A glistening summer loaf

Okay, you got me. My original mission in starting this blog with Lydia was to discuss my experience at a mile high in a 6x5 kitchen. You and I both know, this hasn't really been happening. Lately, I've pretty much been baking/cooking whatever tickles my fancy and posting it on here for all of you to enjoy. But no more! I will now go back to my original mission: my life (both baking and personal) at 5,389 feet.

Colin and I got our first taste of this different life when we went to the pool the other day. For some reason, neither of us did the math that being higher up in the air means less atmosphere between your pasty white, winter skin and the blazing surface of the sun. Needless to say, I couldn't sleep for four days and my poor husband has been walking around without a shirt on groaning because his stomach is the shade of a late summer cherry. Poor kid. Did I mention this was the second time we were blazed out in the sun? Yeah, the Joneses don't learn very quickly, I suppose.

A French loaf fit for a king

Ok, so I love to make bread. I ADORE my bread maker, but this time I decided to make a french loaf by hand. Not only have I never made this type of bread before, I haven't made anything that has to "rise" up here yet. This recipe could not have turned out more perfectly. This bread was like a gift from God. Ask my husband. It was wonderful and it only took like 25 minutes of prep time.

Here's the most amazing recipe on the planet:
(I adapted it from a Spark's recipe for whole wheat french bread, but this time I wanted nothing but white, fattening flour.)