Emergency bread baking...

[eyesroll]

So, there I was, with four baguettes' worth of dough (Lucinda's method...http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=236&topic_id=57494)... biga'd, mixed, risen, flattened, risen, flattened, risen, flattened, and ready to preheat the oven...

And then, nothing happens in the c.1970 Tappan wall oven.

Pilot light? Dead. No gas smell, at least. But no pilot smell, either.

Attempts to relight the pilot light--by me, my partner, and a friend who has a better idea of what he's doing--all failed. We tried the "hold the long lighter there for awhile" trick. And the "clean the coupling out with a pin" trick. Nothing. Thermocouple? Unfortunate clog? Something more expensive? Dunno. Don't want explosions. Appliance guy will be here Tuesday.

Anyhow, I had these four baguettes ready to go. I had a bunch of people gonna come and help with our garden beds who were promised snacks with homemade bread.

I baked these four baguettes, which became six batards (as to fit), in the toaster oven. 375 for 35 minutes per batch of two.

You know what? Not bad. Good crust, good oven spring, just slightly underdone in the middle but not so much that anyone but me would notice. Not nearly as efficient as doing them all at once in the oven...but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Sliced and served with roasted vegetable spread (which thankfully I made last night, when the oven worked--I woulda had to jettison that completely; I didn't have the ability to grill today) and spinach-artichoke spread (which I was going to make in the oven but did fine on the stovetop). All six batards disappeared quickly amongst our garden helpers.

I might actually toaster-bake this summer when it's a million degrees out and I still want fresh bread.

[elleng]

1. CONGRATS!!!

Something similar happened to my folks some years ago: OVEN NOT WORKING and TURKEY AWAITING!!!

Used big Weber!

[pleah]

2. Good save!

Congratulations. :)

[Warpy]

3. This is what neighbors are for

My next door neighbor was in your predicament and my oven became her solution.

Now I have a solar oven and will be able to cook no matter what.

However, everything I have is open to being borrowed by my neighbors, who often return the favor.

Did I mention I live in a poor neighborhood and we're all Democrats?

[eyesroll]

4. I'm sure at least two of our neighbors would have gladly helped...

but this worked out. If I hadn't had a toaster oven, I might have knocked (I usually try not to ask for favors, though). And I'd gladly lend my oven (if it was working) to a neighbor if need be.

We're new to the neighborhood--everyone's really nice here. It's a middle-class neighborhood in Milwaukee--there's a retired widow, kindergarten teacher, computer trainer, flight attendant, medical billing clerk, attorney-turned-homemaker, student, etc. Some single family, some duplexes. I don't know if everyone's a Democrat but I have my suspicions. :D