Two Tasty Days Off

I LOVE baking bread. I have taken a break from it the past couple monthes for two reasons. First, the heat. I like to raise my bread in a warm oven so the kitchen gets warm. This is fine in cool weather, you just turn down the heat that day. But in the summer it can be downright unbearable.

Second, time. There are some recipes that you can raise overnight in a fridge or while at work if you so wish. And having the kitchenaid mixer helps too. But it still takes hours to mix, rest, knead, raise, shape, raise and bake. And of course you want that hot loaf to coorespond with meal or snack. When Mike is home we can eat almost a whole loaf fresh out of the oven.

I was thrilled this week when temps dropped just enough for me to bake bread on a day I had off and didn't need to run errands! Time and Temp came together to give me three beautiful wheat loaves.
And my new (to me) oven works great, this is by far the best rise I have gotten. I still need to perfect a beautiful glossy crust, but the crumb was the perfect amount of lightness for everyday bread, tight enough to make good toast and sandwiches, but light enough to feel airy in the mouth. And delicious. So glad I have three loaves, each cut in half, wrapped in foil and then a bread bag waiting in my freezer. One morning/afternoon of baking gives me bread for three weeks.

I had another afternoon of good food on Saturday, but this time I also had good friends too. I made my favorite veggie chili, we watched college football and even got in a game of scrabble.

From about 3 to 10 that night people came and eventually went partaking in conversation and food and checking out our new place. It was nice to get some positive reviews on the new place. And nice to see friends I haven't in a few weeks. Three of the ladies were formally in a church knitting group and showed interest in having some social knitting get togethers. I would like that.

Thanks for coming over guys.