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How to bake love: A photo essay

Perhaps more than anything, LIFE magazine and National Geographic influenced my love for photography. Even before I could read the captions, I found the stand-alone images mesmerizing. The black-and-white photographs, whether published by themselves or in a series to illustrate an article, were story photos that taught me volumes about powerful compositions.

This series of four simple images was taken while my brother Henry made bread during a rare gathering of us siblings. His stage: The granite topped “island” in my sister’s kitchen.

You gotta feel it

“Making French bread is not about the ingredients,” he said. “That’s just flour, salt, water and yeast. It’s the feel of the dough.”

I got it.

Years ago, I worked on a research ship which employed a baker, Ralph Naughton, as part of the galley crew. “How do you know how much flour to knead into the dough?” I asked during a midnight to 4 AM shift.

Ralph a quiet man who lost an eye during a bar fight somewhere in Alaska, reached over to the giant bowl sitting in a warm spot near the galley oven and pinched a little dough between his thumb and forefinger. Then he reached up with his other hand and grabbed his ear lobe and gave it a squeeze.

“That’s how you know,” he said, smiling with his eyes.

Henry spun the ball of dough and pulled it over on itself as if performing a dough-ball. I could almost hear the melody. “Many recipes say to add flour until the dough can’t take any more,” he said. “But that makes for a dry, stiff bread.”

Lifting the ball of dough in his hand, he shared a tip I’d never come across. “The dough should sag a little between your fingers.”
Bread, French, how to make bread, knead, kneading, baking, flour, homemade, baguette

The proof is in the proofing

After proofing the dough and punching it down (no magic amount of time here; we simply went for a walk), he pinched–not cut–the dough into four blobs.
Bread, French, how to make bread, knead, kneading, baking, flour, homemade, baguette

Blobs are beautiful

Then he took each blob and shaped it into a lumpy, artsy loaf, rolled it in cornmeal and gently settled it into baguette pans, like a mother would lay a baby into its blanket-lined crib.

“Let it rise a bit, then bake it in a 400 or 450-degree oven for 30 or 40 minutes, depending on the size of the loaf, humidity, or crunch factor you’re looking for.”

Me, I’m looking for a platform for butter!
Bread, French, how to make bread, knead, kneading, baking, flour, homemade, baguette
My brother Henry is a civil engineer; not a professional baker. He lives in Spokane, Washington. I live in Kodiak, Alaska. We see each other oh, once or twice a year. He makes bread as a hobby and a gift. It’s a way of saying, “I love you. It’s good to see you.”

Thank you for stopping by. That’s a gift, too.

3 Comments

  • goochgusher
    August 30, 2023 at 7:59 AM

    hey

    Reply
  • [email protected]
    October 7, 2015 at 12:29 PM

    Hooray for a photo visit with Henry (Hank as I remember him years ago!).   What lovely photos Marion!!! and for me a chance to see how Henry has flourished (the word flour is in flourished!) with time.  I loved his gentleness and presence when he was younger and see it has remained.   hugs to you and Marty as you continue your wanderings.   Diana   

    Reply
    • marionowen
      October 8, 2015 at 7:04 AM

      Ah, Diana. Yes, Henry (aka Hank) remains a sweet, gentle person. I think he and his wife Ruth plan to visit us this summer. Joy! We are in North Saanich right now; a little north of Victoria, BC. We fly to Italy next week. Yes we are wandering; no hardcore agendas. Relaxing. Lots of love to you and Bob.

      Reply

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