Bread and Beer

Bread pic 1WLA_lacma_Clara_Peeters_still_lifeThey call bread the staff of life, using staff in the sense of “a long stick used as a support when walking or climbing or as a weapon”, which is to say, the first metaphorical meaning, since even the most warlike among us seldom take up baguettes and plunge into battle. What we mean when we talk about bread this way is that it supports us and keeps us alive.

This was true all through the historical period in which I interest myself – the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. Bread provided most of the calories of the average person’s diet. Maybe 60%. (This was in the days when most folks were trying to scrape together enough calories to keep themselves alive, not trying to avoid them.) Beer – bread’s funtime cousin – contributed another 20% of calories. That’s 80 % of what folks lived on. Bread and beer were fueling the European working man.

Table bread

click on this for a closer look at costs and calories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They didn’t necessarily know they were getting their protein from bread, because getting protein in the diet does not seem to have been a high priority, as per this handy table above which may be taken as more or less representative.

From this you will see that your average bloke in 1750 Strasbourg (this was a table easy to find if not totally relevant to 1800 London, but I’m talking Big Picture here) was spending 20% of his income on beer and getting only a teensy bit of his yearly protein. Put another way, the fellow was spending as much on beer as on soap, linen, candles, lamp oil, and fuel combined. He doubtless found this worthwhile.

Bread pic 2 czanneBread was almost sacred. The custom I’ve seen of making a cross on a loaf of bread before slicing it would have been widespread a century or two back. In church, bread was the body of Christ and a sacrament. You didn’t mess around with bread.

Beer didn’t have quite that cachet, but it was still pretty cool.

Bread 2

click on this for a closer look at what protein cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bread was cheap protein too. Lookit this nifty comparison of the cost of protein in silver value. Bread and beans were king. Half the price of meat when it came to providing protein.

Cheese and eggs, on the other hand, were expense, their protein roughly twice the price of bread protein. I admit I’m surprised to see the relative expense of egg. We think of eggs as cheap protein nowadays. When  a farm wife is in charge of eggs and cheese for market, she was running a profitable little business of her own.

 

More hot rolls

typical bread chez jo

 

 But there it is, laid out in very general terms. Up to modern times European folks were bread and bean eaters. Now the choice of grains had widened and most people eat more of what used to luxuries. Bread is no longer the center of people’s diets. (Though I remember my father always wanted to have bread on the table, even if it was cornbread, often as not.)

 

What about your household? Bread on the table? Bread central to the diet, or a mere decorative edge?

205 thoughts on “Bread and Beer”

  1. The staff of life indeed! My chomp of choice is an artisan whole grain that a local grocery store carries. Delicious, toasts well, and has a nice chew to it. Very good as part of a BLT, the B adding to the protein content. *G* Beer I don’t bother with!

    Reply
  2. The staff of life indeed! My chomp of choice is an artisan whole grain that a local grocery store carries. Delicious, toasts well, and has a nice chew to it. Very good as part of a BLT, the B adding to the protein content. *G* Beer I don’t bother with!

    Reply
  3. The staff of life indeed! My chomp of choice is an artisan whole grain that a local grocery store carries. Delicious, toasts well, and has a nice chew to it. Very good as part of a BLT, the B adding to the protein content. *G* Beer I don’t bother with!

    Reply
  4. The staff of life indeed! My chomp of choice is an artisan whole grain that a local grocery store carries. Delicious, toasts well, and has a nice chew to it. Very good as part of a BLT, the B adding to the protein content. *G* Beer I don’t bother with!

    Reply
  5. The staff of life indeed! My chomp of choice is an artisan whole grain that a local grocery store carries. Delicious, toasts well, and has a nice chew to it. Very good as part of a BLT, the B adding to the protein content. *G* Beer I don’t bother with!

    Reply
  6. Fascinating post! I try to stay low-carb, so bread is an occasional treat. I rarely visit my favorite Italian restaurant these days because I can’t resist the bread and olive oil, and I eat lettuce wraps instead of thick sandwiches on artisan bread. But I’m Southern to the core, and summer’s bounty of vegetables looks–and tastes–incomplete without cornbread on the table, even if I allow myself only a tiny wedge.

    Reply
  7. Fascinating post! I try to stay low-carb, so bread is an occasional treat. I rarely visit my favorite Italian restaurant these days because I can’t resist the bread and olive oil, and I eat lettuce wraps instead of thick sandwiches on artisan bread. But I’m Southern to the core, and summer’s bounty of vegetables looks–and tastes–incomplete without cornbread on the table, even if I allow myself only a tiny wedge.

