Yeasts are a key ingredient in baking bread and fermenting many dishes, but as living things, they don't last forever. Here's how to tell if yours expired.

The warm water will activate the yeast, a living fungus ... The heat causes the gas bubbles to expand and makes the bread rise even more. Use oven gloves to take the bread out of the oven.

Melinda Hills of OSU Extension, Wayne County, offers tips on making homemade bread. It's a good way to warm up the kitchen on these cold days.

For me, cooking is therapeutic. I remember sitting in my favorite spot in the kitchen, watching my mom’s every movement as she prepared her special dishes for us. Food ...