2 BBA Challenge: Ciabatta

When Pinch My Salt proposed baking all the breads in the book, The Bread Baker's Apprentice, it got my attention. Shortly after I taught a Mom N Me bread class, one of the ladies there called me and said, "Have you ever heard of the Bread Baker's Apprentice? Would you like to borrow it?"
I was ecstatic!

The challenge was started almost two months ago and I decided to jump in, hoping to catch up to the other 8 or so breads that have been made so far.

Ciabatta is the challenge for this week. I have made ciabatta before, which is an extremely sticky dough.

I decided to add olive oil and some fresh rosemary from my garden.

I shaped 2/3 of the dough into square rolls for sandwiches.



This is my ciabatta loaf, which is supposed to resemble an Italian slipper....looks pretty and rustic, huh?


This is the challenge of bread makers everywhere....you can follow a recipe EXACTLY and something, somewhere, goes wrong.

Not horribly wrong. Just different.


When I cut into my bread, all the lovely holes that were supposed to be there, weren't.

Don't get me wrong. It still tasted great! It just wasn't what I expected.

I had a sleepless night that night.


Did the olive oil change it?
Did I do the stretch and folds correctly?
Should I have added more water?
Did I handle the dough too much?
Should I use active dry yeast next time?
Did the high altitude make a difference?

Calling all experienced bread makers.......help me solve my problem and I will have a good night's sleep tonight!