Ask most home bakers what yeast does, and you'll probably hear that it makes bread rise. That's like saying a computer lets you type — it's true, but it's also a lot more than that. Yeast is a living ...

Yeast is the key to soft, springy specialty breads and sturdy pizza crust. It's the reason why dinner rolls are so fluffy, why naan is so light and chewy, and why the many flavors of banana breads ...