The last Happy Monk bake day, September 20, was two days after the Harvest Moon, the last full moon before the Autumn equinox. I missed it! I was oblivious! Instead, shaping loaves, mixing the next day’s sourdough, cleaning out the dough bins.
But when I looked up at the moon at 4 a.m. that morning, it sure looked like something special.… Continue reading
I recently tried my hand at OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence that has taken the world by storm.
The irony was rich: I still make bread in a wood-fired oven. I guess I’m a holdout for the old ways.… Continue reading
Happy Spring!
After a long, wet winter, spring’s light and warmth are a welcome relief. But, for me, it’s also a mixed blessing. A stirring time of year when the earth’s renewal is no longer a mere promise but something tangible.
There’s a different cast of light now. That patina of green you see around the trees and brush is a sign that the sap is stirring, that the weather is warming.… Continue reading
One more bake, and we’ll close the books on Happy Monk 2022. The baker’s peel will be relegated to the corner, the proofing baskets cleaned, the baking room will be tidied and organized, and sense will be restored from the chaos in my “bread room.”
It’s winter. Time for long nights of sleep, slow-moving days by the fire, blankets and good books.… Continue reading
It’s apple season on the Island of Apples. Branches are bending with the weight of the glorious fruit, the air of the orchards sweetened with apple scent. Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, and all that. We are deep into autumn now.
Our lone apple tree produced no fruit this year. No tubs are waiting to be filled, and I’m on the hunt for apples to knead into my bread dough.… Continue reading