Thank you this is so useful. I’m about to be awash with paper whites that I planted to early. Currently they all have ribbons around them to hold them up - charming but amateur
Honoured to be here Laetitia, thank you! I love that your first loaf was a pancake...same here. I love how sourdough (and the starter) are things that you need to develop a relationship with before you work together best. Another lovely read x
Darn it, I’m going to try Mark’s sourdough starter - my husband was making the most delicious sourdough over lockdown and I pretended I was too busy. He had a starter given to him by someone and kept it going for ages but as soon as things got back to normal it lapsed. I’ve been meaning to try and make sourdough for too many years and the idea of starting from scratch and using one of my own organic apples is brilliant. 🤩
I’m new ish to making sourdough, like you I tried before and failed. Wow lately I can’t believe how easy it is to make or how good. I’m thrilled with my loaves. Thanks for your Monday musings , just lovely to read. 😍
I haven’t grown paper whites before but have done indoor hyacinths. I am a bit rubbish at the presenting and pretty bits so might give what you’ve suggested a go. I do however make sourdough every week and love it. Started just before lockdown and then, of course, had lots of time to practice.
I Love that word - fecund! Your bread looks great. and it is so true about recipes - I think it is all about the images - and clicks - the recipe is almost an afterthought.
ODILE! You were quite the BEST French teacher. How incredible because I was only thinking about you the other day and ‘radio Bedales’ lol! I’m sorry I wasn’t very good at French…but I actually think you did rather well because even though I went on to do Spanish for A-level, my French is still marginally better than my Spanish. Do let me know how you get on with the starter…you are VERY welcome to some of mine if you’d prefer to skip the starter part - just DM me and I will make it happen! xx
It is thanks to you that I finally had success with sourdough. I went out and bought Mark Diacono's book, after you mentioned it, and from then onwards I had nothing but edible successes! I recently found I can throw the whole lot in the bread maker on the sourdough 'dough' program and I don't have to babysit it through the 'stretch and fold's' which has been a revelation . I know lots would frown at this but it works for this lazy greedy woman😉. Now I just need a sourdough approved bread knife, any suggestions? When I watch folk on YouTube slice through their loaves they seem to do it with such ease but for me it feels quite a workout to get through the crust!
Thanks for the paperwhite/twiggy info. I am going to order some right now!
How excellent of you to use a bread-maker - I should probably look into that one except that I have precious little space for more gadgets. I agree re the cutting part. I brand new bread knife for every loaf is my only suggestion! Seriously though it IS a workout and I have thought about taking my loaves to my local Gails and fluttering my eyelashes at them to get them to put my bread through their slicing machine.
I have tried paper whites a few times and it has always been a disaster! Too leggy / do not flower etc. Maybe the period of cold is what I am getting wrong.
Sourdough on the other hand I can do. Thank you for the recipe which we are going to try out today!
The cold bit really is essential. I don’t think people’s houses are cold enough any more…you need a porch, or a cloche outside or obvs a cold greenhouse! Let me know how you get on with this recipe x
My partner in crime makes sourdough and I keep making silent resolutions to try to make it myself… he was away last week and we only had freezer sourdough to keep us going. A shocking situation.
But his method is so different! He uses a Kenwood now (which he bought for himself on a Mother’s Day offer) but when he did it by hand he did a lot of slapping it down in the kneading phase… to the extent that my daughter loves the sound of it when he does it by hand as it reminds her of being in bed trying to get to sleep and him make bread downstairs. Now we just get machine whirring, but the result is delicious and just as magical.
I’ve never tried paper whites, does the container need to be clear? Is that just good so you can see the water? And if one wants the mossy bit don’t just lay that on top I presume?
No need for a clear container - just plant them as you would any forced bulb with tips proud of the surface. Moss can just be laid over the top. How fascinating that your man is quite rough with his dough! This is what I love about bread - I think it just decides to do your bidding if it likes you.
Thank you so much for the twiggy tips! Completely agree that info is always missing when people talk about staking. I have some paperwhites about to flower and I'm planning to start another lot soon - with hopes of getting them to flower at christmas (thank you too for the paperwhites timing sheet!)
The hyacinths are bidding their time in the garage ams amaryllis all have a juicy green nub - very exciting.
I grow hyacinths, mainly white ones which , if they flower at Christmas blend in well with Christmas decorations. I put gold twiggy sticks around them. But usually they flower later and they are lovely during those dark January days. If I have too many flowering at the same time I give them away to friends and family. I've never grown paper whites, I must give them a go. I've also never made bread.
Thank you this is so useful. I’m about to be awash with paper whites that I planted to early. Currently they all have ribbons around them to hold them up - charming but amateur
Ribbons are good! Very good! x
Honoured to be here Laetitia, thank you! I love that your first loaf was a pancake...same here. I love how sourdough (and the starter) are things that you need to develop a relationship with before you work together best. Another lovely read x
Thank you for letting me post your recipe and beauteous pic. HMU if you ever want some of my kelim-infested starter!
Nothing Important, Laetitia?
It's Everything Important!!