    Reply
  8. Fascinating post! I try to stay low-carb, so bread is an occasional treat. I rarely visit my favorite Italian restaurant these days because I can’t resist the bread and olive oil, and I eat lettuce wraps instead of thick sandwiches on artisan bread. But I’m Southern to the core, and summer’s bounty of vegetables looks–and tastes–incomplete without cornbread on the table, even if I allow myself only a tiny wedge.

    Reply
  9. Fascinating post! I try to stay low-carb, so bread is an occasional treat. I rarely visit my favorite Italian restaurant these days because I can’t resist the bread and olive oil, and I eat lettuce wraps instead of thick sandwiches on artisan bread. But I’m Southern to the core, and summer’s bounty of vegetables looks–and tastes–incomplete without cornbread on the table, even if I allow myself only a tiny wedge.

    Reply
  10. Fascinating post! I try to stay low-carb, so bread is an occasional treat. I rarely visit my favorite Italian restaurant these days because I can’t resist the bread and olive oil, and I eat lettuce wraps instead of thick sandwiches on artisan bread. But I’m Southern to the core, and summer’s bounty of vegetables looks–and tastes–incomplete without cornbread on the table, even if I allow myself only a tiny wedge.

    Reply
  11. I never have been able to acquire a taste for beer. I just don’t care for the stuff. Back in the day, it might have been safer to drink the beer than water, especially in metropolitan areas, but that is not the case today.
    Now bread is another matter. I LOVE BREAD in all its forms. Because of dietary restrictions I try to limit myself to high fiber whole wheat bread now. But one of my fondest childhood memories was coming home from school to a snack of fresh baked bread (still hot) with melted butter. Yum!

    Reply
  12. I never have been able to acquire a taste for beer. I just don’t care for the stuff. Back in the day, it might have been safer to drink the beer than water, especially in metropolitan areas, but that is not the case today.
    Now bread is another matter. I LOVE BREAD in all its forms. Because of dietary restrictions I try to limit myself to high fiber whole wheat bread now. But one of my fondest childhood memories was coming home from school to a snack of fresh baked bread (still hot) with melted butter. Yum!

    Reply
  13. I never have been able to acquire a taste for beer. I just don’t care for the stuff. Back in the day, it might have been safer to drink the beer than water, especially in metropolitan areas, but that is not the case today.
    Now bread is another matter. I LOVE BREAD in all its forms. Because of dietary restrictions I try to limit myself to high fiber whole wheat bread now. But one of my fondest childhood memories was coming home from school to a snack of fresh baked bread (still hot) with melted butter. Yum!

    Reply
  14. I never have been able to acquire a taste for beer. I just don’t care for the stuff. Back in the day, it might have been safer to drink the beer than water, especially in metropolitan areas, but that is not the case today.
    Now bread is another matter. I LOVE BREAD in all its forms. Because of dietary restrictions I try to limit myself to high fiber whole wheat bread now. But one of my fondest childhood memories was coming home from school to a snack of fresh baked bread (still hot) with melted butter. Yum!

    Reply
  15. I never have been able to acquire a taste for beer. I just don’t care for the stuff. Back in the day, it might have been safer to drink the beer than water, especially in metropolitan areas, but that is not the case today.
    Now bread is another matter. I LOVE BREAD in all its forms. Because of dietary restrictions I try to limit myself to high fiber whole wheat bread now. But one of my fondest childhood memories was coming home from school to a snack of fresh baked bread (still hot) with melted butter. Yum!

    Reply
  16. Beer —No, nor any other fermented or distilled beverage. This is a matter of food sensitivities, not some moral position. One doesn’t learn to like what makes you sick. (In earlier times, when beer was safer than water, I probably wouldn’t have lived to care; and I base this on the fact that I nearly starved to death in the 1930s because my body wasn’t processing food — until Dr. Goldstein of Central Institute of the Deaf, conquered some of the problem — at least 5 years before medicine had much information about hard allergies [if any].)
    Bread: I never loved it, but I liked it well enough. Except for hot bread fresh from the oven — which meant rolls at our house, rather than loaves of bread.
    Again, health has muddied the waters. I am sensitive to grains (particularly corn), and cope with diabetes, so bread yields to other sources of carbohydrates which are usually higher in fiber.
    But I still do lots of cooking with beans and other legumes.

