bread

I can finally write about baking bread now that my oven is fixed and my home is once again filled with the amazing smell of fresh baked bread.  I've been doing without bread, cookies, pies,  roasted veggies, and homemade granola for well over three weeks now.  Honestly, I think I missed the act of preparing baked goods more than I have missed eating them.  My kitchen is overflowing with squash, beets, and potatoes from our CSA food subscription so now it's time to start eating my fall favorites.  I digress...

...so yes, back to the bread.  Let me start by saying this is an incredible discovery.  I am so thankful to my neighbor for letting me borrow her bread book ("it's my bible so I need it back in a week at the most").  Two loaves and three days later, I ordered my own copy and patiently awaited it's arrival.

The book: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day (Jeff  Hertzberg & Zoe Francois).  The title didn't grab me - "yeah right" I thought, that's not possible.  Artisan bread?  In 5 minutes?  You mean, yeasted bread that is both good and easy?  Sure, I have made "easy" bread before but honestly, it wasn't that good nor was it really that easy.  And yes, I have done the whole sourdough thing too - it's great bread (amazing really) but too much work, especially when you have two young kids underfoot.  But, it's true, this bread is delicious and incredibly easy.  Yup folks, we are going to be eating our fair share of fresh, homemade, delicious bread around here.

People have asked for the recipe.  The thing is, you really need the book.  Check it out...and if you are a neighbor, I might just let you borrow it.