Ep 5. Pumpernickel Bread & Matzos with Lauren Groveman

Baking with Julia season 3 is a cooking show that aired in the early 1990s and was hosted by the legendary Julia Child. The show featured a different guest chef in each episode, and they would demonstrate how to make a specific dish or baked good. In season 3 episode 5, the focus is on bread, specifically pumpernickel bread and matzos. The guest chef for this episode is Lauren Groveman, who is known for her expertise in bread baking.

The episode begins with Julia and Lauren discussing the art of bread baking. Lauren talks about how satisfying it is to make bread from scratch and how it can be a meditative process. Then, they get started on the pumpernickel bread. Lauren explains that pumpernickel bread is a traditional German bread that is made with a mixture of rye flour and wheat flour. She also adds some molasses and cocoa powder to give the bread a deep, dark color.

Lauren demonstrates how to mix the dough and then lets it rest for a while so that the flavors can develop. She also shows how to shape the bread and then puts it in the oven to bake. While they wait for the bread to bake, Julia and Lauren talk about the importance of patience when it comes to bread baking. Lauren says that the most important thing is to not rush the process and to let the bread rise and develop on its own.

Once the pumpernickel bread is finished, Julia and Lauren move on to making matzos. Matzos are an unleavened bread that is traditionally eaten during Passover. Lauren explains that matzos are made with just flour and water and that they cannot contain any leavening agents. She also talks about how matzo-making is a time-honored tradition that goes back thousands of years.

Lauren demonstrates how to mix the dough for the matzos and then roll it out into thin rounds. She then shows how to cook the matzos on a griddle, turning them over when they start to bubble. She explains that the key to making good matzos is to work quickly and to keep the dough thin so that it cooks evenly.

Once the matzos are finished, Julia and Lauren sit down to enjoy them along with some pumpernickel bread and other traditional Jewish foods. They discuss the role that bread plays in Jewish culture and how it is a symbol of both sustenance and tradition.

Overall, this episode of Baking with Julia is a fascinating look at the art of bread baking. Lauren Groveman is a talented chef who clearly knows her way around a loaf of bread, and she shares numerous tips and tricks throughout the episode. Additionally, Julia Child's infectious enthusiasm and love for cooking make this episode a joy to watch from start to finish.