Deep in the Oven of Texas

As previously reported, Husband has taken up scratch breadmaking, and he does a pretty darn good job of it. He's gotten Fio involved too, but Fio being Fio, she soon tired of forming pedestrian loaves out of her allotted dough and started experimenting with braiding and furrowing.  Yesterday she made a trial run with cookies cutters--stars, flowers, and, on a whim, an outline of Texas. Surprisingly, she had the most success with Texas.  Not only did the rolls keep their shape, but they were fat and fluffy.

Hmmm.  Wonder what the market would be?

Gluten Reigns

Husband, who is a foodie, makes bread every couple of weeks.  And by "makes bread,"  Fio means the whole shtick.  He even uses his own yeast strain, which he started by setting flour and water outside till it began to ferment, then bringing it in and feeding it small amounts of flour on a daily basis over several weeks.  Some of the yeast is always put aside for future use, but the rest is mixed with water and even more flour until it makes a good dough.  Then comes the fun stuff--kneading, forming the loaves, and baking.

Of course, the final step is that Fiorella hacks off a piece, slathers it with butter, and gulps it down like John Kasich.  Yes, the bread is that good.