Bread

As you may or may not know, I love making bread.  And, I love sharing the bread I make.  Most people love receiving homemade bread because it is something they would never make for themselves. A lot of my friends can't understand how I can work full-time and cook everything from scratch - well almost everything. 

When I run out of bread I would rather just make a loaf or two than run out and buy it at the store - especially this winter with all the exceptionally cold temperatures. It takes me about 5 minutes to get the bread to the first rise, a couple minutes to knock it down when it is complete and put it in pans for a second rise.  Then it is into the oven for 20 or so minutes. The house smells divine as the bread bakes and warms up the house a wee bit more.  I mess up a bowl, a fork, and a couple bread pans.  A part of me asks - what is so hard about that?  while another part of me completely understands how a person with no bread baking experience could be overwhelmed by it. 

 Recently, there has been a push on for people to eat less gluten, whether they are allergic/sensitive to it or not.  I realize that allergies are serious and that people have issues with regards to the gluten but many who are going gluten free are just jumping on the bandwagon hoping it will improve their lot in life.  These are the individuals  that makes the breadmaker in me sigh.