Warren Lee Cohen

Just ran a bread workshop at Emerson College in Sussex called, “The Art of Bread.” It is a pleasure to be baking around a wood fired oven with others. We had such fun baking and singing, being both serious and silly in pursuit of a deeper understanding of bread. It reminded me, yet again, just how important joy is in the whole process of preparing and eating food. Without joy food is merely substance. With joy, food is transformed into life giving nourishment that feeds body, soul and spirit.
This is an essential element in creating “Real Food.”

Click here for more pictures of the workshop.

I fired up the bread oven the very next day after building it and baked with it for the next week hundreds, or more likely thousands, of loaves of pita bread. The children were so enthusiastic to roll and bake their loaves that neither driving rain nor swelling mud could dull their energy. They loved watching the magic of these loaves puffing up in the oven, transforming form raw dough to fresh pita bread in less than a minute. These fearless bakers devoured their creations and then made loaves for family and friends.

I just returned from an action packed day in which we sculpted a bread oven for the Hay on Wye Literature Festival. Aided by the very capable hands of Gavin Pond and many eager children, we mixed recycled clay, sand and straw, using first our feet and then our hands. We shaped this into loaf sized clumps that we pressed around a temporary sand form. The oven quickly took shape, leaving plenty of time for a chimney and some collaborative sculpting. Then to cap off the day we lit an inaugral fire to begin the process of drying the oven out.

For the next week I will be baking pita bread with children and sharing bread stories from Baking Bread with Children. What a nice way to work with others!

Come explore the art of baking bread in a wood-fired oven. We’ll bake a variety of breads using a simple sourdough culture. We’ll touch upon the aspects of baking that create healthy and nutritious bread and, of equal importance that allow for joy and meaning in the baking process. You’ll learn how to make and use your own sourdough culture. You’ll take home fresh baked bread, sourdough starter and inspiration for future baking.

We will bake pita bread for lunch. Please bring your filling of choice and an apron. 

Sunday May 04, 2008
9:00 to 16:00
Wynstones wood fired oven
Wynstones School, Church Lane, Whaddon, Gloucestershire, GL4 0UF

Course fee £50 (includes all ingredients)

To register please call Anne Bass at 01452 537700
or send me a message by clicking here

Baking Bread with Children has now been launched into the world with a proper and joy filled celebration. Leavened with bread poetry by Paul Matthews, bread eurythmy by Glenys Waters, a story told by Julie Swithers and lots of bread (Challah and Dragon Loaves) baked by the Early Year Education Students at Emerson College, the book launch filled my heart with warmth. Such good friends and so much cheer!

Dear Far Flung Friends and fellow bread bakers,
 
I am a proud papa once again.
I have given birth today to a new book.
It feels so good after such a long gestation (over 4 years).
I am pleased to announce the premier of Baking Bread with Children.
Here is a Review of Baking Bread with Children with details including the front and back covers.
If you or anyone you know are interested in obtaining a copy or three you can order them through

1. the publisher at http://www.hawthornpress.com/
2. http://www.amazon.com/
3. or signed copies from me by emailing me here

Much love to one and all,
Warren