Bread Goal Updates

At the end of last year we had a really beautiful Relief Society activity titled "The Bread of Life" and we learned about making different types of bread and connected it back to Jesus Christ. I had already been planning to make Italian Bread loaves to hand out as our neighbor gifts and I just really loved it. I've been wanting to learn sourdough bread for several years but I've not been brave enough to jump in. However, this night inspired me and I decided to learn to make sourdough bread. (Erin makes it look so easy, she's a master. Also, I got a face full of flour while making my Christmas bread loaves and sent the picture to David and it still makes me laugh, apparently - not an expert.)  

Thus, my only 2023 Goal was to "Master the Art of Sourdough Bread".

 Sourdough takes dedication, patience, and attention to time & detail. 

I can be extremely dedicated and very patient. 

But attention to time and detail is NOT my strong suit. 

(As anyone who has ever asked me if I set a timer for the food in the oven knows.)

I've put a lot of effort into it. Feeding my starter, weighing my flour, even getting my tech-savvy nephew Josh to create an iphone timer system that I can tap and it will set all the timers for my folds. 

My sweet Sister-in-Law, Brooklyn even willingly Facetimed me a half-dozen times throughout one full sourdough session. She showed me how she starts it, folds it, etc... and we made our loaves together. It was such a kind thing for her to be willing to share her expertise with me. I love her. 

Even with all that - We are three months in and I think I’m getting worse. 

(Pic 1 from beginning of year. Pic 2  from middle. Pic 3 from yesterday 😂).

*sigh* 

I'm still working on it! 

I am just reminding myself that I am practicing patience, attention to time, and diligence. 

I am learning a new skill, including the skills of setting a timer and giving focused attention to my task.

Bread - Christmas Gift

For our neighbor gifts this year, we decided to make loaves of Italian Sandwich Bread. I have a wonderful recipe that I usually use for making small loaves for Sub Sandwiches but I figured out that if I doubled it, I could get 5 large loaves. They baked to golden brown perfection and the kids and I had a good time delivering them in the snow. 

It was great because our ward RS also had an activity about how Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life - and I felt like that gave me a lot to ponder as I was making so many loaves of bread and sharing them with those around me to celebrate this Christmas season. (I love neighbor gifts and wish that I could drop something on the porch of every person that I know or am slightly acquainted with. It's the gift-giving love language piece of me.) 

We spent several full days in the kitchen baking bread together and it was very hygge. 

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At the RS activity a neighbor, Erin Rossel, taught the group how to make sourdough bread. When I expressed interest to her about it - but also expressed how intimidated I was, she brought me a starter and promised to help me learn. It's definitely intimidating, but after making so much bread this December - I think that I am ready to learn!