It took me a long time to learn to use yeast -- until I bought an instant read thermometer. The directions say "warm water." To me warm was what you did to formula bottles with kids and you shook a couple of drops on your wrist and if you didn't feel it, that was "warm." Correct temperature for yeast is between 105 and 115. To me, that is actually pretty hot! Anyway now I don't have any trouble with yeast as long as I have my handy dandy thermometer.
