The guys are installing the fans in the greenhouse this week. Working all day in a greenhouse sounds heavenly, but if it is an unfinished house in the middle of winter, things can be uncomfortable.

By mid-morning it is stuffy and moist without the fans. The constant going in and out to the cold air, makes them damp and chilled by the end of the day.

Longest Days Of Winter

These are the longest days of winter: They are anxious to get the winter chore list finished and I am anxious to get them out of the greenhouse, so I can start seeding the trays.

When they come home for lunch, the smell of fresh bread will welcome them. While they are working in the greenhouse, I am in the kitchen making bread.

I realize that bread is known as the Staff of Life, but for our family it is the food of love. I make 6 loaves at once, while the family comes into the kitchen and checks on my progress the whole time.

Bread, Butter And Jam

A slice of homemade bread with butter and rhubarb jam, is a bracing early breakfast snack before going out to do chores in the freezing cold.

Forget squishy, industrial loaves, margarine and sugar free jam. In our house, it is the real deal with sugar and fat. Trust me, you will work it off in the hour and a half you will be hauling water to the barns.

My bread also makes great hot pockets and buns, pizza dough and breadsticks. Use the older bread to make croûtons or stuffing. Bread really is one of the most important foods to make from your pantry.

Try this recipe for handmade bread. No bread machine needed.

Recipe: Real Bread

Ingredients:

• 5 cups warm water
• 7 teaspoons yeast
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 cup lard
• 4 cups flour (if making whole wheat, use this now)
• 10 cups flour

Directions:

2. Dissolve yeast in water-proof for 5 minutes
4. Add remaining water, sugar, salt and lard
6. Add 4 cups flour, stir and stand for 45 minutes
8. Add rest of flour by hand, kneading until it feels moist but not sticky to the touch. Grease large(very large) bowl, add dough and cover
10. Let rise for 1 hour
12. Punch down
14. Let rise for 1 more hour
16. Punch down, divide into 6 loaves and let rise until double. Proceed with your desired recipe(either freeze individual loaves or make pocket sandwiches!)

This makes 6 loaves of excellent bread. If you don't need all 6 right away, simply freeze the extra dough before baking. Form each loaf and freeze separately so they do not stick. Then thaw a loaf of formed bread, right in the pan, until it rises as usual and then bake.

More Bread Recipes

• Chef Orr's Grandma's Buttermilk Biscuits
• Homemade Persimmon Bread Pudding
• Basic Focaccia Bread (from My Halal Kitchen over at Muslim Voices)