So, for one reason or another, I haven't done any baking since we got back from the Outer Banks. Not that I'm much of a baker, to begin with. Bread is mostly what I do.

So yesterday I gave in to the whim. You have to watch out for those things, whims. They're likely to take over, and rule your life. Or at least your weekend.

Yesterday I baked. I made a large oatmeal loaf, a pair of Engish Muffin breads, and a batch of biscotti. True, biscotti isn't bread. But it's the next best thing to it. These were cranberry/pistachio filled, and are pretty good if I say so myself.

As if that wasn't enough, I prepared a brioche dough, to make mini-buns. They've been rising the past couple of hours, and are about ready to go into the oven. But I also prepped the pre-ferments, yesterday, for a transitional wheat bread. They've been sitting to take the chill off, and I'll start making the final dough soon as the brioche goes in.

Whims! Scary sort of things.

Anybody else had their life taken over by one?

Wow, KYH... why so much energy? Actually, I don't critisize your energy- I only allow it to shadow over mine. I made shortbread squares, a simple to-be-grilled chciken entree and a tortellini salad for the 4th, and other than that I really haven't done much cooking all week, to be honest. You did more yesterday than I've done so far this month! And it all sounds yummy- I can just imagine the heavely aroma of your home! The biscotti soud particlularly good to me just now. I make a dried blueberry/almond biscotti that is popular- maybe I'll pick up the stuff to whip some of those out to take to work for tomorrow for the department. But for now I have only one question for you: with all this fresh bread floating around your kitchen- did you buy enuf butter?

Gee in my house it's not a whim - it's very common to spend a day or several days baking and cooking non-stop for whatever reasons.

When you have to feed a family - that's what you do.

It's more uncommon in my house to experience a quiet kitchen with no activity.

I'm used to seeing the variety of different bowls lined up with various doughs rising, etc. and just waiting for the "next step" while the stove top is loaded with pots and pans cooking up all sorts of good things and both ovens going for 18 - 20 hours straight.

But then again - that's my family and that's the way we live.

What mama describes sounds wonderfully like my former work kitchens- but not so in my home. I live alone in a 2 bedroom condo and 'though it's spacious for one guy, I purposefully chose it for it's compact kitchen. No huge feeds going on at my place- but for the time being- that's how I like it. Having just left the commercial kitchen recently and "retiring" into a kinder/gentler second career, I'm still basking in the joy of not cooking so much. While I expect that to change with time, for now it's a wonderful luxury not to cook all day long, everyday, anymore. (Of course that doesn't mean I don't want to EAT all day long! Ha!)

CAG -

I'm no longer in the restaurant business but I still cater and I still do cooking for a crowd. And I miss it - the hard work - the people - the menu planning, etc. As the years pass - there are fewer to cook for - and then all of a sudden more are present. (When it gets too quiet for me, God sends more!)

Sure I'm retired - and I dang well deserve it - but I have a few things up my sleeve yet. Cripe - I'm not dead yet! And I still have so much more to share.

So I guess when "my time comes" I hope the pot of sauce is done and the loaves of bread are out of the oven so that someone can enjoy them as they take the body out.

Until then - I plan I getting back into doing even more cooking and baking - and enjoying it immensely!