The value of a good soak: A bread story

Fun fact about me; I’ve never met a soak I didn’t like. Pools, spas, friend’s bath tubs… I live for anything resembling an immersion tank. I’m not joking. I will plan trips around where I can get my soak on, and occasionally have resorted to sneaking around town, just to sneak myself into a local hotel hot tub. Being up to my ears in water has a calming effect and the warmer the water, the better! Half the time I bring myself to the brink of fainting. I know that probably sounds extreme but ascending from a tank so utterly depleted, lends itself to some mad rest. Such lassitude is where the aches of life get a chance to heal and I can move about my days a bit softer and more forgiving. Well guess what? The same goes for bread making!

Equal parts flour and water soaking in a bowl.

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Recipe

Soaker:

• 1 cup flour

• 1 cup water

Dough:

• 2 cups flour

• 1 1/4 tsp yeast

• 1 1/2 tsp salt

Process:

1. Combine the soaking ingredients in a large bowl and let rest for 2 to 8 hours.

2. After resting, add the additional ingredients to make the dough.

3. Mix it well so the dough starts to form and then knead it until it’s springy (10 minutes-ish?)

4. Cover and rest for 1 hour in a clean bowl that’s been greased with oil.

5. After resting and the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and knead it again.

6. Shape the dough, and let rest another hour.

7. Preheat a dutch oven to 450F degrees.

8. Score the dough and carefully transfer it to the preheated dutch oven and bake for 25 minutes.

9. Remove the lid and reduce the temperature to 410F degrees and continue baking for 15 more minutes.

10. Carefully remove the bread from the oven and let cool before slicing.

11. Enjoy!

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Bread baked from soaked flour.

So, soaked flour, soaked self… both produce good results. Give it a go and feel your way through the process. The dough will be light, and the crumb of the bread softer. Not a bad things really.

Bake on!

2 Suggestions for a Better Thanksgiving

I have a couple of hot takes to share with you in prep for Thanksgiving:

1. Must-Try Pumpkin Pie Recipe

   This is an incredible pumpkin pie recipe. I don’t know about you, but at times when a recipe turns out too well, I basically vow never to make it again. I know that sounds crazy but the last thing I need is too much of a good thing, tempting me to binge eat. However, on occasions where others may partake in the helpful processes of consumption, such things can come out of retirement! Case in point? This pumpkin pie recipe from Fork Knife Swoon. It really is the best! And the secret weapon? A gingersnap crust! The only adjustment I made was using a fresh sugar pumpkin instead of the canned stuff. Do whatever you want; canned or fresh, but prepare yourself for the knowing that is the deliciousness of this pie. You’ll face some hard choices around the number of slices to hoard but that’s why I encourage you to consume with friends and family. There is safety in numbers!

2. A Song for the Season

   Speaking of friends and family… below is song by The Highwomen for your holiday playlist. Growing-up my family was not one to sit around the table and enjoy a meal together. Neither of my parents cooked much which is probably why both my brother and I cook now. We craved more than food. We craved that sense of community and the adult version of me is making up for lost time. This song gives me all the feels, idealizing the holidays with the importance of “gathering”. I covet a good gather. That’s why I like cooking on ships! Everyone comes together to eat and break bread, reminding us that a community is what you make of it regardless of how we are related. So have a listen and add this song to your holiday mix.

No matter where you find yourself this Thanksgiving, whether at home or at sea, at a Friendsgiving or with family, I hope there is a crowded table awaiting you, loaded high with gingersnap pumpkin pie and other seasonal delights!

Get prepping and good luck, and of course, let me know what you’ll be putting out on your table.

Craft Is Cure

Immediately out of elbow surgery I thought about spoon carving. I was fearful that this gift of a hobby, my passion craft, my so-called therapy for so much pain in life, was suddenly something inaccessible. I didn’t think about work. I didn’t think about conquering activities for daily living. I just thought about spoons….

Sadly, carving the spoon you see pictured was harder than expected. I figured since the surgery was on my nondominant arm, I’d be able to fumble through this pretty well. And to those of you that haven’t carved a wooden spoon, you might think I’m well on my way. And sure, you are probably right. The carving and the healing; they are just going to require a bit more patience, which is a virtue I’m feeling extra short on lately.

Here’s where I’m stuck. For those of you that have been here for a while, you are more than aware that I’ve spent most the past decade in relative isolation. I spent six years as a caregiver to both my parents before they passed, and then another two years riding out Covid. What I’m truly struggling with isn’t so much the arm recovery but the time I’ve spent mostly alone (or with people that couldn’t communicate). In the past, I’ve always turned back to my hobbies. I spent the hours baking breads and carving spoons, trying to peacefully accept being “stuck” during those periods. But now feels rather exceptionally cruel. Just when I was feeling surface under my feet and some traction moving forward, I’m stuck again, and this time without my hobbies as therapy.

I’m in my third week of physical therapy and trust that with time my abilities will improve. I know I’ll regain strength and better my range of motion, even if a second surgery is required. But what do I do in the meantime? What’s the quickest cure?

“You have to make time, to take time...”

— Ashley Look

Don’t answer that! Actually, I already know what you’d say. That “in time things will get better and I need to continue to exercise patience”. Ya, I know. I know, I know! And I’m going to give myself the same advice I give everyone I’ve taught to carve a spoon or bake bread… “You have to make time, to take time!” And I will. I am… And I will finish this spoon!

Bread for the Home

Still got it!

I baked this loaf of bread yesterday. It was my first attempt at bread baking post elbow surgery. Did I use both hands to knead it? Not really… This is a one-handed wonder bread but still, it was good to see not all is lost!

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Recipe -ish

Dry Ingredients Combined:

• 2 cups flour

• 3/4 tsp yeast

• 3/4 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients Combined:

• 1/4 cup molasses

• 1/4 cup warm milk

• 1/4 cup warm water

Process:

1. Place all dry ingredients in a bowl.

2. Mix wet ingredients together and then add to the bowl.

3. Combine, form dough, knead…

4. Cover and rest for 1 hour.

5. Punch down, knead again, shape, and let rest another hour.

6. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.

7. Bake for 30ish minutes.

8. Enjoy!

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This loaf is on the small side cause I needed it to be manageable with one hand. Now, just imagine what you could bake with two!

So, go on…get dirty! Bake this and let me know what you think. You like-y?

The Detour

Sometimes life gets in the way, but when you love something, you’ll find a way to make time for it.

Aside from one spoon I made while on my last sailing trip, this is the only spoons I’ve made in months. It’s just like riding a bike though. Nothing felt awkward or rusty about the process. I just picked up a piece of wood and it came to life over the weekend.

Do you like this one? I named it Detour for obvious reason.