Today, I made bread. Nothing fancy, just whole wheat. It's Friday, my lazy day. I spent the morning in bed with the kids rolling around and jumping and whining that I wouldn't let Madeline watch TV. I wanted to walk over to the grocery store, but was too lazy, so I decided to make bread. We put the baby down for a nap and Madeline and I got to work in the kitchen. Me with my bread, and she with her playdoh. We measured the ingredients together and mixed. Then we kneaded it, for a long time, a very long time. And I got lost in a trance, because it was such a long time kneading the bread. I love kneading bread. Making bread is one thing that binds women together between all centuries of time. How far back do you think women have kneaded bread? Back in the Bible times? Back in ancient Greece? sure they did.
My kitchen was totally silent, as we kneaded and thought about ancient women kneading their bread, and wondering what they were thinking about. What do you think they thought about? Do you think they had to pick red pieces of playdoh out of their bread with every quarter-turn? Do you think they had the same thoughts as we do? I'm sure... people are people.
It's also wonderfully therapeutic to make bread. To make the same recipe over and over...there's something comforting about it. There is calmness in the repetition. I haven't made bread since I conceived Joseph, and I hadn't realized how much I have missed it! It clears your head and makes you feel like a woman. I'm not talking about the sexed-out type of Lady GaGa woman, I'm talking about a real woman, who nurtures her family. While I was in my trance, I couldn't help but be so grateful for my womanhood! I am so glad I get to be home and doing the things I want to do instead of being stuck in my husband's grey office doing things I don't want to do! (No offense hon- I'm sure your office is great! ) Of course, there are days when it is hard, but today is not one of those days, and boy am I grateful! And we will have fresh bread to eat!
4 comments:
That's funny! I was just surfing the web looking for a recipe for black bread 5 minutes ago. I'm going to try it tomorrow, so I'll pay extra special attention to how womanly I feel as I make it! :) Really, I know what you mean. I love to have bread baking in the oven and a nice tablecloth on my table. Those things make me feel like a good wife and mother. I think I'll wear my pearls tomorrow while I'm making my bread to complete the Donna Reed image!
I made bread on Wednesday. I too love the way I feel when I bake bread. and eat it. yum. :)
I'm not sure how I'd feel if I were to make bread the old fashion way, but I love your deep thoughts. The only bread I've done is with one of those fancy bread makers- no kneading, but then I'm not identifying with ages past. I suspect though that throughout the history of the world, men have made more bread than women.
So true! And now that I CAN make edible bread, I try to make it every week. And what's even better than that, I have a super cute apron to wear while baking :)
There is something so comforting but yet very basic about having home aid bread. And it's so absolutely delicious!
Post a Comment