Braided Bread

I decided to try a new recipe last Thursday. I happened upon this tutorial for Braided Bread, and I decided it was the perfect project for the girls and me to try. I had plenty of helping hands. Phaedra loved patting and tapping the Kitchen Aid while it stirred the dough. Whenever I stopped it, she was reaching those little fingers up to the paddle saying, “Taste. Taste,” even when there was nothing but flour. Silly girl. I couldn’t get her to stop.

Once I got out the towel to go on top of the dough for it to rise, the girls both wanted ice. We use those same bread towels for ice when the girls get hurt or when they just want to munch on ice, which are one in the same. When the girls get hurt, the ice doesn’t spend much time on the injury before being eaten. Lately, I just put ice in the towel and smash it so I can put it in a cup. Otherwise, Phaedra gets frustrated with how big and cold it is and ends up crying. 

 

  

 

Here’s the result of our work. We made the cinnamon kind because I wanted a treat. The girls also helped while I was shaping the bread and putting in the cinnamon filling. They were so involved and eager to munch any bit of cinnamon filling that fell by the wayside that I didn’t dare leave them unattended long enough to grab my camera to document that part of the process. It was really yummy bread and easier than I thought it would be (and so pretty). We all liked it except Eleanor, who was leery about trying it once it was cooked. She eventually asked for bites that didn’t have the filling. She told me she liked the filling when it was out of the bread but not in it. Weirdo!