planning on watching a couple of episodes but I just kept starting the next episode. The premise this season is Uncle is giving them 2 months and then the plug is pulled. Will they survive??
Andor Season 2 (15/19 Disney+). Andor season 2 was pretty good. There were times where it was a bit slow, but I thought they did a good job. It's been long enough since Rogue One came out that I had to read a summary to figure out how Cassian came to Rogue One.
I remember those mosquito coils from my first trip to Taiwan in 85. Then in Hawaii for work back in the late 90s the company got a bunch of condos in Turtle Bay and the first night there were a couple of mosquitos flying around the room. I went out to get a couple of those coils the next day.
DBD Cooking Academy
I've been making sourdough baguettes and focaccia recently. I usually make like a batard, but recently have been doing baguettes. I can't get the batard to be higher. Usually the dough is soft enough that when I put it in my dutch oven it flattens out. My sister and her family got me a baguette baker so I've been doing those recently.
And the focaccia recipe I use is this King Arthur Flour one. I started by putting rosemary on it and this last time I added quartered kalamata olives.
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/big-and-bubbly-focaccia-recipe
And for those making homemade pizza dough, I bought a plastic pizza dough proofer. Game changer. This is the 2-3 day receipe I make for pizza dough for the Ooni and using the proofer make the dough balls that much better. I only make small 10" pizzas, but I'm now able to shape them by tossing them up in the air.
https://www.thechoppingblock.com/blog/the-best-homemade-pizza-ive-ever-made
Do you have a target hydration ratio?
For pizza? I use the ratios in that recipe. I have a spreadsheet that I use depending on how much flour I need (125 g per pizza). Looks like 69%
This recipe uses a biga (think starter) that is at 64% and the main dough is 74%. They use equal flour in each part. The biga is mixed with very little yeast, then sits overnight. Then mix the main dough and then mix together with the biga. Sit couple more hours, then divy up and put in the proofing box for 1-2 nights.
we got to have some of this pizza just a few weeks ago and we saw the tossing in the air situation as well.
HAG also got us a nice pizza dough proofer. i think it is wooden or bamboo or something.
I need to buy a second one. I may go with the one I got you since I think the one I had isn't available right now. The Miata club is doing another picnic in Sept and each proofer only holds 6 dough balls so I need 1 more.
The Miata Club demands more ball room
Although I will have to say they're probably all pretty similar/
I have been experimenting with white koji - it's Aspergillus kawachii fungus using rice as a medium. Aspergillus flavus is a well-known food-borne pathogen that creates mycotoxins. It is also one of the reasons why you can't just re-cook food because the heat doesn't destroy the toxins. The Japanese somehow found an Aspergillus flavus version that no longer produced the toxins. The mold is used to chemically transform soy, wheat, and rice via enzymes that break down pectin into glutamic acids and other aminos to give it umami. The key challenge is that the shorter-chained aminos burn easily, so you have to cook them low and slow. I cooked a chicken with it on it. It was wild because it was cooked so low that it looked pale and white like poached chicken but tasted like roasted chicken. I put it on salmon mixed with miso and it intensified the roasted salmon flavor. Next, I am going to put it on some sort of fruit that I know has lots of pectin in it.
isnt koji a key ingredient in making sake? or am i confusing it w/ something else ..
It is. As it is with soju.
PRO
Jamie Moyer says, Dick Mountain is a youngin.
Pitcher Rich Hill, 45, slated to start for Royals on Tuesday
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45791768/pitcher-rich-hill-45-slated-start-royals-tuesday
CHICAGO -- The Kansas City Royals plan to call up 45-year-old pitcher Rich Hill from the minors for a start against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, marking the left-hander's 21st season in the majors.
According to ESPN Research, when Hill takes the mound, he will tie Edwin Jackson for the most franchises played for in MLB history at 14. He will also be the first pitcher, 45 or older, to appear in a game since Bartolo Colon in 2018.
Oakland Ballers took the day off.
A’s Fall In Series Opener To Rangers 7-2
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2025/7/21/24471930/as-fall-in-series-opener-to-rangers-7-2
The Athletics dropped their series opener to the Texas Rangers on Monday evening in Arlington, falling to their division rivals by a 7-2 final.
On the mound for the A’s in this one was left-hander Jacob Lopez. The rookie entered tonight with a 4.20 ERA on the season, making 10 starts and looking impressive in his first real extended look in the big leagues. Making his first ever start against the Rangers, Lopez was looking good early on, allowing just one walk in the first two frames while collecting three strikeouts. He also got some major help from his new center fielder Lawrence Butler:
Giants get crushed by Braves in mistake-fueled meltdown
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2025/7/21/24471845/giants-braves-scores-recaps-hayden-birdsong-willy-adames
The San Francisco Giants lost 9-5 to the Atlanta Braves on Monday night. I’m starting this article by blandly stating the final score so that you can understand what we’re about to do here. We are not going to recap the game from start to finish, taking you on an emotional ride as you pretend to not know what happened and ooh and ahh at each twist in the adventure. There will be no narrative arc; no climactic moment, positive or negative.
Will Smith, Shohei Ohtani power Dodgers to streak-snapping win over Twins
https://www.truebluela.com/2025/7/21/24471846/will-smith-shohei-ohtani-home-runs-dustin-may-dodgers-twins
Will Smith homered twice and Shohei Ohtani showed off his power at the plate and on the mound in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win over the Twins on Monday night at Dodger Stadium, snapping a three-game losing streak.
Ohtani homered for the third game in a row, with his first-inning home run on Monday coming with someone on base after new old leadoff man Mookie Betts walked. Those two runs marked the first score in the first inning by the Dodgers since July 8, eight games ago.
CAL
GO Bears!!
POLITICS
FBI assigned like a 1,000 agents to review Epstein files, specifically looking to find Trumps name - presumably so that it can be expunged from them
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/fbi-jeffrey-epstein-files.html
Jon Stewart's response to CBS cancelling the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwOLo_U6bTw
VP Vance scheduled to be at a fundraiser on Nantucket tonight. $100,000 per couple or $250,000 if you want to be on the host committee. He’s traveling in style because I saw a Marine helicopter landing at his residence as I ran by this morning.
I'll take "Selling Access" for $1,000, Alex.
DBD AV CLUB
Mere days after his farewell concert, Ozzy Osborne has died.
https://news.sky.com/story/ozzy-osbourne-dies-just-weeks-after-farewell-show-13400248
In other news, his daughter looks nothing like she did before
https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ-SeeiSG81/?img_index=1
No way that's Kelly. That's a lot of work.
I just saw this and was about to come post this.
Hey bosses, stick it up your ass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwOLo_U6bTw
The Bear Season 4 (18/19 FX). Binged the first 5 episodes of season 4 yesterday. Really like what I see so far. I was only planning on watching a couple of episodes but I just kept starting the next episode. The premise this season is Uncle is giving them 2 months and then the plug is pulled. Will they survive??
Andor Season 2 (15/19 Disney+). Andor season 2 was pretty good. There were times where it was a bit slow, but I thought they did a good job. It's been long enough since Rogue One came out that I had to read a summary to figure out how Cassian came to Rogue One.
i am not fully done w/ the season. i think it is one of the best things on "TV"
COIL
I remember those mosquito coils from my first trip to Taiwan in 85. Then in Hawaii for work back in the late 90s the company got a bunch of condos in Turtle Bay and the first night there were a couple of mosquitos flying around the room. I went out to get a couple of those coils the next day.
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE