Bread. Warm. Like a pillow but you can eat it. It nourishes the body and soul for millions on this screwed up planet.
Like many, I am tired of winter. Tired of fighting the snow and cold. I read stories of Global Warming on DKos and then I shovel more snow. The irony of it all.
My mind wanders and I think of the song Bread and Roses. My grandfather was a proud WOBBLY.
Yes, I was a Red-Diaper Baby (until I joined the Young Republicans in college, but that is another diary.)
While other kids were read Land of Nod at bedtime, we were given this:
As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: Bread and Roses! Bread and Roses!
As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.
As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.
As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.
So, I opened up the Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer.
Today, I will bake bread. Yes, I will be the house husband of my wife's dreams today, ala John Lennon!
In a big mixing bowl, mix 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 1/2 teaspoons of instant fast yeast, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Add 1 of warm water (add more if needed) and 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Mix it together (use your hands!) Then add about 3/4 to 1 cup of flour about 1/4th a cup at a time. Form a smooth but soft pillowy ball.
Knead with heel of the hand on a lightly floured surface for a few minutes. Roll into a ball.
Easy tip: I use my very bourgeoisie Cuisinart Food Processor. Much faster. No kneading.
Lightly oil a smooth glass or metal bowl. Roll the dough bowl in the oil a little. Cover the bowl with the dough inside (silly, of course!) with a clean towel. Let sit and rise for about 45 minutes. Yes, you can peek.
Turn on computer and post on Daily Kos.
Remove towel. Punch down dough (I love doing that.) Knead on a floored surface again and work those air bubbles out. Then press into a big rectangle and then fold and taper seams to fit into loaf pan. Don't worry it doesn't have to be perfect.
Lightly grease an 8x4 bread pan metal/glass. Don't have one? Grease any like baking dish or pan. Plop dough in. Again cover with towel and let rise in a warm place for 30 or 40 minutes.
Go back to Daily Kos. Respond to those comments you made previously.
Preheat oven 450 degrees ten minutes before bread is done rising.
Remove towel from bread. With either a new razor blade or very sharp knife; score just about 1/16th of an inch across the bread. Let sit 2 minutes. Then place in hot oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake 30 minutes more.
Check to see if you got any troll ratings.
Your house should smell like a bakery by now. Open the oven. Turn bread onto a wire grate or rack. Cool.
Lenin (Vlad not John) wrote, "Peace and bread are the basic demands of the workers and the exploited."
Now get to work Kossaks. We have a lot of baking to do. And recommend this diary to your friends and fellow marchers.
Soon we will all have peace and bread! Bakers of the World Unite!
And don't forget the roses-Valentine's Day is only 7 days away.