Gloomy Alaska Days

The weather has been cold and drizzly here the last couple of days. So what do you do on a cold, nasty day when you don't want to go outside? I was bored so I went to the store and bought what I needed to hang up some stuff at the house. Found some neat little kitchen doo dads that will be handy to have. That put me in the mood to do something in the kitchen. So when I got back home I went to work. I thought to myself that the smell of baked goods would be perfect for a rainy day. Nothing picks up my spirits like the smell of stuff baking in the oven.

I gathered all the necessary ingredients and went to work. Throwing everything together, flour, water, butter, milk.............. everything necessary to make my loaf of raisin bread. I punched and kneaded .............. well, to be honest, I used a bread machine. But it was hard work measuring and pouring the ingredients into the pan. That and pushing all the necessary buttons to make my loaf come out the color I had envisioned in my head. And the waiting! The machine would run a little then stop and let the loaf perk up with the yeast working then run a little some more. That went on for what seemed forever. All the time, I had to listen intently for the little beep letting me know that it was time to add the raisins. That was torture. Then the baking begins. The smells start filling every corner of the house. The aroma's teasing your senses, your mouth waters but all you can do is look in the little window watching the bread get bigger and start to brown. Finally the final ding! You swing open the door and admire your creation. Oh, what a beautiful brown crust, the aroma of cinnamon and raisins filling your nose. Oh no, the instructions say to wait 15 to 20 minutes to slice into the bread. Now what? More torture. You get the butter all ready, your favorite bread knife at the ready. Counting down the minutes until finally you attack the bread, like a samari warrior slicing away. You make the first slice cutting off the heal. We'll save that piece for later. Toast it in the toaster.......yummm. The next slice is about as thick as two regular pieces of bread. Then you slather it with butter. You know your putting too much on... all that chloresteral but what the heck. That first bite...... mmmm butter dripping down your chin..... orgasmic! Then I have to try some toasted. In the toaster the next slice goes! After pigging out on half a loaf of bread I think I'm going to take a nap and let things digest.

Such is a rainy day in Alaska!