Monday, June 8, 2009

Baking day

A cold wintery public holiday Monday in the Swine Flu capital of the world... a perfect occasion to stay in and teach my wee girl about the art of making bread. That's her "snake" roll in the front - kneaded twice (sort of) by her tiny hands - she saw it through the processes from when she stirred the water into the flour. She proudly ate it with her dinner, I hear. (I was teaching a class by that time, and I'm sorry I missed it).

In another time and place in my life I used to make a lot of bread, grow a lot of vegetables, keep chickens and generally lead a very wholesome, slow life. It was nice to tap back into that in these crazy juggling-everything times. Take the slow approach and enjoy the process. Katherine has been baking lots of bread lately and it made me remember...

I remember my mother saying "feel the water... feel how it's lukewarm?", showing me how to knead the dough with the heels of my hands, knocking it back after the first raising, shaping knot rolls....

I wonder if my girl will remember...?

18 comments:

Unknown said...

We use a bread machine to bake bread. You get the lovely smell and the fresh baked bread, but without all the extra work of kneading. Still, its nice to do it the "old fashioned" way, and its nice that you took the time to show her. Its nice to create memories.

Bree said...

Mmmmmm yum!!! I'll swap you a pot of roasted pumkin soup for a loaf of that delicious looking bread?? And yes, wee girl will remember and probaly ask herself the same question after she teaches her little ones.

Bree said...

....that was meant to be probably!

PaisleyJade said...

I need to do that again... I am way too lazy! We have chickens though!! Love the snake.

Nikki said...

Your girl will remember... just like you do.

rachelmp said...

What a great way to spend the cold day with your little girl ... ummmm fresh bread

Unknown said...

I love baking bread. I love the smell. My daughter loves to help and always begs me to show her how to make things. She's such a blessing to have around and I'm sure your daughter is too!

Marty said...

I recently found out I'm allergic to wheat, along with most other grains. I so miss the smell of the bread baking and that first slice, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. Sob!!!

Anonymous said...

What a good idea for some 'slow time' - something we all need!!

Christy said...

yum! And so cool you teaching her. My mom never taught me, but I did watch her a few times. I have to say, there is NOTHING that smells better than rising and baking bread.

Cath said...

stuff like that never leaves you if its meant to be. I'm sure it will seem like no time at all and she'll be baking you bread, and dinner. Then be off out for the rest of the night until the wee hours.......

Tania said...

Funnily enough I was kneading my own bread dough yesterday - with weather like this what else is there to do?! My helper was more interested in seeing what nice patterns flour makes after you throw it up in the air...

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

What a wonderful mother and child thing to do. It's great for her to know where bread comes from, rather than just from the supermarket. Bet it was yummy, I can almost taste it from here. Mmmm.... fresh bread....

our shabby cottage said...

I can smell it from here Nikki! and it is delicious.
My Mum still bakes bread every fortnight and I occasionally do too. I used to not appreciate it when I was growing up and used to swap with the kids at school who had "bought" bread. Now, I love it, it is the best kind.

Cathie said...

mmm...can smell the sweet bread aroma! she'll definitely remember it.

Jenny said...

I bet she remembers! Looks delicious-what a lovely way to spend time together. Hope you are keeping well

Pinktulip said...

I bet you the snake tastes better than the bread!

Sandra @ Pepperberry & Co. said...

Lol! Swine flu capital of the world :-) It'd be funnier still if it weren't kind of freaky... but anyway. What a great thing to do on a public holiday! I can smell that delicious smell from here.