Books & Bread *Josey Baker Bread*

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Books and bread are two of the headiest things in this world. Combine them and I can’t help but delve in. Here is the first installment in recording my adventures with books & bread.   Book: Josey Baker Bread by Josey Baker   Recipe: Dark Mountain Rye   I was lucky enough to discover Josey Baker Bread long after I’d already become an avid home baker. Oh man, what crazy ardent joy I discovered when this book landed in my lap! First, there is nothing about Josey that’s not steeped in exuberance. He releases smiles and encouragement at every … Read more

Let’s Start with Starter

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Natural Levain/Sourdough Workshop

I’ve been trying to decide where to start. What part of my bread story do I want to tell right from the get go? I could start in 1920’s Krakow, Poland with my grandmother. A lot of stories start with grandmothers. I’ve always been enchanted when my Grandma Doda talks about bread. Back in the 20’s, she and her twin brother trampled home from long days at school to a determined maid who fed them nubs of bread floating in broth. Later each day, their mother would come in and sit with them for a bedtime snack before heading … Read more

Bread is Life. Bread is Alive.

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Wheat

Bread is life. As cliché as it sounds, it’s true. History tells us that bread has kept societies alive and functioning. Yes, and sometimes bread has failed us. We’ll get to all that. For now, I want to stop and peer into the bowl of dough rising on my counter. There’s life in there. It’s moving, breathing, pulsing with valiant communities of yeast and bacteria. Bread isn’t just life…Bread is alive. Anyone who works with the modest mixture of flour, water, salt, and yeast knows this to be true. Every loaf of bread is an appreciable ecosystem in and … Read more

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