The Joy in Baking a Bread

Life has some strange twists and tails. Never in my life did I think that I would enjoy food from the perspective of making it. Practical things have been my focus as an engineer and I have enjoyed many opportunities to make things. Having the right mix to qualify as a success, each thing we end up creating should leave us joyful. Now having the view that the good things in life come with time and wisdom, especially considering our dependence on a system that caters to every whim humans can think off, I think the one thing we are always surprised by is the pleasure we feel when experiencing deep satisfaction when having created something new and useful.

So to my utter delight, I started enjoying the art of baking bread. We decided it was necessary to learn some home crafts to expand our ability in living off the grid. Bread baking was introduced to us by a passionate baker who showed us that using raw basic ingredients produces the most amazing breads. Stone ground flour (twice ground only) with wild yeast and Himalayan rock salt with spring water are my tools now. Every time I bake my Pain De Campaign loaf in our gas fired oven, it leaves me with more and more satisfaction.
Something so simple and enjoyable to do, can put a smile on my face every time I bite my first cut crust off a fresh loaf. This is a skill that I will cherish. Having made different styles of bread as in Essene bread and Corn loaf, my current bakes are pure pleasure. Knowing when to spray misted water into your hot oven to produce a light crust, slightly sweet from the cooling effect enhancing the sugars from the yeast are little skills that add to the comfort of making good food.

That reminds me, the bread is still warm. Another slice with real butter is calling me. Just the aroma of fresh bake leaves one self satisfied in having achieved again. I Love it!