One of my fondest childhood memories is of my mother baking bread. The whole house smelled wonderful and if I timed it right, I could get her to cut off a heel of hot bread and then slather it with butter. A simple, but absolutely wonderful treat. Better than chocolate cake even. James Beard, that very famous chef said, "Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.”
Bread has been called "the staff of life" and it's basic to every culture, in every part of the world. Look at the wonderful variety, whether its made with yeast or not---lovely loaves of whole wheat, rye, dark pumpernickel, banana, scones, zucchini, biscuits, honey oat, baguette, warm fresh tortillas. It seems any kind of bread is always best right out of the oven, warm and comforting in our hands.
Yesterday, I went on bit of a baking binge. It was a windy day, so working outside wouldn't be fun. I baked bread instead. Experimenting with new recipes, the day's production included Irish soda bread for St. Patty's Day. Dense and sweet, filled with raisins, it's yummy with or without butter. It's also great toasted. Next came a loaf of oatmeal sandwich bread and then two rounds of simple white bread. The rounds had crusty tops, thanks to a pan of water in the bottom of the oven, which steams the crusts to perfection. Just tear them apart and enjoy.
As we prepare to leave for church this morning, I'm reminded that Jesus called himself, "the bread of life." A wonderful picture of sustaneance for our souls, warm, nourishing, and basic to life. Simply Jesus within us, giving us life, filling a hunger nothing else and no one else can satisfy. He is enough.
Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 NLT
Bread has been called "the staff of life" and it's basic to every culture, in every part of the world. Look at the wonderful variety, whether its made with yeast or not---lovely loaves of whole wheat, rye, dark pumpernickel, banana, scones, zucchini, biscuits, honey oat, baguette, warm fresh tortillas. It seems any kind of bread is always best right out of the oven, warm and comforting in our hands.
Yesterday, I went on bit of a baking binge. It was a windy day, so working outside wouldn't be fun. I baked bread instead. Experimenting with new recipes, the day's production included Irish soda bread for St. Patty's Day. Dense and sweet, filled with raisins, it's yummy with or without butter. It's also great toasted. Next came a loaf of oatmeal sandwich bread and then two rounds of simple white bread. The rounds had crusty tops, thanks to a pan of water in the bottom of the oven, which steams the crusts to perfection. Just tear them apart and enjoy.
As we prepare to leave for church this morning, I'm reminded that Jesus called himself, "the bread of life." A wonderful picture of sustaneance for our souls, warm, nourishing, and basic to life. Simply Jesus within us, giving us life, filling a hunger nothing else and no one else can satisfy. He is enough.
Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 NLT
Comments