So....where were we?
It's been awhile since I've blogged. A long while. There was a new dog, and then a new job, and, well, you know how it goes.
I was excited to see the new book, but worried whether I would have enough time to participate. It is helpful that there are only two recipes a month. And now that I've made the first pick (hosted by the lovely Laurie and Jules) I know I've got the baking bug again.
I'm a little rusty in the kitchen. Pretty sure my KitchenAid mixer gave me a dirty look when I put it back into service. Something along the lines of "where have you been?" But once underway I remembered how I love everything about yeasty breads - how they smell, how they feel, how they are little chemistry experiments you get to watch change and grow. You're making something that is alive.
It's alive
I followed the directions, and thanks to the folks who commented on their projects I decided to make a regular loaf and a cinnamon swirl loaf. I mixed together some cinnamon and brown sugar and that turned out looking nice and tasting great the same day.
Swirl!
In fact both tasted great the same day - it was the day after that they lost their luster. Maybe I didn't wrap them well enough and they dried out. Or perhaps I'm used to a heartier bread than this recipe provided (I don't remember the last time I had white bread). Overall I thought they were okay, but probably won't make them again.
Does that mean I think this first recipe a failure? Definitely not. It just reaffirmed my love of baking and my glee of being back in the group. I'm looking forward to the journey through Baking with Julia and to getting to know all of you along the way. Bake on!
