Perfect winter activities

Bread-making is one activity which just seems perfect for a cold winter day. Stirring and kneading the dough gets you all warmed up. You can do other things while the bread is rising. (I'm a big fan of doing other things - dishes, blogging, reading, sewing, whatever! - while food is taking care of itself.) The warmth of the oven is of course glorious. Finally, the smell of baking bread wafting through the house makes the house feel so cozy and warm and inviting, especially in contrast to blustery, cold, snowy conditions outside.

Here is the bread I made yesterday afternoon while it snowed and snowed and snowed:



90 minutes later:



Punched down and divided into two pans to rise again:



30 minutes later, risen and ready for the oven:



30 minutes later, Jeremy has already had a steamy hot slice (with a thick slab of butter of course)!