Baking Adventures: Rediscovering Julia Child’s White Loaves with Dorie Greenspan’s Tuesdays With Dorie

It’s truly hard to believe that the beloved “Tuesdays With Dorie” (TwD) group is embarking on a new baking adventure with another incredible book! My history with this fantastic community goes back to their very first book, “Baking: From My Home To Yours,” where I enthusiastically participated in countless recipes. Life, as it often does, threw a few curveballs my way, including a significant move and the start of a demanding full-time job, which regrettably led to me falling behind on my baking participation. However, the allure of baking, especially with Dorie Greenspan as the guide, is simply too strong to resist.

Now, with renewed excitement and a clearer schedule, I am thrilled to announce my return to the TwD fold. The selected book for this exciting new round is none other than “Baking With Julia,” a magnificent collection of recipes by the legendary Julia Child, meticulously curated by the equally revered Dorie Greenspan. This particular book has held a coveted spot on my personal wish list for quite some time, a testament to my profound admiration for Dorie’s work. I proudly own approximately five or six of her books, and each one is a treasure trove of invaluable baking knowledge and delightful recipes. The prospect of diving deep into Julia Child’s timeless baking wisdom, guided by Dorie’s expert hand, is incredibly inspiring.

My beautiful, golden-brown White Loaf, fresh from the oven.

The Inaugural Bake: Mastering Julia Child’s Classic White Loaves

The very first recipe chosen to kick off our new journey was a quintessential classic: the White Loaves. Understanding my household’s capacity – or rather, lack thereof – to consume two large loaves of bread before they inevitably went stale, I judiciously decided to halve the recipe. This ensured I would bake just one perfect loaf, minimizing waste and maximizing freshness. I strategically planned my bake for a weekend when my family was visiting, envisioning delightful mornings filled with fresh, homemade toast. Baking the bread the evening before allowed it to cool completely and rest, ready for a glorious breakfast. I carefully stored the cooled loaf in a simple paper bag overnight, a time-tested method for maintaining its crust and crumb.

Overcoming Baking Challenges: Hand-Kneading and Clever Proofing

One of the unique aspects of my home kitchen is the absence of a stand mixer, a common tool for many serious bakers. Far from being a hindrance, this has become an opportunity to truly connect with my dough. For these White Loaves, I embraced the traditional method, opting to knead the dough by hand for a solid eight minutes. This seemingly simple act is incredibly meditative and rewarding. It allows you to feel the dough transform under your hands, developing strength and elasticity, moving from a shaggy mass to a smooth, supple ball. It’s a fantastic arm workout, too!

Another common hurdle for home bakers, especially those in cooler climates or apartments, is finding an adequately warm environment for bread to proof effectively. My apartment, while cozy, isn’t consistently warm enough to encourage optimal yeast activity. Necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention! I devised a clever solution: I turned my oven to its lowest setting (approximately 170°F or 77°C), allowed it to warm for just a few minutes, and then immediately turned it off. I placed the bread dough, covered, on the rack inside the slightly warmed oven, leaving the door ajar by about an inch. This small opening prevented the oven from becoming too hot and accidentally baking the dough, while still retaining enough residual warmth to create a perfect proofing environment. This method worked remarkably well, resulting in beautifully risen dough ready for baking.

The Ultimate Reward: Fresh Toast and Cherished Memories

The morning after the bake was everything I had hoped for. The aroma of freshly baked bread permeated the kitchen, a truly inviting scent that beckons everyone to the breakfast table. Slicing into the homemade white loaf, with its perfectly golden crust and soft, airy interior, was incredibly satisfying. Paired with butter and jam, or simply enjoyed on its own, the fresh toast was a resounding success. My family, always appreciative of homemade treats, thoroughly enjoyed the wholesome taste and texture. It was a simple yet profound joy, a testament to the effort and care put into making something from scratch. These are the moments that truly make home baking so worthwhile – not just the delicious food, but the shared experience and the creation of warm, lasting memories around the table.

The luscious New Orleans Bread Pudding with its incredible Banana Rum Sauce.

