first attempt at a loaf

2024 · 11

Made bread. Using the word loosely. It came out heavy, dense enough to hold a door open, darker on the bottom than it should have been, and when I cut in the middle had that damp closed look I now know means something went wrong. At the time I just stood there feeling let down by it.

I don't really know what got into me. It's turning cold and the idea of a warm loaf out of the oven got its hooks in and wouldn't let go. I read a bit first, which mostly handed me new things to worry about. Hydration. Folding. The strength of the flour, whatever that means.

The dough never came together like the pictures. It sat in the bowl looking sulky for most of the afternoon, four hours maybe, and I baked it anyway because I'd started. The kitchen smelled wonderful for about an hour. That was the best part of the whole thing.

M. had a slice with butter and said it was "actually not bad." Going to try again. No real idea why, but I am.