Michigan Girl makes dough
Bread Class! We had our bread class this weekend - which included one man covered in flour. We made 5 loaves of bread. EACH. So that was 55 loaves of bread. (The low carb diet craze has not, I assure you, hit the Michigan Girl contingent yet.)
The owners, Krystal & Scott Fluette, welcomed us in with samplings from their day’s work - carrot muffins, cinnamon rolls, cranberry cookies. (We barely made it past the welcome station to the actual class with that kind of spread.)
Class started by gathering around the gigantic table in the back, strapping on aprons, and tossing some flour in the air. “Not too much,” Scott said. Then he quietly scraped away what we’d loaded on the board.
Next, he chopped and weighed chunks of dough and tossed them around to each of us.
The minute the last piece of dough landed in front of the last woman, he started pulling his own chunk into a rectangle - telling us to do the same - then to fold it in half, then into a “book fold” and then - in half again. I was immediately lost.
“SCOTT! SLOW DOWN!” I begged.
He said, “I’m used to making 400 of these a day - so keep up.” - without his eyes ever leaving the dough.
It was absolutely charming.
(Side note - they make 400-600 loaves a day in the winter and double that in the summer!)
So, we did what he said and got those folds MADE. Our loaves were nothing special but it was our first attempt, so they politely looked the other way.
Next, he taught us how to “close the seam” - knead the folds of the dough back together to make a smooth loaf. I worked really hard at my seam, until Krystal looked over my shoulder and said, “Yes, that’s perfect!”
I was covered in flour, despite Scott taking away our flour, and about to give up when her encouragement arrived. I was OVERJOYED with her feedback. I glowed from the inside out.
“Thank you!” I said.
She pointed over my shoulder - to the woman across from me: “I was talking to her.”
I looked at her long and hard - “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” I asked.
“No,” she rifled back.
It was absolutely charming.
(She waited a beat to reach in and fix my seam for me. “Thanks a lot” I said again - but this time I meant it for realz.)
From there, they showed us how they run the HUGE mixer in the back, told us about how they bought Bay Bread Co. 18 months ago - and how they are finally on top of the routine of running the company. Hence the introduction of their brand new baking classes.
Slight pause.
WERE WE THEIR GUINEA PIGS?!?!?
It was absolutely charming.
We went to town doing whatever they said after that - seam insults and all - ready to be pioneers in carb.
We stopped at one point to do some unchaperoned flour art - handprints strategically placed on bottoms and blouses. Scott and Krystal were busy actually doing the hard work of raising and baking our bread loaves in the background.
(They were the masterminds of everything. They did the work, we took all the glory.)
We carried on after that making 4 more kinds of bread - never breaking a sweat - but instead getting the enjoyment of choosing cheeses and garlics and onions and all kinds of other toppings and stuffings for our loaves. We made French Baguettes, batards (hand-shaped loaves), Country Italian (plain and another with spices), and individual focaccias.
Finally, our “work” was in the oven, and we sat around eating the pepperoni rolls Scott had whipped up for us - while Krystal made us laugh.
It was easily one of the most fun and prolific outings of Michigan Girl ever. We had fun, learned things and left with something we’d actually made (if you don’t count the part where Scott made the dough and Krystal did my seam).
When I got in my car afterward, I already had a text on my phone from one of the ladies: MY CAR SMELLS AMAZING.
Ah yes, the 55 loaves were about to meet their demise…
Thank you Bay Bread Co for a great Michigan Girl outing! We are going to do another private bread (or maybe a cookie class?) class in the fall or winter! If you’d like to join their new classes, they are going to announce one in April and May - watch their website and socials for updates!
The rest of the pics are here and at Michigan Girl Bike (& Hike!) Group!
MiGirl Mackinac Island - May 10-12 Reservations due 4/5/24!
Our 2024 trip is May 10-12, 2024 - visit www.michgirl.com for rates. I am doing a spring sale on my last Main Street 2 Queen Deluxe room - this room overlooks Main St. (you'll awaken to the clopping of horses going by!) - Double rate was $679 each but spring sale - $649 each for double (2 women) - I have 1 left! It’s cheaper yet if you bring a posse of up to 4 women. I also have a couple suites (with living rooms!) overlooking the harbor. YUM!!!!
Email me at kandace@michgirl.com to saddle up!
MiGirl MOM WALK - May 19 - featuring the “Pieces of Our ❤️ List!” (you can walk for anyone - not just moms, fyi - anyone you love!)
I literally get emotional when I think of how far this little idea has come - this will be my 3rd year of hosting a walk that I built around the fun and laughter that my mom brought to everything. I gave in this year and quit calling it the MiGirl Wine Walk - and it's officially the MiGirl MOM Walk - which I've always thought in my heart.
My mom would be wildly impressed with the idea of serving fuzzy navels to 150 women at once - her favorite drink. Her exact words would be: "Oh, Putz!" with a little laugh, before asking me if I needed any help to make it happen.
Please join us on Sunday, May 19 from 11am-1pm at Timber Ridge Resort in TC. I will read the names of our "Pieces of our Hearts" list out loud again for the opening ceremony. The list is emotional and beautiful and a complete and total honor to share with you and those you love and miss. My voice always wobbles - as it should.
The walk is 1 mile. There will be 3 wineries, 2 food vendors, music and more! In the last two years, we have raised $5k for Smith Family Breast Health Center.
This year’s sponsors already includes Bonobo Winery, Jimmy John’s, Rove Winery, A. Papano’s in Kingsley, Moomer’s, Ace Hardware and Susan Soffredine Rauser - State Farm Agent.
You can get your tickets here! (Be sure to include a name for the <❤️> list!) Pricing is $55 for members or if you buy 2 or more tickets. It's $60 for non-members. Thank you, ladies, for sharing your special someone with us all at this event each year! If you would like to sponsor (in-kind or cash sponsorships start at $250), please email me at kandace@michgirl.com. Our sponsors are royalty around here!
Ok, ladies, I am working on the 2024 OMGs (Original Michigan Girl Members!)! Please sign up soon if you’d like a button, member glitter sticker and MiGirl decal as a member.
Here’s more on the pricing:
$5 hikes, bikes & snowshoes throughout the year.
Non-members pay $15 for their first outing to try us out, during which they will be spellbound.
MiGirl 2024 Member Button, Glitter Sticker (yes, glitter) and Decal.
Discounted Member pricing for special events (Ex. $10 off MiGirl events like curling, cycle pub, Christmas lights bus tour, that time we saw a racoon downtown.)
Laughter at all events, even during times of crises.
Complimentary hydration included, which will be completely dehydrating.
Community and connection with women in Michigan, the best kind!
If you biff it – pictures first, rescue second.
All of the above plus:
FREE bikes, hikes and snowshoes!
On short list for the privilege to help pop corks at events.
Rescue first.
MiGirl Event Updates
Mackinac Island MiGirls Weekend - May 10-12, 2024 - 14 seats left on the bus!
MiGirl MOM Walk with heart! - May 19, 2024. Tickets here!
Michigan Girl Chicago Weekend - Nov. 8-10, 2024 - OVER 1/2 FULL! 19 seats left on the bus!
XO,
Kandace, Maple & Ellie (taking a nap)
Kandace Chapple
Michigan Girl, owner
Substack Newsletter
Copyright © 2024 Michigan Girl, LLC, All rights reserved.