Breadness Buzz - Beat the Heat, Braided Breadness (Challah?)

NOTE: If this is your first Breadness Buzz, or you've been part of our tribe but missed earlier posts, visit the Breadness Buzz Archive here and catch up on some Breaducation written especially for you. It's a great way to meet like-minded artisan sourdough aficionados and be part of this journey I started back in 2016. And now for this week's Buzz...

Beat the Heat...

Just when we thought the weather was cooling off, here comes another HEAT WAVE! Sheesh... But wait... It's cool inside at Random Acts of Breadness and even cooler if you've a hankering for something CHILL!

If you're going to have something cool and refreshing, it may as well be good for you, too! And we have 3 HEAT-WAVE BUSTERS just for you...

First up is our year-round favorite, CHOCOLATE CHILL! This one ticks all the boxes: Sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan, and high in natural-source electrolytes and polyphenols. Electrolytes are depleted when you sweat or work/live in an air-conditioned space for long periods. This is a refreshing way to get some back! Polyphenols are plant-based antioxidants that keep your immune system on its game.

But the best part: seeing our customers smile after taking that first sip! Like Nestle's Quick, but made from only the best organic/non-GMO ingredients!

Next up, we're bringing back Chef Randall's Balsamic Breeze (at a lower price!). Balsamic vinegar is naturally high in electrolytes, especially potassium, which is why replenishing drinks served in parts of the Caribbean are made with vinegar and honey.

Our Balsamic Breeze is made with ice-cold, glass-bottled San Pellegrino sparkling mineral water and a teaspoon or so of one of our new balsamic vinegars from Beyond the Olive: Chocolate Orange, Bordeaux Cherry, Peach or Pear (the latter 2 made with white balsamic vinegar).

Balsamic Breeze is a great way to have a low-calorie soda without chemicals!

Lastly, our Strawberry Coconut Popsicle completes the trifecta of cool concoctions. This sub-zero chiller will last awhile, even in this heat. Organic, no added sugar, vegan-friendly. The only problem, supplies are limited!

Brave the heat and come get your ice-cold treats at Random Acts of Breadness!

Balsamic Breeze is a great way to have a low-calorie soda without chemicals!

"Do you make Challah?"

One of the breads that's been requested we make here at the bakery is CHALLAH. This traditional Jewish bread is normally made with flour, yeast, sugar and eggs. The dough is braided in various designs, then the loaf is brushed with an egg wash to give it a shiny finish out of the oven. It's not long-ferment artisan sourdough so the gluten is not bio-friendly and the glycemic index is quite high.

So... I wondered if I could make an organic artisan sourdough version of this loaf without the sugar or eggs. Essentially, taking our long-fermented dough and instead of baking that loaf as usual, take it and stretch it into ropes and braid it, then put it in the oven.

And here's how it turned out!

As for how it tasted, I actually did a smaller test loaf earlier and shared that with a few people. The crumb is much finer than our usual open crumb due to the stretching of the dough into ropes and the braiding keeps the bread from expanding too much. This results in a chewy, denser crumb that feels like traditional challah. And since our sourdough bread has a natural sweetness to it, I didn't miss the sugar (though folks who are used to the traditional sweet taste may want to add a little honey on their pieces).

This sugar-free artisan sourdough Challah takes 2 loaves worth of dough to make, so it costs twice as much as our 1-lb. loaves. You get a 2-lb. Challah that should satisfy the bread needs for 8 or more people.

Additionally, although we are not a certified kosher bakery, all of the ingredients in our breads are certified kosher.

If you wish for me to make one of these sourdough Challah loaves for you, I will need advance notice and the date it will be needed. Call Random Acts of Breadness at 818-562-7303 and leave your order request, your name and phone number and date needed. You may also e-mail me at rmt@breadness.com

Here's what we have for you this week...

— Organic Artisan Sourdough Country Loaf (Batard, Boule, Petite, Rolls)

— Organic Artisan Cinnamon Raisin Maple Pecan Sourdough Loaf (Boule, Petite, Rolls)

— Organic Chocolate Artisan Sourdough Loaf (Petite)

— Organic Artisan Sourdough Flatbread Crisps (Naked, Tuscan Herb,
Smoked, Cinnamon Raisin)

— Organic/non-GMO Breadness Brûlée Muffins (Sugar-free)

— Organic Sourdough Shortbread Cookies (Sugar-free)

— Amazing Fresh Coffee, Holland Process (Cup or Demitasse)

— Chocolate Chill (Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Keto, Vegan)

— Balsamic Breeze (Gluten-free, Keto, Vegan)

— Organic Strawberry-Coconut Popsicles (Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Keto, Vegan)

And our awesome NEW lineup of Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars, along with our Butters, Cheese, Tapenades, Nut Butters, Fruit Spreads/Jams and Sourdough Pasta and Tomato Products from Italy!

Random Acts of Breadness is located at 2214 West Magnolia Blvd in Burbank, 2-1/2 blocks east of Buena Vista on the south side of the street. Order at breadness.com/#shop, or via DoorDash. We also ship locally and nationwide.

We're open Thursday Friday & Saturday 12 to 6pm, and Sunday 11am to 4pm.

CYNDIE and CHEF RANDALL

From our hands to yours...

Randall Michael Tobin
Artisan Baker/Chef, PC, ACF
Breadness.com

You received this email because you subscribed to the Breadness Buzz. You can unsubscribe at any time.

2214 West Magnolia Blvd.
Unit A
Burbank, CA 91506
USA

Powered by EmailOctopus