h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The History of Bread Yeast - A2663110
Author: Frenchbean <3 stars> Oh she was yar. - U236943

Hello peerers

I'm back with another of those foodie subjects so close to my heart

Hope you enjoy this one

Any suggestions, critisism (constructive of course ) and additional stories will all be welcomed.


Fb

How did I know this was going to be a Frenchbean opus?

Looks good Did we find out whether yeast is animal or vegetable? I'll have to read it again.


Scout

Had a quick look. Oh, Fb - I would have been surprised if it had been anyone but you!

Barm - reminds me of Barm Brack http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/culture/recipes/cooking/barmbrac.shtm

Woo hoo! I wrote a nopus

Not so sure I'm so pleased about my predictability (predictableness? ). So much for Woman of Mystery

... just testing you there Gosho I'm glad somebody spotted the deliberate ommission so soon

I've never had barm brack, but it looks lovely

Oh, it's lovely to be back contributing to the Guide


Fb

Just had another thought - barm cakes. Now what can I find out about them?

http://www.coventryweb.co.uk/editorials/writers/BarmCakes.html

http://www.gfw.co.uk/stirwords/words0399ch.html ooh! This one mentions by home town - Bury! ... and Uncle Joe's Mint Balls (keep you all aglow!) Yum! I used to love those - mind you, I had Uncle Luke's cough sweets when I was in the midlands and they were even nicer.

http://www.seniority.co.uk/contributions/entertainment/yourstory/index.php?ArticleID=yourstory_1081158941 Eeeeh!

I have an Uncle Joe's tin on the mantelpiece and very nearly got a job there once

I used to know an old lady in Manchester who told me that when she was a kid they'd buy Uncle Joe's by the quarter pound (which I believe you still can), and they got them in paper bags which were twisted shut by the shopkeeper, so they'd go in and ask for a twist of Uncle Joe's balls

Ouch! Just trying to remember how I used to buy them. Might have been by the quarter pound, or something like four a penny.

Sorry, Fb - topic drift!

And no sign of GreyDesk *Faints* ::THUD::

Aces, FB!! Truly nice work!

Fantastic entry, at least for those of us like myself who are devoted to bread. I still haven't got round to having a go at making any, but I've been meaning to for a year or so now.

One thing, you say: "However, bread made with dough and fermenting liquid is even lighter and tastier than sourdough." If you're using sourdough to mean the same thing as what it means today when you buy a "sourdough loaf" then I think a lot of people would disagree. I think a sourdough loaf is much tastier than an ordinary loaf, it certainly has a stronger flavour (although it's not to everyone's taste). Given how much it costs to buy a decent sourdough loaf (sometimes as much as 5 times the cost of an ordinary loaf), it's ironic that it used to be "the staple of the masses".

Great article Frenchbean! Interesting subject, very well researched, well constructed and easy to read for non-technical folk. Can't really think of any way it can be improved.

Just a few typos -

heiroglyphs - hieroglyphs
5000 yearsa ago
It was down the the experience

Well done again!

Woodpigeon

Thank you all for positive comments

Dogster - your view on the relative tastiness of sourdough and barm bread is noted and I have duly amended that paragraph. Why pay 5 times more when you could make your own

Woodpigeon - typos fixed

Topic drift? On my PR thread?


Fb

Fb, I guess people don't feel competent to make their own sourdough bread. I know I don't, yet... But I will, and soon I hope. If you go to Borough Market in London some time, you'll see queues of people desperate to pay up to £2.50 for a small sourdough loaf!

Oh I know I couldn't face the queue when I was there last November, but I was inspired to come home and give it a go. With mixed results I have to admit For that, read rubbish! Whilst I really like the taste, I'm still very sold on yeast breads, so not being good at sourdough doesn't bother me too much.


Fb

You've been there too, fun isn't it? If all the stuff wasn't so expensive, I'd go mad there buying everything.

Oh and the crowds

It certainly is an amazing place. Is there an Entry on it? Perhaps there should be?

to do some research...

Now... topic drift aside... does anybody have any more comments about yeast? None of the pedants seem to have come out of the woodwork, which is a bit worrying. Gnomon's away Oh, Gosho's been, but was only testing There are a few more lurking I hope


Fb

Any more for any more on this one? I'm happy with it, but there's bound to be somebody out there with something to say....


Fb

Just one missing comma!

a food chemist claimed --> a food chemist, claimed

Gnomon!

Talk about picky There'll nothing for the sub to do!

I've put it in

Fb

Sorry peerers, but I just have to this one

Fb