Sunday, June 15, 2014

Artisan Old World Bread

I've been making old world artisan bread at the Apple Farm lately. It's delicious and extra good toasted and served with butter. A slow rise adds an extra dimension  of flavor.
The technique involved requires a good scale, instant yeast, fine sea salt, and a Dutch oven. The rest can be worked around if you don't have them. A 12 qt round container and a proofing basket. First of all use an accurate scale to measure ingredients.




Measure                           Percentages
1000 gm white flour        100%
720 gm water                    72%
20 gm fine sea salt             20%
2 gm instant yeast              02%

Measure the flour into a 12 qt round container. Add the water warmed to 95 - 105 degrees and stir with your hand. Get all the dry bits that remain on the bottom and sides and incorporate them into the dough. Let this mixture sit covered for 20 to 30 min. Longer if possible. The longer the better. This is called the autolyse. It allows the flour to better hydrate and starts the progression of flavor building. After the flour and water have sat for a while sprinkle the instant yeast and fine sea salt over the surface of the top of the dough. The technique involved here is to handle the dough very gently. There is no kneading involved, After you sprinkle the salt and yeast, using a wet hand, (wet your hand as needed) fold the dough over itself by grabbing a portion of the edge of the dough and pulling up till you feel resistance then dropping it over the top of the dough. Then pinch large pieces of dough between your hands and mush them together gently, then let it sit covered with plastic wrap sprayed with vegetable oil. Do a fold (pull the dough up and let it fall on to itself) every 20 minutes three times in the first hour.

After the dough has doubled in volume gently turn the dough out onto a floured board as even as possible. You will cut it in half so dust the middle with flour.Take half the dough and fold it in your hands making s smooth round top and place it in a well floured bowl. Cover with a wet towel or oiled plastic wrap and let rise for 1 1/2 hours. Meanwhile heat the oven and dutch oven on a middle shelf, for 45 min at 525 degrees. Gently turn out he dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. With floured hands pick up the formed dough and carefully (the dutch oven is extremely hot. Be careful) and gently place the dough in the preheated dutch oven. Be cautious when handling the hot cast iron Dutch oven, use long sleeve oven mitts. Bake for 35 min, then remove the the top of the Dutch oven and bake for 10 more minutes or more till the loaf is dark brown. Turn the finished loaf out and cool on a rack. Let the bread cool for at least 40 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy    






Saturday, May 3, 2014

Our Signature Series Backyard Wine Makers Dinner at the Apple Farm with Bianchi Winery
Chef Steven Smeets and Chef Stephen Walls

First Course of grilled asparagus, lemon oil, zest, Burrata, Maldon salt
2012 Pinot Grigio


Second Course Pan seared Dover sole, Snap peas and English shelling
peas, early girl tomato puree,
2012 Chardonnay


Third Course of Rabbit stew with mushrooms, farro, kale, crispy panchetta
2011 Pinot Noir





Fourth Course of Duck Three Ways
Seared duck breast, Leg confit and Crepinette
Roasted root vegetables, roasted duck fat potatoes, Green garlic soubise, lamb jus
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon


Dessert from Executive Pastry Chef Wilie Vey
Lemon panna cotta
Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc



Monday, April 28, 2014

Thursday, April 17, 2014

 
Korean Gochujang BBQ Sauce 
  
Tomato ketchup                           1 cup
Rice vinegar                                1 cup
Soy sauce                                           1/2 cup
Gochujang                                       1/2 cup
Korean red pepper flake              1 tbsp
Fresh grated ginger root               1 tbsp
Brown sugar                                 1 tbsp
Scallion chopped (not pictured)   1 tbsp     

Add all ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and continue simmering for 20 min. 

$9 Dollar Lunch Special Friday April  18th

Korean Tacos w/ Asian Slaw

Pulled pork from recipe below         8 oz
Korean BBQ sauce                            1/2 cup
Corn tortillas                                     4 ea
Kimchee                                             2 oz
Asian slaw (your favorite)                 4 oz

Heat the pulled pork and BBQ sauce, warm the tortillas on a griddle and place on plate. Add 2 oz of pork in BBQ sauce and top with 1/2 oz of kimchee. Serve with Asian slaw.

Easy Recipe for Pulled Pork

Pork butt cut into four pieces              12 to 14 lb
Orange juice                                          1/2 gal 
Lime juice fresh                                   1 tbsp 
Lemon juice fresh                                1 tbsp
Garlic cloves crushed                          10 ea
Granulated sugar                                  1/4 cup
Yellow onion diced                             1 each
Serrano peppers sliced with seeds      5 ea
Pork stock (can sub chicken stock)      enough to cover the pork

Put all vegetables in an oven pan. Add the pork butt, sugar, orange juice, lime juice, and pork stock to cover. Loosely cover with foil and place in a 350 degree oven for 3 1/2 hours. Cool the pork and pull into shreds with your hands while the pork is still warm.  

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

This will be our $9 lunch special on Wednesday at the Apple Farm Restaurant April 16th 


Strawberry Salad

This salad is from our Chef de Cuisine Steven Smeets. Borrowed from the dinner menu and soon to be on our new lunch menu. It's Wednesday's $9 lunch special. It features fresh local strawberries from Santa Maria, toasted almonds, locally grown spring mix of baby leaf lettuce and chicories, 18 year old aged balsamic vinegar, peppery California olive oil and ricotta salata. Ricotta salata is an Italian cheese made from sheep milk. The whey is pressed, salted then aged. It has a firm texture and salty taste, and is easily grated  or crumbled. All elements of this salad add good texture and contrast of flavor to the final dish. Cheers!



     


Monday, April 14, 2014

My $9 lunch specials at the Apple Farm Restaurant this week.