The discovery of a new dish confers more happiness on humanity, than the discovery of a new star. – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Isolation. Confinement. Quarantine. 

Scary words. Possibly even more frightening than the disease itself in that complete isolation from the world outside is, for most of us, upon us now, our reality. While the dreaded disease remains still a mystery, an unknown, invisible.

So we are all stuck inside, or should be. Here in France, we’ve been in mandatory confinement for over a week. We had already let go our staff as soon as it was recommended to do so. Hotel reservation cancellations immediately began flowing in like hot chocolate sauce over profiteroles. Our months of March and April are now empty. Our business has flatlined. I understand the pain, confusion, and fear of so millions of small business owners, workers, and employees who don’t know what’s coming or when and if we’ll survive this.

We get up every morning and, while husband heads downstairs to the hotel office and tries to save our business, I sit in front of my computer and try and save my sanity. 

Social media and internet has suddenly become the only means of keeping in close touch with friends and family. No more meeting people at a coffee shop, for a meal, or in each other’s homes. Or in class. Or at work. And so we come together over Twitter and Facebook and chat, share news and jokes and suggestions for keeping up spirits, passing the time, entertaining ourselves and the children. 

And so I created #IsolationBaking.

I started thinking about what I had to offer to this huge community now hanging out online and wondering how to pass the time during confinement, how to entertain homebound kids, how to distract ourselves and our families from the chaos, and what to do with all of the food that we panicked-purchased and are now stockpiling at home. And I knew. Recipes. Get people baking.

Baking, after all, is my thing.

Baking, I have always found, is incredibly therapeutic, peaceful and soothing. And in these crazy, dangerous times when we’re isolated in our homes it’s an awfully good distraction. And it’s a fun activity to do with children. Or partner. Or, yes, alone.

My #IsolationBaking project on Twitter has created a stronger community, solidarity in these very strange times. Everyone makes the same recipe, shares a photo of their finished dish or dessert, comments on others’ photos and answers each other’s questions. 

Several people have requested that I put the recipes up on my blog and since I have been meaning to, wanting to resuscitate Life’s a Feast it really is the perfect way to do it.

Please join our online baking community by following me on Twitter at @lifesafeast and the hashtag #IsolationBaking and share the recipes with your followers and friends. 

I have decided to post the recipe for bread. Plain, simple, delicious bread. I had been posting only desserts until I realised that while folks had bought a lot of flour, bread was quickly becoming a rare commodity. This recipe is simple and rather quick, resulting in 3 golden-crusted loaves with a tender yet dense crumb, perfect for every meal and great for sandwiches. And this is the perfect for beginning bakers and those who have never made bread before.

So happy baking. Stay inside. Stay safe. Stay well. And wash your hands.