Give us each day our daily bread . . .
~Luke 11:3~
I love bread. In fact, it's probably my favorite food. I don't eat bread every day, but oh how I wish I could! Bread has been a staple food since ancient times, and I'd venture to say that every people and culture has some kind of bread that is central to their diet. Almost every culture has their own signature type of bread. When I was homeschooling, we often tried foods from countries or cultures we were studying, and whenever I could include a bread, I did. I flirted with the idea of coming up with a course that would see us baking and sampling breads from around the world in a sort of bakery world tour.
How can a nation be called great if its bread tastes like kleenex? ~Julia Child
I don't know which nation she was referring to, but sadly, dry and tasteless breads do exist, and are a real disappointment. I feel like those breads are meant to be merely containers or carriers of more flavorful foods, and not the feature of a meal. Good bread is full of flavor and texture, and smells glorious.
An early form of leavened bread was around in ancient Sumeria, the cradle of civilization in the middle east. The Old Testament tells us that God provided a miraculous bread from heaven to the Hebrews during all the decades they were in the wilderness. This is where the references to "daily bread" originate, and why bread is symbolic of God's provision throughout the Bible. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all considered good baking as a sign of civilized people. Once baked, bread can be eaten cold or hot. It can be reheated and toasted. It can be eaten with the hands, and is very often used as the 'utensil' for scooping or holding other foods. It can be savory or sweet, and can be eaten on its own or with spreads or toppings, dipped in gravy or sauce, or as an ingredient in other dishes.
Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts. ~James Beard
If you have extraordinary bread and extraordinary butter, its hard to beat bread and butter. ~Jacques Pepin
A meal of bread, cheese, and beer constitutes the perfect food. ~Elizabeth I
Bread is symbolic of daily provision or necessities all around the world. Again, that reference to 'daily bread' comes to mind. Richly productive agricultural areas are called 'bread-baskets'. We talk about bread-winners and who 'puts the bread on the table', and might call our tried-and-true basic skills as our 'bread and butter'. Bread and dough are both slang terms for money.
The best poet is the man who delivers our daily bread: the local baker. ~Pablo Neruda
We light the oven so that everyone may bake bread in it. ~Jose Marti
Bread is also symbolic of home and hearth, and of hospitality. To break bread with someone is to share a meal and gracious conversation.
The smell of good bread baking,
like the sound of lightly flowing water,
is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight.
~M.F.K. Fisher
Here are a couple of my favorite bread recipes, tried and true since my homeschooling days:
Rosh Hashanah - Day of Trumpets (recipe for Challah)
A Taste of Italy with Tomato and Parmesan Bread (nowadays I bake this with a good basil pesto instead of the sun-dried tomatoes)
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Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true brea from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
"Sir," they said, "always give us this bread."
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
~John 6:32-35~
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Quoting reminds me there are other people in the world besides only me.
And other thoughts besides mine, and other ways of thinking.
~Gregory Maguire~
Wednesday Quotes 2025 Themes
January 8 - Planning Ahead/Setting Goals
January 22 - Winter Sleep
February 5 - Love Inspires Us
February 19 - Staying Balanced
March 5 - First Impressions
March 19 - Looking After Yourself
April 2 - Competition
April 16 - Spring Colours
April 30 - Morning Routines
May 14 - Memorable Vacations
May 28 - Telling Your Stories
June 11 - Summer Fun
June 25 - Patriotism
July 9 - Hobbies
July 23 - Being Adventurous
August 6 - Spirituality
August 20 - Writing Letters
September 3 - Chocolate
September 17 - Making and Keeping Promises
October 1 - Autumn/Another Spring
October 15 - Daily Bread
October 29 - Night Skies/Stargazing
November 12 - Good Manners
November 26 - Celebrating Holidays
December 10 - Winter Wonderland
December 24 - Holiday Memories
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