My bread is just laying there. The little round loaf I formed has splatted out rather flat, and instead of rising in an upward motion, it seems to be oozing out larger. I fear for the worst, but I am pressing onward anyway. I have had loaves go into the oven looking like total hell and come out great. I do seriously suspect that this time, I may have failed to make an edible loaf. If so, I will try again tomorrow. Never give up! Never surrender!

The stew is bubbling away merrily, and it already smells good. At least I do know how to make a good stew.

***

OK, due to having a bread-failure panic attack, I watched some videos on Youtube, and yes, my dough seems to be doing alright. Doesn’t look like it to me, but there you have it. I hate the not knowing if it is going to turn out or not. I want it to be awesome!

I don’t have a Dutch Oven, which the recipe calls for, but I have seen wonderful loaves of bread made with the same recipe and technique that weren’t cooked in a Dutch Oven. I’m hoping not having one isn’t going to matter too much. I think I will whine about going to Sears this weekend to use the last of my gift card to get a Dutch Oven. Handy things, and I can’t believe I don’t own one. Well, I do actually. It was Lin’s, and it’s cast iron, and who the hell knows where in the house it is hidden. I haven’t found any of the cast iron, which means it’s all together somewhere, and that means it is in the box room. Lost … forever. Might as well buy a new one, right? New and shiny and not cast iron. I am not a fan of cast iron.

Lin called, and I have fussed around making this post and watching videos at Youtube long enough I can go get the oven started preheating now. Guess I better get to that. The stew probably needs tending as well. I promise, if the bread turns out gorgeous, to post dramatically lit photos so you can all oooh and aaah over it, and if it totally fails, I might post a photo anyway, because we all need a humbling experience and good laugh now and then.

You’re getting tired of the bread babbling aren’t you? Sorry. It’s a symptom of not wanting to talk about other things. This too shall pass.