Hand crafted Rustic Beer Bread for Mothers Day

Merriam Webster on-line describes CRAFT (noun) as an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands and a job or activity that requires special skill; skill in planning, making, or executing; an occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill such as pottery, carpentry, or sewing.  CRAFTS are objects made by skillful use of the hands.  With this in mind, I feel compelled to honor all mothers for the skillful use of their hands on this Mothers Day.

Many mothers make something out of nothing each and every day when preparing meals with few ingredients.  They instinctively create homes that are comfortable and safe whether using simple natural components or the most luxurious and lavish furnishings.  Now, as a fiercely progressive woman I realize fathers do these same things, but I'll save that for a future day.

So much today is mass produced.  But even in that case, someone had to initially think about what was needed, how it looked, and how to make it.  This is the conceptual or design process.  If I could have one wish today it would be for each of us to look around your home and find something that was crafted.  It shouldn't take long, even a manufactured item.  There was an initial concept sketched on piece of paper.  The concept was then honed to be more refined and produce able.  So even though it was "produced" rather than individually hand crafted, it's foundation was artistically formed.

In a perfect world, the things we use in our daily life would be individually made by skillful hands.  That said, with the world population as it is that would not be practical or affordable.  Dare to dream. But many things can be, and give great satisfaction in what results.  Take a loaf of bread, one of the most basic things in our daily lives.  The vast majority of Americans grab plastic wrapped loaves off store shelves, with little regard to ingredients or nutritional value, or smart marketing used to entice us.  If we did, most of us would stop dead in our tracks.  If I can't pronounce the ingredients, I probably shouldn't be ingesting them.

I've become much more careful about labels and ingredients, striving to simplify and improve our nutrient intake. Of course I want it to look and taste great, which leads me to my rustic beer bread recipe..almost foolproof, with few tools and virtually no kneading.  All you need is flour, salt, yeast, water, vinegar and beer, plus a large bowl to let it activate for 12 hours/overnight, some parchment paper, a large enameled cast iron pan and oven to bake in.  And here's what it looks like when you're finished:

It's lovely, no?  And it smells INCREDIBLE. The hardest part is waiting overnight for the dough to "activate" then waiting for the rise, then to bake, and worst of all......the two hours to cool

completely before cutting into the rich golden crisp exterior unveiling the soft and aromatic interior.  OMG! It's wonderful and fulfilling (and filling), with or without real butter.  And best of all....HAND CRAFTED with simple whole ingredients!!!