I just made some pies today with jeff's awesome dough spreadsheet and advice. Since I just picked up the mixer that he recommends, i followed his mixing procedures to a T. I upped the amount of salt to 2.5 (thanks Marco), and added it after the first autolyse (thanks Dinks and Peter). I bumped the yeast up to just under 1%. I also bumped down the the starter amount to 16% and used it earlier in it's activity than I had been. It was so easy to figure out a recipe with Jeff's Excel spreadsheet that it took me less than a minute to calculate. I used mostly Caputo mixed with about 25% KASL, and a 48 hour cold rise. The dough has the best texture of any that I have ever had the pleasure to eat!!!!! All I can say is HOLY S***T way to go Jeff, I think I love you! Is that taking it too far? Well, my wife loves you too if that makes you feel any better. Quote from her- "this dough is like eating soft yummy pillows and clouds". This is way beyond anything I had ever expected to come out of my apartment. All I have to do now is find a way to get the flavor closer to what I like. The strong sour taste is thankfully gone, but even with the Caputo flour the crust was missing something in taste. I was using IDY. Does anyone think brewers yeast, or cake yeast will really taste better? Should I start looking for other starters? I really don't want sour. I guess some more yeasty flavor would be nice, but I am actually worried about getting too much spring if I up the yeast amount. The amount of lift that this dough has is perfect. My favorite dough flavor comes from a place that uses some molasses in the dough. I am just worried that with my 800 degree oven, the dough will burn. Maybe if I drop the temp some I can get this to work. I guess I am going to have to start experimenting and making more pies. OH NO
Seriously, though, I just want to thank everyone here at this forum. There is absolutely no way I could have ever done this without everybody's awesome advice, and hard work. I know it takes a lot of time to put up these posts to help others. I would have lived my whole life just dreaming about being back home where the pizzas are magic. Now I can create the magic in my own home, and it is so much fun.
