Cooking helps relieve stress & improves mental health amid pandemic

Cooking and spending time in the kitchen helps relieve stress and improves mental health during the coronavirus pandemic

As we spend more time at home many of us are cooking more. One benefit, besides being able to eat your work is psychologists say spending time in the kitchen can help relieve stress and improve your mental health.

Baking bread is a perfect activity or new hobby to take up since it requires some time and patience but many may not know where to begin.

Expert baker, the founder and owner of Mediterra Bakehouse has five essential tips for any home baker looking to improve their outcome at home.

1. The importance of a home digital scale to weigh the ingredients

2. Use high quality wheat. Mediterra grows heritage grains that it mills into flour. This flour is available for purchase

3. Understand how to bloom yeast and the different types available

4. Use the windowpane test to check when the dough has been kneaded enough

5. Use the right pan and check the accuracy of the oven temperature.

Mediterra Bakehouse is a family-owned and run bakery that produces about 20 different types of artisanal, handmade, organic bread. They grow their own wheat on a 35-acre farm in Coolidge. The bread is sold at a variety of small markets and grocery stores across the Valley.