A Most Important Meal

I have been hesitating to "pull the trigger" on this blog site for a couple of reasons.

First, I wanted to handle it with the care I think a food blog deserves.
Not the "willy-nilly" way in which I have enjoyed my other blog.
Write when you want...whatever you want...

Food is serious business.

To cook for someone is to love them.
To bake something for a friend is to say "you were on my mind and I care deeply for you".
To nourish someone who is sick, or sad, or mourning is holy.
To share in celebration through a gift of food is joyous.

I have said this before, but next to the full on praise/worship time I get to experience each Sunday with my sweet church...the kitchen is my favorite place to be.

I am happiest cooking up something wonderful for someone I love.

So, as I launch this little blog, my mind was racing as to what should be the kick-off food.

I LOVE desserts.
I love to bake something delicious that makes even the most self-disciplined human ignore their diet rules!

I LOVE serving meals.
It's so very satisfying to cook a meal that not only nourishes the body, but comforts the soul.

So, how do I choose?
What food / dessert is special enough to have the honor of "first" in a long list of favorites?

Then it hit me.

My favorite meal each week is the meal I get to share with my family...my brothers and sisters...my fellow travelers... the Communion meal. The meal that reminds us of the great love the Father showed toward us when he gave His Son. The simple cracker/bread and juice that we share together is beautiful, precious, and so very holy. It reminds me each week that I am part of a Grand Plan. It's not a fairy tale or a bedtime story.
It's the continuation of a Perfect Plan the Father has with me right smack dab in the middle of it!

It's the meal that gives me the greatest satisfaction. . .

So, sweet friends, following is a recipe for Communion Bread.

3 1/4 cups wheat flour

1 cup white flour

2 tsp salt

2 tbsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

Mix dry ingredients together.

Heat together until butter melts: (careful not to scald)

1 1/2 cups milk

4 tbsp honey

2 tbsp butter

Blend together until dough forms being careful not to over mix.

Here's what I did...

1. "Cut" a piece with a glass of your choosing according to how large you want the loaves.

2. Score with sharp knife almost cutting, not quite, but almost clean through.

3. Turn and score on the diagonal from first scoring.

4. Gently "pull" the pieces apart before baking.

5. Bake @ 380 for about 8 minutes. (My oven is convection, but if you are using a conventional oven, it might be more like 9-10 minutes @ 400.)

You can make any shape or cuts you like. I loved this particular cut/shape because it has a feeling of life to me. There is a sense of it being organic and imperfect.

A piece can easily be torn off, but still shared together in loaf form.

you are loved