Bodger's Big Brother ( Brick Oven )

[Moonbake]

Happy New Year everyone. Thought those of you who were interested in the Bodger might like to see a picture of Bodger's Big Brother which we have just finished and have begun firing to dry out.Am hoping picture loads okay, if it works I will try and share a few more photo's ,especially the one's of the my first breads coming out which i know Adam will really enjoy for the top colour
Rick
[img][img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh154/birch_08/S5000938.jpg[/img]

[bethesdabakers]

Briliant stuff, Rick.

Although I'm just as impressed that you finally managed to get the images off the camera as I am with the oven.

Happy New Year,

Mick

[Matthew]

Lovely oven Rick. I bet you'll enjoy using it.

Matthew

[dougal]

... those of you who were interested in the Bodger might like to see a picture of Bodger's Big Brother ...

Oh wow.... .... ...

[adam]

That is one heck of a fiery furnace you've got there Rick, I am seriously impressed (not to mention jealous).

Looking forward to seeing what comes out of it too -- I still treasure the memory of my first loaf of charcoal from the mini Bodger. I assume you're gradually getting the hang of judging how to use the falling heat? It would be interesting to hear more detail about how the oven dictates your baking schedule.

Anyway, many congratulations on getting it up and running. I wish you much pleasure from it!

All best,
Adam

[Jeremy]

Rick, so nice to see the bodgers big brother! As for the loaves, I hope they will be fermented with some decent levain?

Hope your well and happy new Year too!

Keep in touch,
Jeremy

[Moonbake]

Thanks everyone for your encouragement.Have been trying to upload some more photo's which as Mick rightly observed is an achievement.
But tonight I've crashed computer 4 times and only managed to get one photo up,so have given up for a few days,plus a visit to computer repair shop.
Anyway if it uploads here's one of the first few loaves in oven.

Sorry Jeremy but these are 'yeasted' .Have got a good couple of levains on the go though working well. One of which I started using Dan's process and used some wild blackberries from the farm in starter,goes nice.

Adam , I'm hoping you might make a trip down M4 sometime and bake with me in the oven once we've got it settled down and insulated ?

Rick

[Jeremy]

Wow Rick,
Wish I could come down the M4 too! Those are good looking loaves and a great smoking oven!
Adam report back when you journey out to Ricks!


Jeremy

[adam]

Rick, that would be fabulous, thanks for the invitation. I could stick a dough on the back seat and let it proof as I cruise down the motorway!

Let me know how the oven settling/insulating goes.

All best,

Adam

ps those poppy seed bloomers look pretty tasty!

[Moonbake]

Adam, that sounds like fun on the M4, you had better make a cool dough or bring the family to fold dough for you on route ,it's about 5 hours from yours to mine! Will have oven ready and fired to go!!!!

Jeremy, if you are ever in Wales again you are more than welcome to come by it would be my pleasure to give the chef a day off and cook some calzone and pizza for him !!

The photo shows those breads out of oven. Not much top colour yet as oven heat will disappear out top until insulated. Hence as you can probably see from earlier photo I left hot ash in back of oven to help keep heat up while baking.

Other photo is of back of oven showing heat retention concrete layer which is on top of and under bricks. This will in next few weeks get covered in 12 inches of insulation all round.
Rick