Author Marianne Evans
In the Baking of
the Bread
Is
there a more beautiful aroma than that of baking bread? For me, when wisps of
onion-zested steam carry through the kitchen, I know I’m home—not just in a
logistical sense, but in an emotional sense that stems straight from the heart.
I
follow in the footsteps of my grandmother and my mother. I bake onion bread. Upon
removal from the oven, those golden brown loaves laid out on a cooling rack
fill the atmosphere with a promise of nourishment. But that's the end result.
Let's take a look at the bigger picture...the process.
Creating bread is hard work. It also requires patience. The kneading, the
rising, none of it can be rushed. Perhaps that's why baking bread has always
been such a treasured tradition in my family - especially for me, my mom, and
the woman who began it all, my grandmother. Conversations are shared while
finger-pushes and palm-presses stretch and form the dough. We laugh, sigh,
rejoice and sometimes even cry as we wait for the bread to rise, or bake. She
did the same with her mom. I’ve done the same with my son and my daughter.
Old
family stories are shared time and time again. ‘Remember when grandma used to
make six loaves from one batch?’ ‘Remember the first time we let Dan’s wife in
on the recipe and had her help us bake it?’ ‘Remember shipping a loaf to the
kids when they lived in Virginia?’
Many
of the same remarks come to pass with each session: ‘Be sure to give the second
rise enough time.’ ‘Be sure the yeast, sugar and warm water have been given
enough time to activate.’ And then there’s my favorite: ‘Get in there and work
the dough! Don’t be afraid to get your fingers gooey!’
Family
moments are shared across generations, over a recipe that’s family owned,
protected and beloved. I savor the continuity of the bread-making process just
as much as I love that taste of the freshly toasted, hand-made treat. It’s the
passing on of tradition – not just when you make the bread, but when you share
your heart, and life, with those you love.
And
the time spent? It’s so worth it – on
a number of levels.
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