There are few pleasures in life, that are more wonderful than the fragrance of freshly baked bread. The scent spreads and comforts the soul. Greeting and hugging all who venture through the kitchen door. It’s no wonder that supermarkets pipe the scent into their entrance lobbies.
When I made this loaf, no-one was home. I ended up sending a photo to my husband, who thought, at first, it was a stock photo. I’m taking that as a complement, but my point is that no-one was home to appreciate the aroma.
This is my first (successful) attempt at sourdough. I’m pretty pleased with it. Bit salty, so I’ll cut that ingredient back next time. My starter, Mildred, is bubbling nicely which bodes well for some more baking today.
It’s been a week of baking. Middle teen turned 15 this week. She’s taller than me now, but only just. Anyway, a birthday is always an excuse for a special cake. Red velvet is her favourite.
I made her a patchwork quilt and we ate out at TGI Friday as a treat, that evening. Although we were all solemnly sworn not to divulge that it was her birthday, while we were there. She wanted to escape the restaurant staff singing their version of Happy Birthday to her. There was a moment, when she saw the staff gathering near us, that she might have thought I’d gone back on my word. It turned out that there was another birthday at the next table to us.
The rest of the week has been about settling back into school after the half term break. They’ve had a four day week, which has felt no different from a five day one. We had a parents evening. Middle Teen again. It was obviously her week.
The teachers all had lovely things to say about her. When pushed, they told her what she needed to do to move up a grade. She is doing well, but I can see that she is beginning to believe she has a limit, as outlined by school. She doesn’t. She’s in top sets for most classes, for crying out loud.
The school’s grading system annoys the hell out of me, as I feel it demotivates too often and adds a perceived, fake ceiling. It uses benchmarks that are rubbish, for want of a better word. Garbage in, garbage out. As someone who eats statistics for breakfast, I’ve gone through it. I have attended the school’s “consultation” meetings, to no avail. Grr!
Anyway, still channelling my inner tiger mum, I have a plan to encourage my girl and show her that there are no limits. Only she can decide what her best is going to be.
And breathe.
(jumps off soap box and kicks it to the side)
Right, I’m off to bake some more sourdough. That is the great thing about baking. It rewards the senses and provides time out.
Joining in with Anne’s word of the week linky. A lovely bunch of friendly bloggers. If you are a blogger and fancy joining in, I can definitely recommend the link up.
I’m all ears. What have you been up to this week?
Belated happy birthday to middle teen. I remember when we went out for my eldest daughter’s birthday and the staff had to dim the light and take a little sparkler cake singing Stevie Wonder’s version of Happy Birthday. It was cringy, but it struck up a discussion on our table and apparently I’m the only one who wouldn’t mind it happening. Even the littler ones were adamant they’d hate it.
I love the quilt, it’s so pretty.
The school system drives me nuts sometimes. My Little Man has just been moved down in his reading group, because they’ve changed it around. Yet he can read as well as me, he rarely stumbles on a word and adds beautiful accentuations when needed. I did complain, but they said he’s not really been moved down, it’s just a new system. The Little Man doesn’t understand though and has started reading books like a demon because he’s fallen behind. (I’m not complaining about this though!)
I think schools somehow don’t take into account how the child feels about the systems that school implements. It can make them feel like they are failing, when before the child believed they were thriving and growing. Drives me nutty. I know they have so many children to manage, with different levels of achievement, but I really don’t think they look at each scenario and consider the child’s well being. I really hope Little Man sees some positive acknowledgement for all the extra reading he is putting in. Good for you for challenging it too.
Your sourdough boule looks wonderful. No wonder your hubby thought it was a stock photo. It could be published in a cookbook. I keep sourdough starter too (but I never thought of naming mine) and just baked a loaf yesterday. I was fooling around with a no-knead version, which I liked a lot. I like
the unevenness that comes from not kneading – some big bubbles and some small ones. I love the smell of baking bread!
She came with the name Mildred. So far I’ve not felt the urge to rename. I’m very much on the learning curve with this one. The method I’m using is no-knead. Interesting that you say the bubbles will vary. I’m loving this learning journey.
Ooh that bread looks amazing – I feel hungry just looking at your photo! Love the quilt you made for your Middle Teen and glad she had a nice birthday. It must be very frustrating feeling like the school are putting a fake ceiling on what she can achieve. Glad you are showing her that this is not the case. #WotW
Bread and quilts have both made me happy this week. Feels like I’m undoing damage where the school is concerned, which is never a happy situation. At least I can see it and turn it around.
I keep meaning to bake my own bread but I never get around to it. I really must! Your loaf looks so good!
Happy birthday to your teen! hahaha! I hate eating out at places like TGI’s when it’s my birthday in case anything like that happens. Well done to her with parents evening. It sounds like she is doing so well. Keep pushing her though. xx
I will. 😀
The bread looks delicious! and I would imagine making it is a good outlet for your annoyance with the school – rightly so I might add. Whatever happened to encouraging kids? Happy Birthday to your Middle Teen 🙂
Thank you Karen. 😀
It really is the best smell isn’t it? My go to is a banana bread, normally when the fruit bowl has been abandoned that week. I made one last week and it was a complete flop, so I’ll just have to make another one this week. Oh noooooo! I’m so with your middle teen on the birthday front, I cannot stand people singing happy birthday to me in public! #wotw
The bread is making me hungry just looking at it – love sourdough! #MMBC