Baking Bread
Over the past year, I began baking bread for my family. My goal was to make things at home and have more control over the ingredients. I’m not a baker by nature—I’ve never enjoyed following recipes exactly. I love to cook, but in a spontaneous and random way— and it's always worked for me. Baking, however, follows a different set of rules, so I had generally avoided it. In my quest to make bread, I stumbled upon a recipe that was simple, required minimal ingredients, and worked for someone like me (meaning, I could use the kneading tool on the stand mixer).
What started as a trial quickly became a popular staple in our cupboard. The bread was so good that it just became part of the routine. Our life is set up so that the majority of our eating is done at home, so I was baking it very regularly.
When Baking Gets Off Track
Over time, because of the frequency of the baking, my approach became casual and rushed. What started as very precise and intentional measurements, slowly became approximate and distracted. Steps were skipped without realizing it and I even found myself mixing ingredients in the wrong order. Some loaves turned out rock-hard, others dense and heavy, some never grew in the first rise. Baking stopped feeling "worth it" because the taste and outcome had changed. Over the holidays, I took a much-needed break.
I had forgotten a key lesson from my youth and what I knew in the beginning of this baking journey: the process matters.
Returning to the Recipe with Intention
Last week, after missing the bread a lot, I decided to approach the recipe like it was my first time baking it: slowly, carefully, and with patience. Every measurement was exact. Every temperature and timing carefully observed. My focus was to add ingredients in the proper order—especially the yeast, which I had not been mixing in correctly.
The result? Warm bread out of the oven, that feeling of excitement and anticipation eating something that tastes great, and was the quality I want for me and my family. Following the recipe precisely didn’t take more time; in fact, it probably saved time by avoiding mistakes and corrections I had been making the last couple of months.
Lessons from Yiayia’s Kitchen
This experience reminded me of the wisdom of my Yiayia Fay, which is captured in the Yiayia’s Kitchen books, specifically "Patience", where Yiayia and Koukla make Avgolemono Soup.
“Patience is an essential ingredient in a recipe. It is also a necessary ingredient in life. When I am patient, I can slow down and focus on what I am doing. Practicing patience can help me avoid mistakes, and I can also learn from the process.”
I needed the reminder from all of those years ago. Baking bread is about more than the finished loaf. It’s a practice in patience, a chance to slow down, and an act of love—for my family and for myself.
The Takeaway: Baking as an Act of Love
As I continue my baking journey this year, I’m focusing on:
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Following each step of the recipe carefully
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Honoring each ingredient and its role
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Baking with intention, care, and love- and enjoying the time for myself
When done thoughtfully, I see how even a simple loaf of bread becomes a meaningful ritual—a reminder that patience and focus are ingredients that enhance everything we do. Patience, focus and love... the ingredient that was always present in Yiayia's Kitchen.
Try This Recipe for Simple Homemade Bread
If you’re ready to bake your own loaf, I recommend trying this recipe. It's great for anyone, and especially good for someone who wants to try bread but feels intimidated by the process (like I was).