    Reply
  17. Beer —No, nor any other fermented or distilled beverage. This is a matter of food sensitivities, not some moral position. One doesn’t learn to like what makes you sick. (In earlier times, when beer was safer than water, I probably wouldn’t have lived to care; and I base this on the fact that I nearly starved to death in the 1930s because my body wasn’t processing food — until Dr. Goldstein of Central Institute of the Deaf, conquered some of the problem — at least 5 years before medicine had much information about hard allergies [if any].)
    Bread: I never loved it, but I liked it well enough. Except for hot bread fresh from the oven — which meant rolls at our house, rather than loaves of bread.
    Again, health has muddied the waters. I am sensitive to grains (particularly corn), and cope with diabetes, so bread yields to other sources of carbohydrates which are usually higher in fiber.
    But I still do lots of cooking with beans and other legumes.

    Reply
  18. Beer —No, nor any other fermented or distilled beverage. This is a matter of food sensitivities, not some moral position. One doesn’t learn to like what makes you sick. (In earlier times, when beer was safer than water, I probably wouldn’t have lived to care; and I base this on the fact that I nearly starved to death in the 1930s because my body wasn’t processing food — until Dr. Goldstein of Central Institute of the Deaf, conquered some of the problem — at least 5 years before medicine had much information about hard allergies [if any].)
    Bread: I never loved it, but I liked it well enough. Except for hot bread fresh from the oven — which meant rolls at our house, rather than loaves of bread.
    Again, health has muddied the waters. I am sensitive to grains (particularly corn), and cope with diabetes, so bread yields to other sources of carbohydrates which are usually higher in fiber.
    But I still do lots of cooking with beans and other legumes.

    Reply
  19. Beer —No, nor any other fermented or distilled beverage. This is a matter of food sensitivities, not some moral position. One doesn’t learn to like what makes you sick. (In earlier times, when beer was safer than water, I probably wouldn’t have lived to care; and I base this on the fact that I nearly starved to death in the 1930s because my body wasn’t processing food — until Dr. Goldstein of Central Institute of the Deaf, conquered some of the problem — at least 5 years before medicine had much information about hard allergies [if any].)
    Bread: I never loved it, but I liked it well enough. Except for hot bread fresh from the oven — which meant rolls at our house, rather than loaves of bread.
    Again, health has muddied the waters. I am sensitive to grains (particularly corn), and cope with diabetes, so bread yields to other sources of carbohydrates which are usually higher in fiber.
    But I still do lots of cooking with beans and other legumes.

    Reply
  20. Beer —No, nor any other fermented or distilled beverage. This is a matter of food sensitivities, not some moral position. One doesn’t learn to like what makes you sick. (In earlier times, when beer was safer than water, I probably wouldn’t have lived to care; and I base this on the fact that I nearly starved to death in the 1930s because my body wasn’t processing food — until Dr. Goldstein of Central Institute of the Deaf, conquered some of the problem — at least 5 years before medicine had much information about hard allergies [if any].)
    Bread: I never loved it, but I liked it well enough. Except for hot bread fresh from the oven — which meant rolls at our house, rather than loaves of bread.
    Again, health has muddied the waters. I am sensitive to grains (particularly corn), and cope with diabetes, so bread yields to other sources of carbohydrates which are usually higher in fiber.
    But I still do lots of cooking with beans and other legumes.

    Reply
  21. I keep my consumption of starch carbohydrates to a minimum. They are high in calories, but I do eat Dave’s Killer Bread because one slice is 5g of protein.
    I sometimes have a sandwich from a French bakery on a baguette with French ham and cheese.
    I don’t leave bread on the table during dinner, or I would fill up on that and have no room for anything else. There’s no butter in my refrigerator, which would cause me to buy a loaf of sesame bread.
    My taste buds would love it too much, but I wouldn’t like the number on the scale in the morning.

    Reply
  22. I keep my consumption of starch carbohydrates to a minimum. They are high in calories, but I do eat Dave’s Killer Bread because one slice is 5g of protein.
    I sometimes have a sandwich from a French bakery on a baguette with French ham and cheese.
    I don’t leave bread on the table during dinner, or I would fill up on that and have no room for anything else. There’s no butter in my refrigerator, which would cause me to buy a loaf of sesame bread.
    My taste buds would love it too much, but I wouldn’t like the number on the scale in the morning.

