The soaker, the biga and the bread

I enjoy the process of making bread. Yeast bread recipes are never exact because humidity, temperature, even ingredients can change what is required to make a good loaf. It's all in the feel of the dough.

For me, bread is one of the finest foods ever to emerge from an oven. But, if the bread is going to have flavor and the greatest health benefit, you have to go big or go home.

So after many months searching and more than a few not-worth-the-effort trials, I have landed upon a combination of two recipes that make three outstanding loaves of bread. The prep starts the night before with a biga and a soaker. Even though this seems like an extra step, it makes baking day easier than ever.

And the bread? Oh my... it's beautiful! (Can you imagine what my kitchen smelled like at the moment of this picture?)

It's full of whole grain goodness... 

And I know exactly what's in it. No preservatives. No dyes or refined sugar. No unwelcome surprises at all.

Life is good... especially with food like this.

Jesus said... I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 3:35