The Breaking Bread Podcast with Rachel Parker

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker guides listeners through the process of creating and maintaining a sourdough starter. She begins with a step-by-step guide to making the starter and offers various tips along the way, such as naming the starter for a personal touch. Rachel then discusses how to care for the starter, emphasizing the need for accurate measurements, co...

In this Halloween-themed episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker takes listeners on a journey through the world of themed breads. Rachel begins with a historical background on Halloween and bread, focusing on Ireland's Barmbrack bread which contains hidden objects carrying specific meanings for the consumer. The episode also introduces a variety of bread recipes like the Pumpkin-...

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker discusses King Arthur Baking's Climate Blend Flour, a sustainable baking innovation. The flour is a product of regenerative agriculture, a method of farming that enhances soil health, promotes biodiversity, and reduces carbon emissions. Apart from being environmentally friendly, the flour is noteworthy for lending a rich, nutty flav...

In this engaging episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker and guest Henry Hunter, founder of Baking Great Bread at Home, discuss the crucial topic of proper bread storage. They debunk common misconceptions and explain that while bread was historically stored in cool, dry places, the modern refrigerator can actually cause bread to dry out by speeding up starch molecule crystallizat...

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker introduces listeners to the vital role of steam in baking bread. She explains how introducing steam at the start of the baking process enhances bread's rise, crumb structure, and crust quality. Rachel discusses various methods for creating steam in a home oven, such as using a preheated cast iron pan, lava rocks, baking stones, and...

In this edition of Breaking Bread, Rachel Parker takes listeners down memory lane tracing the origins of bread, a staple food in many cultures. Starting from 30,000 years ago, when our ancestors unwittingly fermented wild grain seeds in water, Rachel describes the initial creation of dense flatbreads by primitive humans. She explains the monumental role of agriculture around 10,000 BCE in making b...

In the latest episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker interviews Chef Dave Palmer, who shares his revolutionary method for making soft, long-lasting sandwich bread. The episode covers a detailed discussion on Chef Dave's 'Secret Wheat' recipe, in which he notably uses the autolyse method typically seen in sourdough baking. Along with sharing specifics like the unique use of ingre...

In this engaging episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker sits down with Chef Dave Palmer, the host of 'Traveling Bread', to discuss a revolutionary baking method he has developed. Dave introduces a unique recipe called 'Secret Wheat' and explains how he employs the autolyse method, normally used in sourdough baking, in its creation. Dave also divulges some unusual ingredients in...

The Breaking Bread Podcast, hosted by Rachel Parker, takes listeners on a whimsical journey through time, tracing the origins of sourdough bread, all the way back to Ancient Africa. The story revolves around Nyah, a resourceful woman responsible for feeding her family. In her absence one day, the porridge she left behind naturally ferments and results in lighter, fluffier and more delicious bread...

In the recent episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker delves into the fascinating history of sourdough bread. The story dates back to 12,000 BCE, revolving around a tribe member named Adah from the Jordan Valley. Amidst a chaotic day, Adah unintentionally leaves a bowl of wheat paste out, which transforms due to wild yeast and bacteria. Upon baking the altered paste, the flatbrea...

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker takes listeners on a historical journey to the accidental creation of sourdough around 12,000 BCE in the Jordan Valley. The story is centered around a pregnant woman named Adah who forgets a bowl of wheat paste on the counter while on a break, resulting in a bubbly mixture that bakes into a delectable loaf of bread, marking the birt...

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker deep-dives into the art and science of making sourdough bread, primarily referencing insights from Henry Hunter's book, 'Vitale Sourdough Mastery'. The discussion revolves around the vital significance of choosing the right flour, the maintenance of 'starter' for bread, the fermentation process, and the nuances of shaping and baking...

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker dives into the art of sourdough baking with insights from Henry Hunter's book, 'Vitale Sourdough Mastery'. The discussion begins with the importance of choosing the right flour for the character it brings to the bread. It progresses to the making and maintenance of a bread starter, emphasizing the impact of feeding schedules and the...

