homemade artisan bread

It wasn't until I got married that I realized that cooking was not a talent I had been given nor had I put the time into developing the skill. So, thanks to the fact that my husband will pretty-much eat and enjoy anything and the fact that I'm willing to keep trying to cook, we're getting along ok.

However, I also learned that I have a real love for baking. Specifically, baking

BREAD

I used just stick to rolls, breadsticks, cinnamon rolls and wheat bread loaves. But then a while ago, a friend of mine who's a fabulous cook gave me this book called "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day"...and it's changed my life. (Thanks Mandy!) Seriously, this bread is soooo yummy and the dough recipes are fool-proof! I've never had a loaf not turn out (and I'm good at accidentally putting too much or too little of something in, or forgetting about one little part of the directions). It's so easy because it doesn't require kneading and the dough can sit in your fridge ready to be cooked for up to two weeks.

And hey, it looks fancy doesn't it?

These are just pictures of the plain french bread, but I've also made the Italian Semolina Bread, which is super yummy too. There are recipes for herb or cheese breads that I'm going to try soon. But they all stem from the same basic recipe that you just add extra ingredients to.

Just wanted to put in a plug for this book because I've found it to make baking bread even quicker and more fun! It's written by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois...in case you want to check it out. Oh, and you don't have to use a baking stone. Before someone gave me one, I used a cookie sheet and it worked just fine.