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From The Desk Of Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts: A Good Loaf Of Sourdough Bread

CrashTestlogoCrash Test Dummies are best known for their 1993 worldwide hit “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” yet the Canadian band put out six more albums after that before going on hiatus in 2005. CTD is back this week with Oooh La La (Deep Fried) but in a brand new incarnation. Mainman Brad Roberts (now based in New York City) wrote and recorded the album with producer and engineer Stewart Lerman (Antony And The Johnsons, Marshall Crenshaw, Roches) using ’70s musical toys such as the Optigan for the majority of the LP. (The two were joined on Oooh La La by longtime CTD backing vocalist Ellen Reid.) The result is the happiest-sounding record of Roberts’ two-decade career. Roberts will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new Q&A with him.

sourdough_bread

Roberts: I’ve been baking bread. A good loaf of sourdough is what I’m after, by mixing flour with water, creating natural yeast, known as a “starter” amongst bread bakers. Getting the yeast strong enough to make the dough rise is tough. My first effort was a flat, burnt-outside/raw-inside affair. Since then, some have been lumpy, some cracked and one went aflame (as I slept on through the timer). Nevertheless, doing this somehow gets me points with women, especially my wife. And if we can’t get the yeast any better with flour and water soon, I reckon we’ll have to make some ourselves—by bumpin’ uglies. Ooh La La! (Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm.)

Video after the jump.

2 replies on “From The Desk Of Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts: A Good Loaf Of Sourdough Bread”

You need to find a sourdough starter mix to make the real item. Then, you save a dab of each batch of dough in a container and us it to start the next batch. The yeast is naturally in the air of the SF Bay area only, I believe. You also have to do this thing where you put your dough ball in a warm bowl covered with a towel, maybe in barely warm oven, and let rise. But, you probably know this. Surely Dean And Delucca or Whole foods would sell the packets of starter mix, or look online. Once you get going with the sourdough, it can last many years to start the next batch of bread, or until you get sick of sourdough breads.

Since you have become more involved in the kitchen due to the handywoman of the house, i was curious if you had a meal that you enjoy cooking most? I have a lady friend coming to visit and was looking for some fresh ideas.

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