[Taikonerd]

OK, my "most exciting thing" is pretty boring, which says something about me ;-) But I discovered how easy it is to make oven fries: [0]

Easy, customizable, and healthier than regular French fries. I love them!

[0]: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/oven-fries/

[kunwon1]

On that same theme, I've learned the basics of bread making recently, and it's been exciting to me to realize how easily I can make bread that's far better than anything at the grocery store. When I realized that I could 'win' by just using flour, water, and salt, it felt like I had unlocked one of life's cheat codes.

[lostlogin]

I have too - It’s pretty great.

I’m have recently discovered proofing in a cold environment, the kitchen in winter or even the fridge. It looks like nothing has happened, but shape the dough and cook it and you get spectacular oven rise.

[jodrellblank]

This year I learned of Nigel Slater's Lazy Loaf recipe which is basically an Irish soda bread. It's bread, but without the faff of yeast, rising, punching down, proving.

[Gasp0de]

Wait until you come to Germany and buy a bread at a bakery ;)

[kunwon1]

Ha! I lived in Germany for three years, across the street from a bakery. It was shocking to me that they didn't want to serve coffee 'to go'

German bread is excellent. I prefer my sourdough, but I haven't been to Germany in nearly 20 years, so perhaps my memory is rusty.

[solarmist]

This annoys me to no end! There _IS_ good bread in the US too.

You just need to ignore the bread aisle of supermarkets!

[adamredwoods]

In the US, good bread must be actively sought out. It is not available everywhere.

[HeyLaughingBoy]

> buy a bread at a bakery ;)

Pretty sure every bakery I've been to in the US has had good bread.

[solarmist]

In places I’ve lived in the US finding a bakery, outside a supermarket, isn’t a trivial task.

[solarmist]

Fair

[CannisterFlux]

Yes! We discovered this during the pandemic, but usually cut more like classic French fries. Wedges like that recipe are also great. I used to hate making fries, messy and they're always too soggy, but done in the oven they're easy peasy and always great.

[sircastor]

I tried making Cream cheese for the first time in the last few weeks. It turned pretty decent (if not a little overwhelming in flavor.) I get a lot of satisfaction out of making these kinds of staple items.