I grew up at the elbow of my Italian grandmother working at her breadboard. (I still have her breadboard) She always gave you dough to shape but she never used a recipe just " until it felt right or until it looked right", She baked every week and only rarely bought what she called "toast bread", Then in the 70's I started looking for more recipes and though I had Beard on Bread and others I was more of a Laurel's Kitchen baker. My family loves home made bread and is disappointed when they occasionally have to make due with "air bread" from the grocery store. I have to confess that I do sometimes appreciate the "tools" that make bread making easier. First my Kitchen Aide mixer and then the Zo I bought 25 years ago made it easier to make bread more often. I never bake in it but it makes it so easy to prepare the dough. I keep bags with all the dry ingredients needed for different loaves of bread ready so I just have to add liquids and push the button. I always finish them off and shape them by hand. Though it is easier to get a variety of good tasting whole grain breads in at the store there is nothing like a loaf of bread or pan of rolls fresh from the oven.

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