Need to Knead

Chai tea is quite possibly one of the best things on this planet....

Seriously

I mean think about it. Any kind of tea will either make you feel British OR will put you at ease. Especially chai tea, which is subtle yet packs a punch of serious spices and flavors that entice your taste buds to take that next sip.

Another thing that tops the list of being one of the best things on this planet

KNEADING BREAD DOUGH

When you have had an incredibly stressful day and nothing in the world seems to make sense, you can always retreat back to a simple and tasty cook book, crack it open to one of your favorite recipes, and begin the magic of creation.

Bread is the ultimate trickster. You have to make sure the yeast is active and that all the ingredients are behaving properly and that you add enough flour to make it sticky but not too sticky.

Once you have a lovely blob of baby-bottom soft dough, you are golden. There you get the opportunity to knead it into submission until you have taken all your problems out on the combination of flour, butter, and milk.

Consider it to be a tasty "stress ball".

Once it is all baked and filling the house with its delicious warm scent, it is the silent reassurance that you did something right that day and that all is good in the world.

Settle down on the sofa with Pride & Prejudice, a piece of the freshly baked bread and some chai tea and that will make for a ridiculously satisfying evening.

A recipe that I have tried and strongly recommend:

http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2011/03/cinnamon-sugar-pull-apart-bread/

This woman is a genius. Queen of the kitchen.

In conclusion: have a lovely week, keep your head up high, smile at the little things, laugh out loud, and savor every sip of tea.

Also, be sure and knead the life out of that bread dough. Life will get better.

~Piper