About a week ago, on one of my favorite food blogs, I came across a culinary challenge I couldn’t resist: a French bread recipe from Julia Child. I’m not sure why I thought this was a good idea, but once the idea was in my head, I couldn’t shake it. So with an overly optimistic heart and my beloved Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer (I nicknamed her Big Red…yes, I’ve named my stand mixer), I pulled out the recipe and put on my apron.
It started out easy enough, especially since I gathered all of my ingredients together before tackling the instructions (this culinary practice is called mise en place). 
It also helped to have a stand mixer with 525 watts of power (now you see why I named her Big Red). I made it through to the first rise without any real issues and I was quite pleased with myself. The dough was fantastic looking and I had really taken my time to follow the instructions precisely. It was almost therapeutic. I even made it through the second rise without any big hiccups…but by this time, I had been working on the bread for almost 7 hours!
Now I am not the most patient of people, nor am I one to stand still for very long, so 7 hours is a HUGE commitment. This wasn’t a recipe, this was a relationship…and a needy one at that! But I was bound and determined to finish the recipe, especially since my dough still looked so very wonderful. I had actually developed a crush on it, so I wasn’t going to let it down! By the time I got to the forming of the dough, I chose to do two nice sized baguettes, but opted to skip the instructions to create a home bread oven. 
I happened to have a French bread pan, so I carefully placed my loaves into the pan and placed them in the oven. When the smell of fresh bread filled my small basement apartment, I realized all the work was worth it. The recipe explicitly says not to tear into the warm bread right out of the oven, but I couldn’t resist! Since I had two loaves, I figured I would be naughty with one of them and tear into it. As soon as I popped a piece into my mouth, I knew all the hours I placed into this bread were well spent. It was hands down one of the best loaves of bread I have ever tasted. Slathered with some wonderful, homemade butter from my CSA, I sat there in my kitchen savoring every little bit of this needy, needy little loaf.
Stumble It!
Adventures in Shaw 
Congratulations! I’ve had mixed results with my attempts to bake baguettes at home . . . so I know what a challenge it can be . . . but I know the ecstasy you tasted at the end of the long road.
I expect to try some of this fabulous French bread the next time I’m out to visit you.
Bravo! I know what a commitment this bread is to make! You’ve done lovely work. I’m so glad you were brave enough to try it! I feel like a proud mama… which is totally weird, but true.
Ahhh, Daphne, you know I feed you good when you come to visit me!
Joy – you should feel like a proud mama! When I grow up, I want to be just like you!
FRM – Ecstasy is the taste of fresh, warm baked bread!