Giving Bread a Second Life: New Orleans Bread Pudding

One of the beautiful aspects of baking is its versatility, and often, the opportunity to transform leftovers into something equally delicious. While planning my White Loaf bake, I had serendipitously stumbled upon a tantalizing recipe for bread pudding in another cookbook. This discovery sparked an idea: why not purposefully save a portion of my freshly baked loaf to create another culinary masterpiece? I deliberately reserved about half of the white bread, knowing it would be the perfect base for a rich and comforting New Orleans Bread Pudding.

The specific recipe I chose was for “New Orleans Bread Pudding With Banana Rum Sauce.” This dish turned out to be an absolute revelation! The bread pudding itself was moist, custardy, and wonderfully spiced, a true comfort food. But the real star of the show was the accompanying Banana Rum Sauce. Its rich, aromatic, and slightly boozy sweetness elevated the entire dessert to another level. I was so enamored with this sauce that I even shared the recipe previously on my blog. You can find more details and the recipe for that incredible sauce right here. Trust me, the sauce alone is absolutely worth making again and again – it’s that good!

The dough, perfectly proofed and ready for its transformation in the heat of the oven.

The Heart of the Community: Tuesdays With Dorie and Recipe Sharing

One of the most cherished aspects of participating in “Tuesdays With Dorie” is the incredible sense of community and mutual support among its members. There’s a shared passion for baking, learning, and celebrating the works of Dorie Greenspan and, by extension, the culinary icons she highlights. In this spirit of respect and support for Dorie and the authors she champions, the group has a wonderful agreement: typically, only the designated host of a particular recipe post shares the full recipe publicly. This encourages everyone to engage with the actual cookbooks, truly appreciating the craft and effort that goes into their creation.

While I wholeheartedly encourage every aspiring baker to invest in “Baking With Julia” – it’s an indispensable addition to any kitchen library – I understand that sometimes, immediate access to a recipe is desired. For those who absolutely must have the White Loaves recipe right away, you’re in luck! It can be found on the blog of one of the group’s dedicated administrators, the talented Jules of Someone’s In The Kitchen. Her blog is a fantastic resource for many TwD recipes and general baking inspiration.

Anticipating Decadence: Next Up, Chocolate Truffle Tarts!

The baking journey with “Baking With Julia” is just getting started, and the anticipation for upcoming recipes is palpable! The next delightful challenge on our agenda is the creation of Chocolate Truffle Tarts. And let me tell you, I’ve already had the distinct pleasure of making these, and they are, without exaggeration, *VERY* decadent. Imagine rich, dark chocolate, a silky smooth texture, and an intensely satisfying flavor profile. These tarts are an absolute treat for any chocolate lover, a true showstopper that promises to impress.

A sneak peek at the decadent Chocolate Truffle Tarts, truly a masterpiece!

Get ready for an indulgence that defines gourmet dessert. I’ve taken plenty of pictures and have a detailed story to share about my experience with these exquisite tarts. Make sure to check back in exactly two weeks to see the mouth-watering photos and read all about my adventures in crafting these luxurious treats. Until then, happy baking, and keep those ovens warm!

Why Join a Baking Group Like Tuesdays With Dorie?

Participating in a baking group like Tuesdays With Dorie offers so much more than just following recipes. It’s an opportunity to:

• Expand Your Repertoire: Explore new techniques, ingredients, and cuisines you might not try on your own.
• Build Community: Connect with fellow baking enthusiasts from around the world, sharing successes, troubleshooting challenges, and offering encouragement.
• Stay Accountable: Having a schedule and a community can motivate you to keep baking consistently.
• Learn from Others: See different interpretations of the same recipe, pick up invaluable tips and tricks from experienced bakers, and learn from shared mistakes.
• Celebrate Achievements: The collective joy when everyone successfully bakes a challenging recipe is truly infectious and rewarding.

My return to TwD has already proven to be a delightful decision. The journey through “Baking With Julia” promises to be both educational and incredibly delicious. From humble White Loaves to elaborate Chocolate Truffle Tarts, each recipe is a step further into the rich history of baking, guided by two of its most iconic figures.