I totally agree, Gonzo. There are many questions asked and answered
in this wonderful forum provided to us without charge by Reggie and
Jeff. We do indeed owe them and the question-answerers a very large
debt of gratitude.
I've corresponded with many of the people on this list and, as a
result, have not only made many good friends but have started my own
little internet cooking group called "Cooks Reward" made up of
several people from this terrific list. The joys of baking and
cooking have welded us into a remarkable circle of friends.
An aside to Diane, the "bread gallivanter": I hope you find some good
bread in Venice. The last time I was there I dined at a restaurant
on the Grand Canal. The bread was hard and stale and I asked the
waiter to replace it with some that was bit fresher. After all, you
pay for the bread even if you don't order it. The surly waiter said
that was all they had so I tossed it, basket and all, into the water
saying that perhaps that would soften it a bit. Ugly American? I
don't think so because I saw other waiters bring baskets of steaming
bread from the kitchen.
Bob the Tarheel Baker