Thank you for you life affirming and uplifting posts x
Thank you Annie! x
Darn it, I’m going to try Mark’s sourdough starter - my husband was making the most delicious sourdough over lockdown and I pretended I was too busy. He had a starter given to him by someone and kept it going for ages but as soon as things got back to normal it lapsed. I’ve been meaning to try and make sourdough for too many years and the idea of starting from scratch and using one of my own organic apples is brilliant. 🤩
I’m new ish to making sourdough, like you I tried before and failed. Wow lately I can’t believe how easy it is to make or how good. I’m thrilled with my loaves. Thanks for your Monday musings , just lovely to read. 😍
It is amazing isn’t it, how quickly it becomes automatic. Thank you for your lovely message.
Thank you, I love getting your email each week it is so cheerful. My grandchildren and I have been planting Amaryllis. Fun chaos !!
I planted three more today! Now I must cease and desist.
I haven’t grown paper whites before but have done indoor hyacinths. I am a bit rubbish at the presenting and pretty bits so might give what you’ve suggested a go. I do however make sourdough every week and love it. Started just before lockdown and then, of course, had lots of time to practice.
Paperwhites are def worth a shot - even if they do fall over you can cut and put in a vase. The scent is obvs a massive pull too.
I Love that word - fecund! Your bread looks great. and it is so true about recipes - I think it is all about the images - and clicks - the recipe is almost an afterthought.
Yes, images and clicks. And I loathe myself for how often I am lured by them!
Everyone likes to be liked, human nature I guess. Have a great afternoon! Is it Monday where you are?
Yes - it’s been Monday ALL DAY!
Thank you Laetitia, you have inspired me. I am off to the garden centre and I have started on sourdough. I always enjoy your posts.
From your old French teacher!
ODILE! You were quite the BEST French teacher. How incredible because I was only thinking about you the other day and ‘radio Bedales’ lol! I’m sorry I wasn’t very good at French…but I actually think you did rather well because even though I went on to do Spanish for A-level, my French is still marginally better than my Spanish. Do let me know how you get on with the starter…you are VERY welcome to some of mine if you’d prefer to skip the starter part - just DM me and I will make it happen! xx
Please do amaryllis next! Also, can you reuse the paperwhite bulbs?
I think you can, but I don’t, because I am lazy and risk-averse, so I compost them and buy new every year. YES to amaryllis!
It is thanks to you that I finally had success with sourdough. I went out and bought Mark Diacono's book, after you mentioned it, and from then onwards I had nothing but edible successes! I recently found I can throw the whole lot in the bread maker on the sourdough 'dough' program and I don't have to babysit it through the 'stretch and fold's' which has been a revelation . I know lots would frown at this but it works for this lazy greedy woman😉. Now I just need a sourdough approved bread knife, any suggestions? When I watch folk on YouTube slice through their loaves they seem to do it with such ease but for me it feels quite a workout to get through the crust!
Thanks for the paperwhite/twiggy info. I am going to order some right now!
How excellent of you to use a bread-maker - I should probably look into that one except that I have precious little space for more gadgets. I agree re the cutting part. I brand new bread knife for every loaf is my only suggestion! Seriously though it IS a workout and I have thought about taking my loaves to my local Gails and fluttering my eyelashes at them to get them to put my bread through their slicing machine.
Now that is a thought 👏👏👏!!!
I have tried paper whites a few times and it has always been a disaster! Too leggy / do not flower etc. Maybe the period of cold is what I am getting wrong.
Sourdough on the other hand I can do. Thank you for the recipe which we are going to try out today!
The cold bit really is essential. I don’t think people’s houses are cold enough any more…you need a porch, or a cloche outside or obvs a cold greenhouse! Let me know how you get on with this recipe x
I can confirm that the recipe was a success! I have another batch gently rising in the kitchen right now...
You've inspired me to have a go at sourdough again, thank you!
My partner in crime makes sourdough and I keep making silent resolutions to try to make it myself… he was away last week and we only had freezer sourdough to keep us going. A shocking situation.
But his method is so different! He uses a Kenwood now (which he bought for himself on a Mother’s Day offer) but when he did it by hand he did a lot of slapping it down in the kneading phase… to the extent that my daughter loves the sound of it when he does it by hand as it reminds her of being in bed trying to get to sleep and him make bread downstairs. Now we just get machine whirring, but the result is delicious and just as magical.
I’ve never tried paper whites, does the container need to be clear? Is that just good so you can see the water? And if one wants the mossy bit don’t just lay that on top I presume?
No need for a clear container - just plant them as you would any forced bulb with tips proud of the surface. Moss can just be laid over the top. How fascinating that your man is quite rough with his dough! This is what I love about bread - I think it just decides to do your bidding if it likes you.
Thank you so much for the twiggy tips! Completely agree that info is always missing when people talk about staking. I have some paperwhites about to flower and I'm planning to start another lot soon - with hopes of getting them to flower at christmas (thank you too for the paperwhites timing sheet!)
The hyacinths are bidding their time in the garage ams amaryllis all have a juicy green nub - very exciting.
I mean….who needs politics when we have BUDDING BULBS to get excited about?
I grow hyacinths, mainly white ones which , if they flower at Christmas blend in well with Christmas decorations. I put gold twiggy sticks around them. But usually they flower later and they are lovely during those dark January days. If I have too many flowering at the same time I give them away to friends and family. I've never grown paper whites, I must give them a go. I've also never made bread.
Lucky friends of yours! White hyacinths sound super-chic.