Baking Bread
Feeling history in our hands
Have you noticed that everyone seems to be baking bread lately?
I think there are a lot of factors contributing to this phenomenon: We are going to the store less often Sometimes the bread we like isn't available There is security in doing something to feel self-reliant (such as baking). Maybe we have more time on our hands?
I think baking bread is connecting us to Bonner County residents of the past. The ones who lived here when you couldn't simply drive to a store. The residents who had to rely on their own hands to create the things they needed.
Regardless of why we are drawn to it, baking bread is an excellent way to connect little ones to history. I went to the bookshelf with my son this morning and we picked out my grandmother's cookbooks and searched for a bread recipe. Most of them called for yeast, which we didn't have, so we searched even deeper back in history. We chose a recipe for sourdough bread which simply uses four and water to attract yeast from the environment and makes a great bread (spoiler alert- it takes a couple of days!).
Connect your own child to the idea that long ago people made a lot more food at home. Make something that you can't get at the store right now (you could also do broth, cheese, crackers, butter, granola, share more ideas in the comments). Let your child be as involved as possible! Older ones can help pick out a recipe, gather ingredients, and read the steps. Younger ones like to pour pre-measured ingredients and mix and knead with their hands ( I usually put a tablecloth down and let them work on the floor). Very little ones can simply squeeze, hold, and play with dough as a sensory activity.
A long time ago people made their food at home instead of going to the store. Today we are going to make some bread at home together. We can imagine what it would have felt like to live long long ago.
There are lots of recipe options out there or on your own bookshelf. I will provide a few links here, too. Sourdough starter, and the actual bread recipe for Pain au Levain Some recipes "like the pioneers used" "If you happen to have yeast" bread recipe.
Don't forget to post a picture of your finished product on Instagram #athomewithbchs
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