How to have a hot girl bread night

Big Night In is a series where Canadian experts and creatives share advice on how to spend a magical night at home. It's the ultimate guide to staying in — whether solo or with friends — featuring thoughtfully curated ideas that are anything but routine.

You've heard of a "hot girl walk," but this is "hot girl bread night." It's a solo evening of bread-making that's suitable for all folks, and just like its trendy counterpart, it's intentional, contemplative and surprisingly mood-boosting. 

Babette Kourelos, an artisan baker and the author of Babette's Bread, understands the allure of using this multi-step process to unwind. After all, "a chance to slow down and reflect is so rare in this fast-paced modern life of ours," she said.

Devoting a night to baking transforms everyday meal prep into an opportunity for introspection; it's not about productivity or hurriedly completing chores on your to-do list. "This evening is reserved for you and bread," said Kourelos. And you have no choice but to take your time and enjoy the process. "Rushing any or all of the steps will only result in poor-quality and rather disappointing bread," she added.

On a practical note, Kourelos suggests beginning your practice by determining how many loaves or buns you actually want, and what shapes and sizes you'd like them to be. She then recommends selecting a recipe for a straight-dough bread because it can be mixed, shaped and baked in just one evening. 

Once you've gathered your equipment and weighed out all the ingredients, it's time to get mixing. Embrace it as a sensory experience, really taking your time to feel the ingredients as they combine to form a dough. "When there are no immediate distractions, chores, emergencies, duties, et cetera, when it is just me and the dough, I become lost in my own thoughts," said Kourelos. 

Then, after kneading the dough for five to 10 minutes, tuck it away in a warm area to rise, set a timer and make the most of your downtime. Kourelos suggests making a little snack plate and settling in somewhere cosy to read your favourite cookbook, bread-baking resource or culinary blog — or just letting your mind wander. Repeat the process as needed and remember: "By giving the dough time and space, you are giving yourself the same gift."

Of course, the rewards don't stop there. Once your loaves or buns have come out of the oven, filling your whole home with an incredible aroma, you can enjoy tucking in to some of your homemade bread. While larger loaves should be left to cool, Kourelos says, rolls can be torn into right away and slathered with butter or dipped in olive oil. 

"Don't be shy [and] grab a second bun before it cools — after all your hard work and time spent baking, you deserve it!"