bread!

I've done a few constructive things lately, other than destroying a thermometer and feeling bad about not knowing whether schlumpy halter-tunics are meant to be worn with just prostitute footwear, or pleated front shorts and prostitute footwear. Yes, this is another dig at Urban Outfitters.  I told my sister that I want this for my birthday.  Look at how much it's been marked down!  Rad deal, yo.

Back to (sort of) reality. My spouse gave me this very fine cookbook for our non-denominational winter gift-giving holiday: Artisan Breads at Home.  Guess what?  It's great!

At first, I was a touch frightened by the complexity.  A cookbook that requires you to read the preamble?  Eeps!  I know that I would do myself a favor by giving the front of the book a better read, plus it would perhaps help to have a little more specialist equipment (a food scale, real razor blades for scoring the tops of bread, a...thermometer...ha).  But--I've done an okay job on my first attempt.  Behold: bread!

pre-baking.  aren't they pretty?

 I started with the oatmeal bread.  It has a lot of oatmeal in it: an oatmeal "soaker" (rolled oats soaked in water, then incorporated and broken down in the dough), plus a bunch of toasted rolled oats (in the dough), and rolled oats on top.  Go fiber!

it did not take long to eat half a loaf.  photo is blurry because i am holding myself at bay.

 Anyhoodle, I was/am quite proud.  Also, my spouse made a batch of utterly perfect kaiser rolls last week:

spouse's gorgeous kaiser rolls.