I think I am currently making the best loaf of bread I have ever made. I know I say that all the time, and basically, it’s true. Every loaf just keeps getting better. But this time … this time I really mean it. I think I am finally going to have a perfect loaf of bread! The dough felt fabulous when I was doing the first kneading, and it’s only been sitting and rising for about 30 minutes, and I think I may already have to punch it down for the second rising. It’s just exploding in size!!! Yippee!!!

Two things have led to better bread. I am now using a recipe that includes eggs and milk and oil, and I bought a thermometer and have become anal about the temperature of my liquids. 120 degrees is a lot hotter than I was imagining. OK, one other thing I am doing differently: I am using my mixer and not the food processor for the initial mixing. Oh, and I am leaving the dough really, really wet when I start kneading it. So that’s four things I am doing differently, and the bread is so much better. The last loaf I made this way was great, but I think today’s is going to be even better. I can’t wait! :D

Other than not sleeping all night due to wickedly strange dreams that kept waking me up, and working on bread first thing in the morning while half asleep, I am also jamming out to The Coffee Sergeants. I finally settled on a playlist of my favorite songs and burned them to CD so I could listen to them on the real sound system rather than my wimpy built-in computer speakers. So even though I am sooooo tired and will likely pass out as soon as the bread is done, today, so far, is going rather well. Let’s hope that trend continues. :)

Back to the bread!