One of Life’s Simple Pleasures

There’s magic in making homemade bread. It’s a ritual that grounds you and guides you through moments of presence, patience, and pleasure. Making bread cannot be hurried; instead, the process intertwines with your day. It requires you to mix, knead, shape, and bake—each phase interspersed with spans of time reserved simply for waiting.

In these pauses, there’s just life … perhaps you tend to the tasks of home, or rest with a cup of tea. And then, your kitchen fills with the delicious, comforting aroma of homemade bread. Finally, you cut into a fresh loaf, melt butter onto a thick slice, and take that first heavenly bite. The magic is complete.

Set aside a day to immerse yourself in the simple pleasures of making homemade bread. The recipes that follow walk you through the process of making an oil-kissed, rosemary-dusted focaccia; a soft and sweet, artfully braided Challah; and griddled English muffins, filled with the requisite nooks and crannies. Enjoy!