King Arthur and Shop ‘n Save offer free bread baking classes

Shop ‘n Save Supermarkets and King Arthur Flour will be presenting two free bread baking classes in Bangor on Tuesday, March 3. The classes will be held from 10 a.m. to noon and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Jeff’s Catering, 1606 Hammond Street in Bangor.

King Arthur spokesperson and baking instructor Robin Rice will conduct the baking demonstrations. The basics of yeast baking and the making of braided and filled breads will be featured. Free recipes, refreshments and coupons will be available. Tickets to the event are available at Shop ‘n Save stores in Bangor and Old Town.

Rice makes between 100 and 300 loaves of bread by hand every day, often with her 1-year-old son William supervising as he sits on her back in a backpack.

Young and old alike might be inspired by the fact that Rice didn’t begin to bake bread until five years ago, when she received a complete set of bread-making supplies as a wedding present.

She experimented with different recipes and invented breads with distinctive flavors using unlikely ingredients.

Her creations include Pesto Bread with Pine Nuts — a bright green loaf loaded with aromatic basil, garlic, parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, and whole pignoli nuts; and Sundried Tomato Bread — an orange loaf, bright with the color and flavor of organically grown and dried tomatoes.