Sourdough Bros
QIC: Tonka
Date: 10.18.2022
PAX: Spicoli, Five Dollar Footlong, Cherry Pie, Abe Froman, Cheesesteak, Van Gogh, Dr. Toot, Bevo
YHC and M have become self dubbed amateur sourdough bread bakers. YHC noted that he was slated to Q Flatline this week whilst preparing such a dough of sour with his M. Thus, inspiration swept upon him like an army of wild yeast rising atop a wave of gluten strands and the plan began to ferment and take shape.
WRM
THE STARTER – The first step of the Sourdough baking process is to cultivate an active starter of wild yeast that will provide the rise for our loaf. The widely accepted procedure for feeding your starter is a 1:2:2 ratio – 1 part starter:2 parts water:2 parts flour. You then repeat this feeding process for several days leading up to baking bread to ensure a healthy and active starter – brimming with microbial activity. Thus, starting at the low end of the parking lot and working their way uphill, the PAX performed the following exercises:
- 10 BURPEES:20 LUNGES:20 WWII – REPEAT X7
The PAX were looking sufficiently active and smelling quite funky, so on to the…
THANG
Time to add the rest of your flour, water, salt and form your dough. All we need is a large vessel…large vessel…parking garage will do the trick. MOVE OUT!
STRETCH AND FOLD – This portion of the process is critical for developing the gluten structure of the dough so it will rise. This includes a smattering of arm curling, core flexion and upper body strength…over and over and over again. As the PAX go, the dough will magically begin to rise slowly up the levels of the parking deck.
- BACKPEDAL THE FULL LENGTH OF THE PARKING DECK LEVEL
- X5 – WMD MERKINS
- X25 – LBC
- X10 – PULLUPS
- BACKPEDAL TO THE NEXT LEVEL
- REPEAT X6 UNTIL REACHING THE ROOF
BULK RISE – Now at the peak of gluten formation elevator, the PAX allowed their dough to rest and continue to rise for a nice long fermentation (AKA slow burn).
- DORA
- PAX 1 – WALL SIT
- PAX 2 – RUN LENGTH OF PARKING GARAGE. X20 MONKEY HUMPERS. RUN BACK
- FLIP FLOP AND REPEAT X3
PROOFING – The dough was sufficiently gassed (as several of the PAX were demonstrating throughout the beatdown – on theme of course). Now it was time for the final forming of the loaf and proofing, which includes a little more resting/slow burn while upside down.
- BALLS TO THE WALL – TO FAILURE
- AL GORE – TO FAILURE
- REPEAT X2
MARY
BAKING – Preheat your 500 degree oven while you run back to start. You probably can guess where this is going…
- RING OF FIRE – HOWLING FLUTTER KICKS X20
EATING – Since the PAX were hungry for some more burn and since fermented foods are accepted to be highly beneficial for your gut health, we piled on some more gut friendly activities.
- x30 LBC IC
- X20 PENGUIN CRUNCH IC
TIME
COT
YHC’s M made the thoughtful recommendation to bring the loaf that inspired this morning’s beatdown to share with the PAX. Her benevolent intuition was likely informed by the fact that it would have been cruel to force these men to slave away over a delicious sourdough creation without the benefit of enjoying the fruits of their labor. Thanks to her altruism, YHC sympathized for their poor estate and the men enjoyed a freshly baked slice of whole wheat sourdough bread baked by Mr. and Mrs. Tonka to replenish their hard-earned empty stomachs.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Fire pit at Wobegone’s house this Thursday evening. More information posted in slack for those interested.
- 5 Dollar Footlong hosted some PAX for a work evening at his house to remove some staples and carpet. I am sure he could still use some help, so reach out to him if you can provide future assistance.
- Dr. Toot could use Qs for WIB. Reach out on slack if you’re able to Q in an upcoming Thursday.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- Bevo’s son Dean is still healing from his broken femur bone injury. He has not been capable of bending his injured leg at the knee since the injury.
- 5 Dollar Footlong’s M is pregnant and they had some concerning discoveries about the progress of the pregnancy. Pray for safe passage for the baby and for the two parents.
- Giles and his family.
NMM
- When the ring of fire flutter kicks were first called, Bevo had the burden of going first, bless him. Whether it be the alcohol byproduct of the fermentation or the early morning grogginess, the man tried to play duck duck goose instead of following instructions. It was quite the show, but he recovered with ease and didn’t miss a beat. The man has suave that you can’t teach, so don’t feel too bad for him. Also, he crushed every single rep throughout the workout (which the Q cannot remotely claim), so mad respect to that guy! A true leader.
- Cherry pie again delivers on his reputation. Every time I work out with this guy, he literally doesn’t stop working even for a second. Each time I would transition the PAX to the next stage of the baking process, he was doing lunges, storm troopers, squats, LBCs – anything to keep from lollygagging. Major respect to him.
- Little did I know that I was hosting some of WS’s very own fermentation experts in Cheesesteak, 5 Dollar and Dr. Toot. The three of them were dropping knowledge, best practices, troubleshooting tips, Q&A, etc. the entire beatdown. I feel like I need to pay someone for that education.
- 5 Dollar knows everything about the Sourdough starter. His mumblechatter couldn’t be matched from the start.
- Van Gogh really assisted with the theme for warmorama as he noted that the cold start burpees are known as “Slaughter Starters” in F3 land, which fits the metaphor quite nicely in a happy accident. In retrospect however, when laid against the backdrop of docile & homey bread baking, they sound far less intimidating in YHC’s opinion.
- Van Gogh also called the big bread reveal at COT. I don’t know how. It must be related to the web wizard IT dark magic algorithm intelligence crystal ball that he has downloaded in his brain. The question is why are we surprised he can predict the future?
- Froman left the Q an Easter egg when apparently he noticed YHC’s phone sitting unguarded with the COT video still recording. The picture attached at the bottom of this backblast is what resulted. That’s how you capitalize on an opportunity. Well done! Also, he took the liberty of capturing the action shot of Bevo buttering his toast. Can’t make this stuff up. Content goldmine. Thanks to my modeled gentlemen models.
- Spicoli was not late! The man deserves some credit. And boy am I glad he was there. The Q called a wall sit at the top of the parking deck and he stepped into the gap not missing a beat to demonstrate the safest way to sit against the wall without pitching yourself over the side toward the pavement 3 stories down. No PAX were harmed in large part because of his quick wit and eye for the overlooked details.
- Dr. Toot came in clutch providing the literal foundation for the breaking of the bread. He saved us from the parking lot “countertop” that we almost used as a cutting board. Because of his leadership, no motor oil was consumed by the PAX in their toast (unless this happened for personal reasons without the Q’s knowledge. no judgement, but some concern.)
- Dr. Toot also taught me the science of the crunchy delicious crust on baguettes, pizza, sourdough – anything. For those of you looking for your chef on retainer, he’s your guy.
- Cheesesteak doesn’t know this, but he is now YHC’s fermentation spirit guide after piquing the Q’s interest in home brewed kombucha. He and I might have a collaboration coming soon with a series of fermentation beatdowns. Stay tuned.
This one was a lot of fun. I appreciate the opportunity to lead, fellas.
Tonka
