Going to give it a try…

Last night, Micha prepared my favorite fish (Spanish mackerel) for dinner. Interestingly, she did it in a parchment wrap that ballooned while it was cooking. When I asked her where she learned it, she said “YouTube.” Like I’ve said before, she’s both a scientist and an artist when it comes to cooking, and last night I wasn’t disappointed at all – the fish was absolutely delicious.  Tender, moist, light. Perfectly cooked.

She wants to try it again tonight with salmon. I’m looking forward to it. In any case, I’m eating both good and well.

I’ve also been binge-watching the Great British Baking Show. I’m hooked. For a person who’s been doing quite well on what he’s eating, you would think it a challenge for me to be watching such incredible baking without wanting to stuff my face with sweets, but I’m really just doing quite well enjoying the production on its own. I think the show is quite well edited, but what I really find interesting are the bakers. Over time, you get to know their characters and peculiarities, and they’re all just so interesting.

I haven’t baked in…well, I’ve really never baked anything more than a cake mix or two for the kids’ birthdays. I may have tried bread one or two times, but they’ve been unmemorable.  I’m talking about real bread – not bread-machine bread.

But watching enough of the show, I can’t help but think that maybe I’ve learned something.  No, not enough to do the things they’re doing, but enough to maybe turn out a decent loaf of bread. I remembered getting a recipe for a wheat bread from a friend some years back, so I dug that up and I’m gonna give it a try – just for the fun of it. 

Now, I’ve pretty much given up on breads, pastries, and rice – all the stuff that goes right to the middle. But I figure if I bake my own, that in itself will serve as a control to my consumption. Who wants to do that much work? Other than my mother, who would probably tell me that she baked a dozen loaves a week for 30 years. But c’mon…she was raised on a farm.  I’m sure dozens of loaves were a piece of cake after all that plowing and milking she had to do.

In any case (and despite the weird Korean oven in our apartment), I’m giving it a shot – maybe even tonight – so I’ll let you know how it goes.  In the meantime, I’m gonna stock up on my butter and honey…