Because I needed another hobby

It looks like I've caught the Bread Making Bug. The colder weather tends to make me want to spend more time in the kitchen, and soup with good bread always sounds so good when you're cold coming home from work in the evenings.

My first attempt was successful--a nice round loaf with french herbs. Subsequent attempts have produced weapon-like structures, barely edible and tasting slightly of beer. Still, I'm determined. I've read a couple books from the library, and decided to buy Baking Artisan Bread . I like the author's writing style, and he gives tips on how to achieve good results without having to go out and buy equipment (for example, making a steaming tray out of metal utensils in a pan).
My goal is to be able to make whole grain bread eventually-- and not have it weigh sixty pounds.





This is the Pan Francese recipe from the book.



Creamy Leek & Potato Soup

Chop an onion and 2 leeks and cook in butter until soft, in a saucepan. Add 2 cloves of garlic and cook another minute on medium heat. Add 5 cups of vegetable stock and 2 chopped potatoes and bring to a boil, then simmer 20 minutes, covered, on low heat.
Allow to cool a minute or two, and puree (I love my hand blender for this!).
Add lots of pepper, a touch of salt, and a touch of cream if you have it; the potatoes make this soup pretty creamy and I find it isn't really necessary to add cream.

I was actually out of bread tonight so I toasted some muffins in a frying pan to go with it, and that was pretty good.

Make lots and you'll have left overs to freeze and defrost, some chilly evening soon!