How to Make Some Easy Dough
I have an on-and-off relationship with breadmaking. I’ve gone through periods in which I went for months without buying a loaf of bread, and then I’d kind of forget about it, sometimes for long periods of time.
What makes this pretty silly is that I am an acolyte of the simplest method of baking quality bread at home, which is the no-knead technique popularized by New York City baker Jim Lahey. His book My Bread, published in 2009, has been my breadmaking bible, and I give it an unreserved recommendation. (Lahey won the James Beard Foundation award for Outstanding Baker in 2015.)
Prompted by a simple question Barb asked me recently — “Why did you stop baking bread? — I made a non-New Year’s resolution to get back to it. I did this weekend and felt like a bit of a dope because the basic recipe is just that easy. Here, in outline form, is how it works:
Stir together four ingredients — flour, salt, yeast and water — in a large bowl, cover with a towel at let it rise for at least 12 hours (Lahey recommends 18 hours).
Remove the dough from the bowl, turn it a few times, then wrap with a floured cotton towel for its second rise (an hour or two).
About 30 minutes before the second rise completes, preheat a covered pot (I use a cast iron Dutch oven) at 475 degrees.
Now, the only tricky part: Using very heatproof oven mitts or hot pads, remove the pot from the oven, lift the lid (pulling it toward you so you don’t get blasted with steam), carefully drop the dough in as close as center as possible, cover again and re-place in the oven.
I find that 30 minutes is the perfect amount of time in the oven. If you peek it and think it needs a little more browning, remove the lid and bake it for a few more minutes (watch it carefully thought to keep from burning).
So yes, I’m back at it again. My Bread provides a wide variety of bread recipes, plus a no-knead pizza dough that I’ve used in the past (and will again soon) with great results.
Have a bread recipe you want to share (kneaded or not)? Share it and I’ll publish it.
This Weekend’s Illinois Indoor Market Schedule
The indoor market schedule is filling out, and as of this Saturday will include opening day for Green City Market’s winter location in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood. Their press release, shared today, is immediately below.
Friday, December 1
St. Charles Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar Ave.
Saturday, December 2
Batavia Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., The Dock at 150 First Street
Carbondale Community Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., University Mall
Champaign-Urbana Farmers Market INDOOR, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana
Deerfield Winter Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 815 Wilmot Rd.
Evanston Community Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 616 Lake St.
Grayslake OUTDOOR Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Center St.
Green City Indoor Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 13031 N. Rockwell St., Chicago
Palatine Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Palatine train station parking lot
61st Street Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago
Twin City Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 106 Avenue A, Sterling
Woodstock Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., McHenry County Fairgrounds
Sunday, December 3
Cary Winter Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3900 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake
Farmers Market at the Dole, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 401 Country Club Rd., Crystal Lake
Jefferson Park Sunday Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5214 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago
Market at L&A Healing Studio, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2018 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Wicker Park Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m, 2018 W. North Ave., Chicago
Green City Market to Open Weekly Winter Market in Avondale for Second Year with Newly Expanded Schedule
November 28, 2023 (Chicago) — Green City Market (GCM), the nonprofit organization behind Chicago’s flagship sustainable farmers’ markets in Lincoln Park and the West Loop, will continue operating their indoor market location in Avondale this winter beginning on December 2.
Additionally, Green City Market will expand from bi-weekly operations to a weekly marketplace for 25+ local, sustainable farmers and food vendors throughout the winter season.
“Our vendors and shoppers have spoken and we’ve listened,” shares Mandy Moody, executive director of Green City Market. “Folks urged us to hold the market every week after a successful season last winter and we’re thrilled to make it happen!”
Shoppers can expect to see many of their favorite farmers and food producers from GCM Lincoln Park and GCM West Loop this winter. Longtime favorites like Michelin Green Star award-winning Daisies, Finn's Ranch, Oriana's Orchard, Kankakee Valley Homestead and more will be returning, while new vendors like Kajer's Greens, Hoosier Mama Pie Co, and Flock and Forage join us for their first indoor market season.
Vendors will offer a variety of mouth-watering local produce options, such as crisp apples, crunchy carrots, nutritious microgreens and winter squash, in addition to pasture-raised meat, fresh eggs, baked goods, prepared foods and so much more.
Marcial Kajer, owner and farmer of Kajer’s Greens shared, “This will be my first year! I’m excited to see what comes up. Real farms never stop … [so] the ability to feed a community, and have them show up to local markets and appreciate what we’re doing is great motivation. Kajer’s will be offering lots of storage crops like squash, onions, beets and radishes, as well as fresh frozen meats!”
In addition to providing a marketplace for local, sustainable farmers and food producers, GCM will continue to provide a 2:1 match on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at GCM Avondale up to $25. When shoppers using SNAP spend $25 of benefits at Green City Market, they receive $75 in market currency to spend at the market. Through this donor-funded program, Green City Market has generated over $250,000 in local food purchasing by neighbors facing food insecurity already this year.
GCM Avondale is located at 3031 N Rockwell St, located on Rockwell Street in between Belmont Avenue and Elston Avenue. GCM Avondale will be open from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on the following dates: December 2, December 9, December 16, January 6, January 13, January 20, January 27, February 3, February 10, February 17, February 24, March 2, March 9, March 16, and March 23.
Bob’s World, and Welcome to It
Though the recent chilly spell did in most of Chicago’s remaining leaves, we will fondly remember this autumn as one of the most beautiful and long-lasting color seasons. Before it slips into memory, here are some pretty pix I took at and around Lincoln Park’s North Pond a couple of weeks ago.