Introducing Bread Baking 101!

I was asked quite a while ago, if I'd share directions on making bread. I'm not sure the best way to go about it. Bread baking is such a wide subject! After thinking on it for a while, this is my plan. Every week, I will share in detail about one aspect of bread baking (yeast, kneading, etc). I will also share a bread recipe. My goal is to keep it very basic for those who have never made bread, but hopefully even you experienced bakers will find something helpful!

Now, I'd like some help from you! What bread baking questions do you have? Is there a specific area of bread baking you struggle with? What kind of bread would you specifically like to learn to make? Do you experienced bakers have any tips or tricks that you'd like to share? Do you have any special recipes that you would like to share? Please let me know if any of the directions are unclear, inaccurate or confusing. There is always more for me to learn!

Probably the best way to learn to make bread is to "just do it"! Pick a recipe and make it over and over until you are completely familiar with the process! Even if it feels awkward at first, it does get easier with practice! Most of us didn't do so great on our first try riding bicycle either! And watching someone make bread can be a real boost, too! So if you are a local, give me a call and come on over on our next baking day!

And, again, my disclaimer! :-) I'm not saying that everyone should or will want to bake their own bread! I make bread at least once a week. I throughly enjoy everything about creating, smelling, and, of course, eating homemade bread! But bread baking works well with my stage of life right now when I'm home most of the time with my little ones, who take naps! Your life is probably entirely different then mine - and bread baking may not be in your goals at all! Or maybe you'd just like to learn to make your Grandma's dinner rolls for once a year at Christmas! Far more important then the bread we eat, is the relationship we have with the Bread of Life and how we are building our relationships with the people God placed in our lives. I'd hate to come to the end of my life and hear my children say that they wish their mom would have baked less bread and had more time for them!

But if bread baking IS something you wish to do...let's get started!