October 21, 2007

• why punch the dough?

  A skilled breadmaker, after kneading the flour and yeast into the rest of the ingredients, will let the large lump of dough rise for an hour or so.  Then he or she will violently punch down into the lump, leaving a jagged crater while releasing the central pocket of carbon dioxide produced by the yeast.  Then the dough will be kneaded again, after which it is placed in bread pans.  This time the dough is allowed to rise undisturbed.  After another hour or two of rising, the bread is ready for baking.  (Mmm... fresh bread is delicious...)

  Why is the dough's first excitement rejected?  And how ought the dough to think about this event?  Ought the dough to conclude from the Chef's savage blow that rising is contrary to the Chef's wishes?  Ought the dough to conclude that the Chef is capricious or cruel or untrustworthy or stupid?  Ought the dough to hope for the future?  If so, what should be the content of that hope?  "I shall rise again"?  (But what if the dough will remain unrisen for the rest of its days, for example if it will be made into pizza instead of bread, necessitating no rising (but causing much rejoicing and salivation among the dining clientele)?)

  "I shall be delicious in the end no matter how beaten in the process, because the Chef is a good Chef.  Though He shatter me with His fist, still I will hope in Him."

  • 10:22 pm
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