To soften dough or paste when it is too stiff.— Although bread-dough, and that of household bread more particularly, should always be sufficiently firm not to spread about after it is made into loaves, if it be very stiff indeed, it will not, as I have said, rise easily, and in cold weather will sometimes not rise at all. In that case, dip the ends of the fingers into hot water, and press them quite wet into the dough; turn the dry part over that which is moistened and knead it well; and repeat this until it becomes flexible. Then set it where it will have a proper degree of warmth, without being heated; and it will probably prove light, but much more than the usual time of rising may be required to make it so.