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"Bread Baking Poem"
From a Very Old Cookbook



First mix a lukewarm quart my daughter,
one half scalded milk, one half water.
To this add two cakes of yeast.
Or the liquid kind if preferred in the least.

Next stir in a teaspoonful of nice clear salt.
If this bread isn't good it won't be our fault.
Now add the sugar, teaspoons three;
Mix well together for dissolved they must be.

Pour the whole mixture into an earthen bowl.
A pans just as good if it hasn't a hole.
It's the cook and the flour, not the bowl or the pan,
that "makes the bread that makes the man".

Now let the mixture stand a minute or two,
You've other things of great importance to do.
First sift the flour, use the finest in the land.
Three quarts the measure, "Gold Medal" is the brand.

Some people like a little shortening powder,
If this is your choice, just add to the flour.
Two tablespoons lard, and jumble it about,
till the flour and lard are mixed without a doubt.

Next stir the flour into the mixture that's stood,
waiting to play its part to make the bread good.
Mix it up thoroughly, but not too thick,
some flours make bread that's more like a brick.

Now grease well a bowl and put the dough in,
don't fill the bowl full, that would be a sin;
For the dough is all right and it's going to rise
till you declare it's twice the old size.

Brush the dough with melted butter as the recipe say;
cover with a bread towel ,set in a warm place to stay.
Two hours or more to rise light,
when you see it grow you know it's all right.

As soon as it's light, place again on the board;
Knead it well this time, here is knowledge to hoard.
Now back in the bowl it must go,
and set again to rise an hour or so.

Form the dough gently into loaves when light,
and place it in bread pans greased just right.
Shape each loaf you make to half fill the pan,
this bread will be good enough for any young man.

Next let it rise to the level of the pans- no more.
Have the temperature just right - don't set near a door.
Be very careful about draughts - it isn't made to freeze.
Keep the room warm - say seventy two degrees.

Now put it in the oven, its ready to bake.
Keep uniform fire, results are at stake.
One hour more of waiting and you'll be repaid,
By bread that is worthy of "A Well Bred Maid".



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