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, Rachel Parker focuses on the art of high hydration baking, with a particular emphasis on a challenging Spanish bread, pan de cristal. Expert guest Donna May shares tips, suggesting bakers start at around 70% hydration and increase gradually with practice. She gives useful advice to manage the sticky dough, recommending the use of water while stretchin...

In the latest episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, Rachel Parker delves into the art and science of high-hydration dough with guest Donna May, a master baker specializing in pan de cristal - a Spanish bread celebrated for its open crumb and crisp crust. The show begins with a simple explanation of what hydration level refers to in baking, and recommended starting points for beginners. Key tips e...

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, host Rachel Parker dives into the world of high-hydration dough with a special focus on the challenging pan de cristal. She teams up with expert baker, Donna May, who offers insightful tips into handling this type of dough. She advises beginners to start with a 70% to 75% hydration level and gradually increase as they become more comfortable. Donna's...

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, Rachel Parker takes her listeners on a fascinating exploration of bread baking. Not only does she discuss the science behind creating the perfect loaf, including maintaining a sourdough starter and baking techniques, but she also ponders the secrets behind family recipe treasures, like grandma’s timeless bread. The journey includes a look at bread mak...

In this episode of the Breaking Bread Podcast, Rachel Parker explores intriguing aspects of baking, including the life of a sourdough starter, which she likens to a pet that requires care and attention to yield the perfect loaf. She also delves into the potential reasons why your grandmother's recipe might always surpass yours, attributing this to the experience and intuition accrued from years of...

In the Breaking Bread Podcast episode, host Rachel Parker discusses the advanced baking technique of high hydration sourdough with expert baker, Hannah Dela Cruz. Together, they delve into key pointers for mastering this technique, such as maintaining a specific dough temperature during fermentation, nurturing an active starter, autolysing without the starter, and observing the dough instead of re...

In the inaugural episode of "Breaking Bread," Rachel Parker takes listeners on a deep-dive into the art and science of bread proofing, focusing on the impact of changing seasons. She educates listeners about the importance of monitoring dough during warmer weather, when fermentation can quicken, and inventively maintaining yeast activity in cooler temperatures. She introduced an innovative device,...

In this inaugural episode of "Breaking Bread," host Rachel Parker takes listeners through the essential process of proofing - the final rising stage of bread dough before baking. She provides insights into the impact of seasonal changes on proofing times, the effect of fast and slow fermentation, and a variety of methods ranging from high-tech devices to simple DIY tricks to maintain ideal proofin...

The latest episode of "Breaking Bread," hosted by Rachel Parker, delves into a comprehensive exploration of flour. The episode paints a vivid picture of wheat fields and the anatomy of a wheat kernel before diving into a tour of different types of flour: All-purpose, Bread, Whole Wheat, Pastry, and Semolina to name a few. It even includes their baking purposes, protein content, and suitability for...

In this episode of "Breaking Bread," host Rachel Parker takes listeners on a gastronomic journey to understand the science behind achieving an open crumb in bread baking. The episode delves into the intricacies of gluten formation, the importance of dough hydration, and the role of fermentation in influencing the bread's flavor and texture. Featuring expert advice from Donna May, the episode also...

In this episode of "Breaking Bread," Rachel Parker whisks us back to 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, connecting the chaos of the infamous witch trials to a potential culprit: ergot, a hallucination-inducing fungus on rye. Investigating how something as innocuous as bread could potentially instigate mass hysteria and societal havoc, Rachel explores the theory of ergot-contaminated rye being a major fact...

Show Notes: Bread Legends and Folklore In this episode of "Breaking Bread," Rachel Parker takes listeners on a journey through the fascinating world of bread legends, folklore, and superstitions from various cultures and civilizations. Here's a detailed recap of what was covered: Intro: Rachel introduces the theme: exploring the mystical and cultural significance of bread through stories and legen...