There’s something incredibly satisfying about baking bread – the relaxing kneading process, the beautiful shape of risen dough, the warmth of your oven filling the kitchen, and the lovely smell that lingers for hours in your home. This past Sunday, I had a chance to make one of my favorite bread recipes: pretzel parker house rolls.

Making homemade bread is no sprint; it takes time and patience, and is truly one of those things that is “homemade with love.” I’m reminded every time I make bread that it’s a process you can’t rush, and shouldn’t rush. But the end product is rewarding, not only from the satisfaction it brings, but also because you end up with a loaf (or rolls) that you can enjoy throughout the week. Fresh bread on its own is perfect (my favorite: with some salted butter and jam), but you can also use fresh bread to upgrade your sandwiches (cheddar grilled cheese, mmm), soup dippers, or meal sides.

I wrote my ode to bread a year ago (check it out for some of my favorite bread recipes), and the feeling still remains true. Now that we’re in the thick of cold winter weekends, bread making is the perfect activity when all you want to do is stay put in the comfort of your cozy home – get a fresh cup of coffee, put on some relaxing tunes, and bake away!