Oatmeal on the Dome

With winter rains approaching as fast as the new year, it was time to get back to building. Waterproofing the dome is the next task that I need to complete. My plan was is as follows: wire mesh over the insulation, to be covered with vermiculite concrete. On top of the vermiculite concrete, I planned to apply a hard, water resistant, stucco shell colored to match teh existing stucco walls.

From the Baker's Notebook

I keep a plain, black sketchbook in the kitchen and use it as a notebook to prepare and record each days bread dough formula, temperature calculation, and kind of flour used, etc.

My goal for yesterday was to make enough dough for about 12 pizzas. Because I do a hand mix, I've been needing to add a lot of flour once the bread hits the bench, so I decided to try a lower-than-usual hydration of 72.5%.

Here are my notes transcribed from my notebook:

Rain, Rain, Go Away (by Sunday)

Early Wednesday morning I picked up some anchors and a masonry drill bit from the hardware store and drilled, sealed and bolted the flue base back into place. The tarp went back on the oven dome to await the rain, which arrived late Thursday night.

If the rain eases on Sunday afternoon, I plan to have the oven up and running for a pizza party. Otherwise, if the rain persists into Sunday night, pizza next week!

Regardless, dough will be made Sunday AM and put into the fridge. This week's dough will be with the fine Caputo #00 flour, as (once again) no Giusto's at Surfa's!

Oops.

Because rain was forecast for Monday, and because I haven't had time to water-proof the dome, I decided to throw a tarp over the oven. In the past, I have removed the flue pipe, and placed it inside the oven, so that the tarp fits snugly.

On Saturday, when I tried to unscrew the flue pipe, I pulled the metal plate that attaches to to the oven arch off with it. Seems like just cementing this in place with refractory cement is not enough. I guess I'll be picking up a few masonry anchors this week, and looks like I''l be drilling, holes in the bricks and res-seating the base plate with some furnace cement on Saturday -- weather permitting -- as more rain is forecast.

Cold Front

Approaching weather (yes L.A. has weather) is pushing our now-customary Sunday night bake ahead one night to Saturday. It's 60° in the backyard now, and it will probably drop into the 50s by the time I am ready to bake, so the plan is to go for a big, hot fire that will bake pizza and keep us warm.



Today's dough recipe (by weight) was as follows after the jump: