Monday 24 January 2011

The Need to Knead

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Most days I actively avoid the kitchen. I do have to make a concerted effort to go in there. I am trying to get better about food, but it's an effort.

Some days though, there is nowhere else I'd rather be. I pootle in full pootle mode. Bread gets made, cookies get baked, scones are hot off the tray and the jars are filled with goodies. And I pootle on and on, quite content in my role as maker and baker.

There is something very therapeutic about pounding a pile of dough into something malleable and bakable, and a new trick of mine when I'm feeling funky is to now purposely GO in the kitchen, rather than run away and hide under the duvet, and bake bread.

I have learned that, a little bit like knitting, my brain goes into zone-out mode, I begin to enter a state of meditation and part of me quietens down, relaxes, feels purposeful and useful and an a couple hours later we not only have bread, but a stress-free mama.

I'm not a foodie, but I may actually get to be one in time by concerted effort and zen-like meditation...

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8 comments:

  1. I saw a bread recipe I want to try on 'Baking Made Easy' google Doris Grant loaf. I haven't baked bread for ages!

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  2. I've just bought that River Cottage bread book and there are some I want to try from that too - oh and make a sourdough starter - no luck so far

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  3. Oh this is so true for me - I go to the kitchen to settle my stressed out mind - works like a charm and usually results in something the whole family enjoys :) great photos.

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  4. Thanks Melissa. I'm only beginning to understand the therapeutic side of cooking - totally dig the baking thing, trying to work my way up to enjoying cooking meals....

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  5. Hm, that looks yummy. I like that little print LOAF on the side, I wish we could buy something like this: with 'Hand-Baked' or 'yoga-bread'...or our own logo...
    My hubby will bake tomorrow a cake for me, yeah! I like baking, but not the mess after ... ... Have a cozy evening! bye

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  6. In the good old days you could get tins with 'Hovis' (a brand of bread here), but they stopped making them, so these tins are like a tongue-in-cheek joke on that. It says 'loaf' in case your family don't know what the hell it is :D

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  7. MashAllah, nothing beats a fresh loaf of bread in letting you relax in the kitchen. I love your 'loaf' very nice, mashAllah!

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  8. this is true. and honestly is there anything more nourishing for the soul than eating a big doorstop of homemade bread with butter? sometimes my kids will only have this for lunch and they enjoy it so much! masha'allah.

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