Hi Anna, No, the yeast is perfectly alive, and well :o) It's after it bakes, that I can still smell and taste the yeast so strongly whenever I bake BREAD. Like I said, I can't taste it or smell it when I make pizza. I've even tried making a loaf out of the pizza dough I make, and I still taste and smell it strongly. You know what? It could be that, I don't know. But, that could be my problem, though I do LOVE homemade breads, just not mine, unless I make that recipe you gave us from the Rabbit Hill Inn. :o) Lynn Anna wrote: Lynn, Are you saying that the bread is not rising? When you put the yeast to the warm water you can try adding a 1/4 tsp. sugar to it to promote the growth. It should be bubbly when adding it to the ingredients. If not, check that your yeast has not expired. Warm water means just that, not hot which kills the yeast. Gosh, I like the smell of the yeast as the bread bakes. Do your allergies and sensitivities cause you to disdain it?