Baking Bread, Telling People You Love Them

Do you ever think about what it means when you tell someone you love them?? Sometimes it is said so off-handedly that it loses some of it's impact. "Love you" when we hang up the phone or leave the house. I think it's such a habit that we really aren't analyzing WHAT we're saying and the people hearing it are just hearing "bye". But, I have been reading a lot of bread recipes lately and if you have ever heard of Father Dominic (see some of my previous posts for his recipes) you will know that he equates feeding the body with feeding the soul. There is so much truth in that.

I love to bake bread. But, I ask myself, am I baking bread because I love the process or is it the end result? And, which end result am I going for? So, here are some of the end results of a completed loaf of bread: 1) nutrition to round out a meal, 2) nutrition to be the main component in a meal, 3) a snack, 4) the knowledge that mom/wife spent the day (and perhaps part of the previous day) working on something for the family that they will love.

I think that my husband feels all of them but that he appreciates the most #4. He knows that I am constantly trying to increase my skills in the bread-baking area and looking for recipes that will please him. My kids, I think they feel the same way. Then I ask myself would I do this if not for #4? I don't think so. Does it save us money? Yes, but with the Aunt Millie bread store I can get really good prices on "factory-made" bread. Do I really enjoy the process? Yes, but I don't like clean up. Do I enjoy their response? More than anything. When I made the Scali Bread Zoe had at least 4 pieces and I heard, no less than 5 times, "No, really, this is the BEST loaf of bread you have ever made!!" I didn't do it for the praise, I did it because I WANTED it to be the best bread they have ever eaten.

So, if you want to let your family know, without saying the words, how much you love them make them a loaf of homemade bread. It really isn't all that tough and I would be happy to help if you need it!

So, go bake a loaf!