California Folk School

11/18/2020

Our friends over at Sisquoc Baking Company has some wise words about bread. Go. Read. Enjoy. Order.

The purpose of bread is not just about eating to stay alive; it's about eating to feel alive.

07/18/2020

“Gabby’s” buttermilk biscuits, before and after. @ Los Alamos, California

04/05/2020

Don’t have a starter? Well, start your own — you’ve got the time!

In a large jar, stir together half cup water and half cup flour (50/50 blend is best, with unbleached white and wheat or rye). Cover loosely with cheese cloth or even a paper towel and leave in a warm spot (top of the fridge, or in the oven with the light on). Then go away.

On day two, add a couple of heaping tablespoons of flour and water, stir again, cover, and go away. There may be a crusty cap on top, which you can stir in.

Repeat for a few more days. By day three or four, you should start seeing small bubbles on the surface (like when pancakes are ready to be flipped) and notice a sweet pungent smell. This means the native yeast are settling into their new home!

That’s about it. Post below with questions!

04/05/2020

A lasting legacy of this whole ordeal will be the spike of interest in making (and presumably eating) sourdough bread. We’ve given away a couple starters already, and I’ve seen a number of friends take the leap into the great bread abyss. So we thought we’d share one of the recipes we use in our popular sourdough class, fine tuned by the one and only Pamela Kaplan Brown.

Enjoy, and leave a comment below with your questions!

04/04/2020

Need inspiration while cooped up? Check out our friend The Angry Eater for great recipient and a few tall tales.

Once poached you can eat the entire lemon.  These are great mixed into butters and sauces for vegetables, seafood and chicken.  Try them as a sandwich topping or mixed into hummus. Ingredients: 2 small lemons, sliced 1/8 inch thick and seeds removed 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup water 1 piece of rosemary ...

01/25/2020

Black trumpets for the Annual festival at . Yum!

01/08/2020

One of our favorite culinary events of the year! Hope to see you there.

Back for our 14th event - Tickets available now! Special guests include Mushroom Authority Bob Cummings and noted author Betty Fussell!

01/08/2020

Looks like a great opportunity for the kiddos!

Chef Bethany Markee has worked in the food service for nearly 30 years, and has helped Solvang Elementary, Orcutt and Los Alamos school cafeterias transition from frozen foods to meals cooked with fresh, local ingredients that kids help make.

12/22/2019

Merry everything to everyone!

12/08/2019

When your daughter wants a donut party for her birthday, you make donuts.

11/07/2019