Bread Baking Therapy

I forgot how much I love baking bread and all of the relaxing steps that it entails.  Have you ever made a yeast bread?  I hope so!  I have been thinking about bread for the past two days…

I love the warm aroma as the yeast proofs. 

I love seeing the yeast grow, bubbling and brown; what seemed dead is suddenly full of life.

I love it when a huge pile of dry flour amazingly incorporates with such a relatively small amount of water.

I love to see the gluten develop as I knead the bread.

I love the feel of the flour, water and yeast developing into a smooth, warm mass of dough.

I love to check the dough again and again, watching its gradual, steady rise.

I love to feel the gas pockets deflate as I punch the dough down and knead it and then shape it. 

I love to tease the mass of dough into an even, beautiful ball.

I love that moment, right before it goes into the oven, when I slash the very top of the loaf, just cutting a thin layer of the strong gluten strands.

I love the smell of baking bread-it smells like home.

And I love slicing into a loaf and seeing the crumb of this loaf, seeing the beautiful results of all the yeast’s hard work.

I remember now that I love baking bread and I am going to have to do it more often!