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Making bread
Nov. 7th, 2005 12:28 pmI'm really enjoying making bread. I'm sort of doing it to save money. We eat a loaf a day, or about $20 worth of commercial bread a week. I can make our bread for about $4 a week. That doesn't seem like much, but that $20 is about a fifth of our weekly food budget at the moment.
Besides the budget stuff, I'm enjoying the sense of achievement that I get from producing a loaf every day. Despite an actual time investment of about 15 minutes, I've made bread. That my children like to eat. That they prefer to commercial bread. And with such a small time/energy investment, I can do it even if I'm feeling like crap.
Breadmaking also gives me a structure and a rhythm to a day at home. I have to time my activities and outings around it. When I start mixing, I think about my plans for the day and when I need to be around to knock it down the first and second times and when I need to put it in the oven - what time we'll want the next loaf; do I need to make it in time for lunch because we've been greedy with yesterday's loaf? Am I going out so I need to do a step before or after I go? As usual, I'm happiest when life is a little difficult and I have logistical problems to solve.
I also use the breadmaking as a reason to clean the kitchen. This morning I was feeling a little tired, but we need bread and, like I said, it doesn't take much time or energy. This morning I heard the following in my head; "I'll just clean the bowl and utensils I used yesterday... huh! I might as well fill the sink with water and wash last night's dishes." Later I heard, " While I'm washing dishes, I might as well clear the kitchen table and wipe it down.' When I'd finished with "just" doing the next thing, I had a kitchen in which I can do MORE cooking, or sewing, or homework with kids when they get home. That's how it happens most days. It's nice having one room in the house that I can do things in, that looks the way I like to have it for visitors and that inspires my children to activity.
Thankyou bread.
Besides the budget stuff, I'm enjoying the sense of achievement that I get from producing a loaf every day. Despite an actual time investment of about 15 minutes, I've made bread. That my children like to eat. That they prefer to commercial bread. And with such a small time/energy investment, I can do it even if I'm feeling like crap.
Breadmaking also gives me a structure and a rhythm to a day at home. I have to time my activities and outings around it. When I start mixing, I think about my plans for the day and when I need to be around to knock it down the first and second times and when I need to put it in the oven - what time we'll want the next loaf; do I need to make it in time for lunch because we've been greedy with yesterday's loaf? Am I going out so I need to do a step before or after I go? As usual, I'm happiest when life is a little difficult and I have logistical problems to solve.
I also use the breadmaking as a reason to clean the kitchen. This morning I was feeling a little tired, but we need bread and, like I said, it doesn't take much time or energy. This morning I heard the following in my head; "I'll just clean the bowl and utensils I used yesterday... huh! I might as well fill the sink with water and wash last night's dishes." Later I heard, " While I'm washing dishes, I might as well clear the kitchen table and wipe it down.' When I'd finished with "just" doing the next thing, I had a kitchen in which I can do MORE cooking, or sewing, or homework with kids when they get home. That's how it happens most days. It's nice having one room in the house that I can do things in, that looks the way I like to have it for visitors and that inspires my children to activity.
Thankyou bread.
