Texas Cottage Food Law

While I am toying with the idea of selling Field Lab Solar Oven Bread...I decided I should look into the legalities.  Prior to 2011, in Texas, selling any food from a home kitchen made you an illegal "food establishment" in the eyes of the Texas Department of State Health Services, even if you operated on a very small scale selling low-risk foods like baked goods.  You could legally not sell homemade food.  A group of dedicated home bakers changed that.  SB 81 was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry on June 17, 2011, and the law was expanded in 2013 by HB 970.  Texas continues to be one of the friendliest states for small business startups.  A number of foods covered by these laws includes - baked goods that do not require refrigeration, such as cakes, cookies, breads, and pastries.  To start a cottage food business, there are no permits, inspections, fees, or licenses required beyond a basic food handler's license.  I got my Texas Food Handler's License by taking an online course and passing the online exam (it took 45 minutes and cost $7.99).  And if I end up selling to the public, I will have to add a label such as this.  72,83,58, .03",W

Prosciutto Bread

Back in my NYC days ,I would pick up a couple of  prosciutto rings for my weekend breakfasts.  I used to buy them from D&G Italian Bakery at 45 Spring Street in Little Italy - a couple blocks away from where I used to live.  The store is now owned by my croissant friend Maury Rubin of City Bakery fame.  I found a recipe on YouTube that just about nails it.  I cooked up a test batch of loaves (not rings) and it tasted pretty much exactly how I remembered them.  Big chunks of prosciutto to dice up are cost prohibitive to buy in Texas (or even online) so I substituted summer sausage and it worked out pretty well.  Since it isn't truly authentic prosciutto bread, I think I will call it Chupa Bread instead - since they are the same color.  74,86,43,0,W 

a monday matinee...

the bread of life...

John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

a surface for dough

Sanded and conditioned the old butcher block cart top I've had for 15 years.  Almost ready to start prepping some dough.  Video of the effort coming Monday.  72,80,40,0,B

a friday night film

a surface...

Was about to buy some kind of large surface for dough prep when I remembered I already have just what I need.  Unearthed one of my butcher block topped carts from the bowels of a shipping container yesterday.  I bought two of these (from Ikea) about 15 years ago for my kitchen in upstate NY.  I have been using one of them as a tool bench out here and have pretty much destroyed the top.  The other is still in pretty good condition and I am about to sand it down and condition/seal it for a second life.  The butcher block top is 24" x 38".  Video tomorrow...  58,66,32,0,B