Last week we made naan. You learned what happens when baking soda hits acid, when yeast does the lifting, and when a sourdough starter runs the show. Three versions of the same flatbread. Three different engines. Now we take that understanding and put it into a real loaf. Market Day White is the first bread I ever sold at a farmers market. It's a simple white loaf with a crackling crust, an open crumb, and a flavor that made people come back every single week. It's also one of the most important training breads you'll ever make. Here's what's different about this week: we're offering two versions. Yeasted — If you're a yeasted baker, this is your bread. Instant yeast, 75% hydration, 1-2 hour bulk. You're going to learn shaping, you're going to learn how to read your dough, and you're going to learn to score. This loaf is forgiving. It wants you to succeed. Sourdough — If your starter is active (or getting close), this is your bridge. Same recipe, same technique, same hydration. The only difference is the engine. You're going to handle a sourdough loaf for the first time using a bread you already understand. That's the whole point. No fear. No mystery. Just a different way to make the same bread rise. We're also introducing scoring this week. Market Day White is the perfect bread to learn on. The crust is forgiving, the dough holds its shape, and a simple cross or slash pattern will open up beautifully in the oven. This is where you start building the skill you'll need when we get to sourdough scoring in the weeks ahead. If you don't have a lame yet, don't worry. A sharp razor blade or a serrated knife will work. But if you want to invest in a real tool, I'll have more on that soon. If you don't have a starter yet, start one now. The full sourdough starter recipe is in the Recipe Pantry. You have time. By the time we get to the Foolproof Sourdough Loaf in two weeks, you'll be ready. 👉 Market Day White (both versions): https://pantry.bakinggreatbread.com/recipes/henrys-market-day-white

We just launched the official Crust & Crumb Academy Instagram page and I want you there first. It's @crustandcrumbacademy, and it's where I'll be sharing baking tips, behind-the-scenes content, recipe previews, and a few things I don't post anywhere else. Go give us a follow right here: https://www.instagram.com/crustandcrumbacademy/ Takes about 10 seconds and it helps us grow the reach of everything we're building here. And if you've got bakes you're proud of, tag us. Nothing better than seeing what you're making. See you over there. 🍞🔥 — Henry ⭐🔥

A lot of you came from Facebook. I run Baking Great Bread at Home over there, 40,000+ members, and I love that community. But I want to be honest about something. On Facebook, you often get one of two things: criticism without substance or compliments without critique. Someone posts a loaf and the comments are either "Beautiful!" when there's clearly something going on, or unhelpful jabs that don't teach you anything. People mean well. They're trying to be kind. But kindness without honesty doesn't make you a better baker. This is a different place. Crust & Crumb Academy is exactly that: an academy. This is where you come to hone your skills and get better. That means when you ask for feedback, you're going to get it. Real feedback. Specific feedback. The kind that actually helps you improve. I'll always be kind. I'll always be encouraging. But you're not going to get empty platitudes from me. If I see something in your crumb, your shaping, your scoring, I'm going to tell you what it is and how to fix it. That's what coaches do. And I want you to do the same for each other. When someone posts a bake and asks for critique, give them something useful. Tell them what you see. Ask questions. Share what's worked for you. That's how we all get better. This is a teaching environment. We're not here to collect compliments. We're here to make better bakers. Perfection is not required. But growth is the goal. Let's get to work. ~Henry