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There is always some point at which you can put in too much water where no matter how strong you make the dough the loaf will not hold its shape and will flatten out during baking.

The amount of protein found in bread flour is higher, in order to contain and produce more gluten and achieve the desired rise in bread. Because of this higher protein level, bread flour is able to absorb more liquid, allowing it to hold its shape and rise upward instead of outward.

To make beurre manié, knead together equal amounts of flour and butter. Some sources, such as Larousse, suggest a 3 part / 4 part ratio, e.g. 75 g butter to 100 g flour. It can be stored well-wrapped in the fridge for several weeks.

Good rule of thumb: I usually use around 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda per 1 cup of flour in a recipe. Baking soda CAN leaven a baked good when exposed to heat.

What is Roux? Roux is made by cooking equal parts flour and fat together until the raw flavor of the flour cooks out and the roux has achieved the desired color. Butter is the most commonly used fat, but you can also make roux with oil, bacon grease, or other rendered fats.

There are four types of roux: white, blonde, brown and dark. They all contain the same ingredients—equal parts flour and fat—but the colors differ based on how long you cook the mixture.

Beurre manié (French “kneaded butter”) is a dough, consisting of equal parts by volume of soft butter and flour, used to thicken soups and sauces. By kneading the flour and butter together, the flour particles are coated in butter.

The five French mother sauces are béchamel, velouté, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato.