The Sweet Smell of Fermentation

Mr. and Mrs. Claus brought me a breadmaker this year and I am determined to never buy a loaf of bread again. I am pretty good with “never” doing things ever again when I am feel it necessary. Whether it be my strong will or my inherited stubbornness, when I’m amped enough to make a declarative statement, it lasts. So I’ve been looking into buying bread flour bulk and using the 50-lb sacks as spare kitchen chairs and contemplating a new shelf system to support me in my quest. I’m also ready to test estimations on the shelf-life vs. quantity of 5 lbs of active dry yeast. I can sometimes go overboard, diving headfirst in new endeavors, yes, but only because I am predisposed to go underboard. It’s a defense.

I made my first loaf last night with great results! A big, buoyant rosemary olive oil loaf that stunk the apartment up with yeast and scared the cat with the hums and gurgles of its production. The end result was delicious. You can’t mess up bread, right? But I’m gonna try!