Introduction

In the olden days, if you didn’t know how to make bread, you went hungry — it was an essential element of life. Although progress has advanced technologies in many wonderful ways, it has all but eliminated the need for many of the ancient household arts, including scratch baking. Skills that were once passed on through generations must now be self-taught. But no cooking discipline has suffered quite like baking. The air of precision and aura of chemistry surrounding it has scared away even the most able professional chefs.

But there is a secret about baking: It’s not that precise, and it’s not that hard. In fact, it is no harder than making a sandwich, as long as you understand the process. But it is the process that scares people away. But, as you are about to discover, the sacred knowledge is not complicated. In fact, bread-making techniques, so long shrouded in mystery and complexity, are actually super-easy. After reading this cookbook, you should feel empowered to get back into your kitchen, break out the measuring cups, and create something delicious.

Here, we’ve assembled fifty of the best bread recipes you could possibly make. Each one is different, but they are also the same. It is the similarities that bring appreciation. As soon as you identify the common threads of each recipe, it is only a matter of time before your own ideas start springing forth.

So if you’re a lover of good food, and you enjoy cooking, you’re in the right place. These bread recipes are as inspiring as they are delicious. Enjoy!