My Miracle Needed a Miracle!

Since leaving my job, I am finding that there are so many things I never knew I loved to do.  Cooking happens to be one of them.  I have been wanting to try my hand at baking bread, but I have been so intimidated by the thought.  One day at the store I got really brave- I looked that package of yeast in the eye, grabbed it by the seal, and tossed it in the buggy.  Okay, so it wasn't really that dramatic, but I did get brave enough to at least purchase it.  I came home, put it on the counter, and left it there.  Each time I passed it, I tried to turn my head and pretend it wasn't there.  It just wouldn't go away!

One day through the purchase of a dress, I met a new friend, Jane.  She shared a blog with me that is written by her friend Gina.  I love her blog, www.homejoys.blogspot.com .  There is a wealth of information there including a whole section on bread baking.  After reading through her blog for a couple of days, I got brave enough to try her suggested recipe for first time bread bakers.  It was a pizza dough.  It was so easy and fun!  The kids even enjoyed helping.  They can't wait to help again this week!  Well, I decided since that was a success, I should try Gina's next recipe, Miracle Bread.   This is what happened.

I prepared the yeast and mixed all my ingredients just right.  It was so quick and easy.  I don't have a dough hook for my mixer yet, so I had to mix everything by hand.  It wasn't bad, but I probably could have mixed it a little more.

I formed my ball, sort of- it didn't look as nice as Gina's.  Then I placed it in a greased bowl and turned it over so both sides would be coated.  So fun!

I love this part!  It amazes me!  I let the dough rise for about 30 minutes.  I still can't believe I'm making bread!

Then I oiled my counter, cut the dough in half, and rolled out half the dough just like the directions said.

I rolled the dough up like a jelly roll, brushed it with an egg wash, sprinkled it with sesame seeds and repeated the steps with the other half of the dough except

I decided to do a regular loaf.  Then I put them into the preheated oven. 

What?  You didn't catch it either?  Look carefully.  No!  Not the poor shaping!

I was supposed to let the loaves rise again for an hour after I shaped them, then do the scoring, washing, and spinkling!  Silly me!  I was just too excited!  Well, this is what came out of the oven.

At this point, I did not realize there was a problem.   I was so pleased and impressed that I actually did it!  When my husband came in and saw the loaves, he couldn't wait for supper to finish.  He tore the end off the french style loaf while I was busy at the stove.  He loved it, and couldn't stop talking about it!  When I finally finished what I was doing and could turn around, it only took one look at and touch of the bread inside to realize something wasn't right.  My heart sank.  My bread was beautiful on the outside, but it was very wrong on the inside.  Bill didn't see anything wrong with the bread, but I knew it shouldn't feel so dense and damp.  I don't know if that is the proper way to describe it.  It was done, but the texture was just wrong. My Miracle Bread needed a miracle to make it right.  I was in a hurry to jump in the shower while my beans finished cooking and the cabbage finished roasting, so I didn't have a lot of time to dwell on the disappointment.  Afer returning from the shower, and snapping a few quick shots of the flower beds, I quickly glanced at the recipe and realized the error of my ways.  I vowed to try again.

Moral of the story:  What looks beautiful on the outside isn't always beautiful on the inside.  May God's love, through his son, Jesus, make you beautiful inside and out!  It's a miracle he is waiting and willing to give if we just ask.