Once Upon a Time There Was a Bread Baker

I was a bread baker in California. My kitchen had a wonderful Wolf gas oven, and even though I had a full-time job, volunteer obligations, writing commitments, and a busy social calendar, I made time to bake bread for friends: baguettes, sourdough loaves, brioche, and rolls. I kept a growing list of recipients and would give people a day or two notice when the baking mood struck. I gave all the goods away, baking for the pure joy of it. Friends would pop over to pick up warm loaves and we’d visit and laugh.

I loved those friend moments and bread-making hours.

I’m retired now with more time, but, ironically, have had to put bread-making on hold. My Missouri home has an electric oven that heats unevenly, plus there’s Missouri’s awful humidity that reeks havoc on the bread process. I’ve attempted making my sourdough rounds, but they come out flat and unappealing.

Thus, I’m reduced to baking un-yeasted biscuits.

I’m saving up for a kitchen re-do. In the meantime, cookies, anyone?