So Many Dishes

It’s an odd day here. The hurricane in the gulf isn’t really causing any problems for us, just some rain squalls and enough wind to keep the wind chimes ringing continuously. But it’s dreary, and I’m home alone. So I decided to bake bread.

I haven’t baked bread in years, and I don’t have a reason why that is. I used to make a very simple French bread—I called it “idiot bread” because it was so easy—on a regular basis before the kids were born. And I have a focaccia recipe that I love. I can’t use the excuse of not having time, since I’m retired.

What spurred today’s baking was Ken asking me if I would try homemade whole grain bread. That’s something I’ve never done. When he was having medical issues last winter, we met with a nutritionist. She strongly recommended whole grains. However, Ken has never cared for whole wheat or whole grain breads. He usually complains that they’re too sweet, or he doesn’t like the added seeds. We’ve tried a lot of different breads the past few months, both fresh from the bakery or off the shelf, but he keeps going back to white bread.

Today seemed like the perfect day to try. I had bought some whole wheat flour last week, and I had yeast in the fridge. It was a matter of finding a recipe. My source was the King Arthur Flour website. What a trove of baking recipes. I chose the Everyday Whole Grain Bread recipe, which they use in their Bake for Good children’s program.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to bake bread. There’s something almost meditative to kneading. Watching the dough rise is magic. And the smell as it bakes!

The recipe made two loaves, and I put one in the freezer after it cooled. But I couldn’t wait until dinner—I had a small piece. Taste testing is important, isn’t it?

Here’s the link to the recipe https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/everyday-whole-grain-bread-recipe#review-section

I hope you have something tasty on your plate today. Happy eating!