Day 2: Me and A Loaf of Bread

Day 2 should be A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

Ok, I admit, this one stumped me.  The person I have been closest with the longest is myself.  I know me better than anyone else, yes?  True of anyone I believe.  I know my thoughts, I know my feelings, I know my heart.  This does not necessarily mean I understand my thoughts and feelings, nor do I always follow my heart, but I do indeed recognize it all as me, showing up. 

Now, how to apply all of that to this blog?  Well, I thought and thought and finally decided that which has been closest to me the longest has been the art of baking.  I have been baking since I could stand up.  I have memories, mostly supplied by my mother, of me baking with my maternal grandmother.  It’s no wonder I have no other memories of grandma than of her standing in front of an oven wearing a floral dress covered with an apron.  She passed away when I was 3, but I swear, and so did my mother (and more recently my great aunt, grandma’s sister), that I must have some of her spirit in me. 

For Christmas my son gave me a gift card to a local bookstore, but this bookstore stocks rather specific books, not carrying a wide range of stock, but I knew it had a few cookbooks.  Well, it was a challenge as most of those books were cooking with large quantities of meat, something I just don’t do.  I am grateful for this experience though because it caused me to take notice of each title in turn and really look at what that book might have to offer me.  I eventually found a little bread baking book titled Fast Breads:  50 recipes For Easy, Delicious Bread by Elinor Klivans.  I was intrigued by what I discovered.  I am probably what you’d call a purist; I love to knead bread, watch it rise, shape it, slash it, bake it forever and ever.  This book, however, skips much of that detail I adore.  It was shocking to me, so I bought it.  My son was thrilled.

Today I baked another loaf of bread from that book.  I find that it is opening my eyes to a new way of thinking about bread and that there are so many different ways to accomplish a successful loaf.  This book has really caused me think about my elevation once again and that baking can indeed be a challenge at my altitude (4,800 ft.).  I enjoy baking so much I just can’t help myself!  But then, why should I?

Lots of Cheese Bread 

So, in keeping with this photo challenge, here is a picture of that which I have been closest to the longest:  A loaf of bread because I adore baking.  But, I have been so inspired by my departed grandmother over the years and all of the comparisons made of us that I can’t help but wonder if perhaps I have been closest to her through my baking.  Thanks Grandma Fullmer, I love you, too.