T Stands for Bread

Last year, I had promised my friend, Teague, I would have her over and teach her how to bake bread. After a year of dealing with snow, illnesses, heat, work, and other things that prevent people from scheduling an activity,we finally got together last week to bake bread.

I thought it would be the perfect post to use for T Stands for. So, while I was waiting for Teague to arrive, I took pictures of the mise en place for the bread. I even got a shot of my trusty tea cup with cold tea dregs.

Baking bread isn't difficult, but it does take a good 2 1/2 to 3 hours to complete. Most of it is waiting for dough to rise, but there's not enough time to do much of anything except sit around and wait. You really couldn't go for a walk or run an errand. The plan for the day was to visit a bit as we hadn't seen each other since October. Then we'd go for an early lunch and then back to the house to bake bread.

I planned to tell Teague all about the T Stands For and take pictures of our lunch, baking, and having a good time. Except, I was so excited to see Teague and spend time with her, and to show her how to bake bread, which I love to do, I forgot to take pictures along the way.

Teague kindly took pictures when she got home and has allowed me to share them with you. I gave her the recipe for a very basic loaf of white bread. Look at that beautiful loaf. Didn't she do a great job?

Teague's beverage of choice is the soft drink, Moxie. According to Wikipedia, Moxie was invented in the late 1870s right here in Massachusetts. It contained gentian root which supposedly had medicinal properties and the beverage was marketed as a nerve food. The drink isn't sweet. To be honest, I find it gawdawful bitter. It's an aquired taste to be sure.

Because it was kind of an energy drink, the word moxie entered the English language meaning energy and pep. It also means courage and fortitude. (Probably because it takes both to drink the elixer down
d-; ) To say someone has moxie meant they had spirit and spunk.

Teague is also related to the Moxie Boy, John Chamberlin, who was the model for the logo. The Moxie Boy is her first cousin twice removed. He was her grandmother's cousin.

But back to bread. This bread has a really nice crumb and texture. Delicious on its own. Makes great toast, French toast, or slathered with peanut butter.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang are up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.