The Bread of Life

I'm talking food here. Bread. When I had a family of seven hungry mouths to feed, I baked seven loaves of homemade bread each and every week. I mixed the dough in a big oval dishpan. I kneaded it until I thought my arms would drop off.

Even the aroma of hot apple pie can't compare with the aroma of a loaf of homemade bread coming out of the oven.

Then after cooling it a little bit, the bread is sliced with care. Real genuine butter is slathered thickly on a piece of bread warm enough to melt it somewhat. What could taste better? Those days, we weren't concerned with putting on weight or that enemy called bad cholesterol.

Children these days miss out on so much. Very few kids experience the thrill of tasting warm homemade buttered bread at least once a week. They think pizza is wonderful. But its only because the crust is sometimes made with a thick crust that resembles hot homemade bread!

A few years ago, I bought a bread-making machine. The resulting breads were nothing to brag about and I gave the machine away. So I went back to my old way of baking bread, but I only

made two loaves at a time and I didn't like the results. In order for me to be successful, I guess I have to make seven loaves at a crack. No way.

Today I watched a TV program where a lady used a bread machine to make beautiful bread.

After watching that program, I went on the net and ordered myself another bread -making

machine. I made sure to order from a store that would take it back locally, if I was dissatisfied.

I'll bet I won't be satisfied with it, but the store-bought bread I like best costs $2.68 for a one-

pound loaf. That is too much.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.