I want to make a loaf as a surprise gift for a friend's 70th birthday. She has been my most enthusiastic supporter and taster on my baking journey, so I want to spoil her, and I'm up for a challenge. Any suggestions?
Thank you all for your suggestions which really stimulated my thinking (and ambition). Here’s an update on what I did. The dough is the Country Bread recipe, page 105 in Jeffrey Hamelman’s Bread book, shaped into a figure 70. To maintain definition I chilled the dough for the final shaping and proofing, but it still lost some shape. Also, during baking it expanded more than I was expecting but thankfully it just (and only just) still fitted in my domestic oven. It wasn't perfect, but it produced a big smile from the birthday girl and added to the fun.
You could make a cob or batard and put a twist on the top in the shape of 70 or you could make a plait with the shape of a 7 and 0
similar to this but shaped for the purpose the twist can be rolled thinner perhaps.
Are some of the most special loaves I know.
Chocolate version: https://weightloss-slim.fit/node/24684/sourdough-chocolate-marble-loaf-must-laminate-can039t-stop%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EClassic laminated loaf (very beautiful): https://weightloss-slim.fit/node/26357/laminated-sandwich-loaf-best-both-worlds%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EVersion with some whole wheat: https://weightloss-slim.fit/node/26888/ww-laminated-sandwich-loaves-sourdough-want-some-golden-bricks-your-profile%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EPumpkin version: https://weightloss-slim.fit/node/31416/pumpkin-laminated-sandwich-loaf-and-other-holiday-goodies%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIf you’re looking for something more healthful, a pumpernickel that requires an extra long bake would be special. For instance, Horst Bandel’s Black Pumpernickel (from Hamelman). There are many posts about it. Here’s one:
https://weightloss-slim.fit/node/17254/horst-bandel039s-balck-pumpernickel%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%C2%A0%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%C2%A0%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E
Thank you all for your suggestions which really stimulated my thinking (and ambition). Here’s an update on what I did. The dough is the Country Bread recipe, page 105 in Jeffrey Hamelman’s Bread book, shaped into a figure 70. To maintain definition I chilled the dough for the final shaping and proofing, but it still lost some shape. Also, during baking it expanded more than I was expecting but thankfully it just (and only just) still fitted in my domestic oven. It wasn't perfect, but it produced a big smile from the birthday girl and added to the fun.
That is a lovely celebratory loaf to celebrate a 70th birthday!
Benny
Excellent choice and I bet she loved it!