    Reply
  23. I keep my consumption of starch carbohydrates to a minimum. They are high in calories, but I do eat Dave’s Killer Bread because one slice is 5g of protein.
    I sometimes have a sandwich from a French bakery on a baguette with French ham and cheese.
    I don’t leave bread on the table during dinner, or I would fill up on that and have no room for anything else. There’s no butter in my refrigerator, which would cause me to buy a loaf of sesame bread.
    My taste buds would love it too much, but I wouldn’t like the number on the scale in the morning.

    Reply
  24. I keep my consumption of starch carbohydrates to a minimum. They are high in calories, but I do eat Dave’s Killer Bread because one slice is 5g of protein.
    I sometimes have a sandwich from a French bakery on a baguette with French ham and cheese.
    I don’t leave bread on the table during dinner, or I would fill up on that and have no room for anything else. There’s no butter in my refrigerator, which would cause me to buy a loaf of sesame bread.
    My taste buds would love it too much, but I wouldn’t like the number on the scale in the morning.

    Reply
  25. I keep my consumption of starch carbohydrates to a minimum. They are high in calories, but I do eat Dave’s Killer Bread because one slice is 5g of protein.
    I sometimes have a sandwich from a French bakery on a baguette with French ham and cheese.
    I don’t leave bread on the table during dinner, or I would fill up on that and have no room for anything else. There’s no butter in my refrigerator, which would cause me to buy a loaf of sesame bread.
    My taste buds would love it too much, but I wouldn’t like the number on the scale in the morning.

    Reply
  26. I make what seems to me to be an old-fashioned cornbread. It has pepper in it as well as salt. And it’s not sweet, which store-bought cornbread seems to be.
    It’s supposed to be made with bacon drippings, but I don’t go that far. Also, I don’t keep those around.

    Reply
  27. I make what seems to me to be an old-fashioned cornbread. It has pepper in it as well as salt. And it’s not sweet, which store-bought cornbread seems to be.
    It’s supposed to be made with bacon drippings, but I don’t go that far. Also, I don’t keep those around.

    Reply
  28. I make what seems to me to be an old-fashioned cornbread. It has pepper in it as well as salt. And it’s not sweet, which store-bought cornbread seems to be.
    It’s supposed to be made with bacon drippings, but I don’t go that far. Also, I don’t keep those around.

    Reply
  29. I make what seems to me to be an old-fashioned cornbread. It has pepper in it as well as salt. And it’s not sweet, which store-bought cornbread seems to be.
    It’s supposed to be made with bacon drippings, but I don’t go that far. Also, I don’t keep those around.

    Reply
  30. I make what seems to me to be an old-fashioned cornbread. It has pepper in it as well as salt. And it’s not sweet, which store-bought cornbread seems to be.
    It’s supposed to be made with bacon drippings, but I don’t go that far. Also, I don’t keep those around.

    Reply
  31. I wonder what happened to historical folks who couldn’t tolerate wheat or other grains.
    Maybe, like you, they’d figure out what was making them feel bad and learn to avoid it. “Oh, no,” they’d say. “I undertake a special penance and drink only mint tea and water.”

    Reply
  32. I wonder what happened to historical folks who couldn’t tolerate wheat or other grains.
    Maybe, like you, they’d figure out what was making them feel bad and learn to avoid it. “Oh, no,” they’d say. “I undertake a special penance and drink only mint tea and water.”

    Reply
  33. I wonder what happened to historical folks who couldn’t tolerate wheat or other grains.
    Maybe, like you, they’d figure out what was making them feel bad and learn to avoid it. “Oh, no,” they’d say. “I undertake a special penance and drink only mint tea and water.”

    Reply
  34. I wonder what happened to historical folks who couldn’t tolerate wheat or other grains.
    Maybe, like you, they’d figure out what was making them feel bad and learn to avoid it. “Oh, no,” they’d say. “I undertake a special penance and drink only mint tea and water.”

    Reply
  35. I wonder what happened to historical folks who couldn’t tolerate wheat or other grains.
    Maybe, like you, they’d figure out what was making them feel bad and learn to avoid it. “Oh, no,” they’d say. “I undertake a special penance and drink only mint tea and water.”

    Reply
  36. I like bread, but other having it for a sandwich or with peanut butter in the morning for breakfast (protein!), I don’t typically eat it otherwise. Unless the bread has chocolate in the middle, as some Japanese types of pastry do. Yum. There’s a lot of white rice in my diet, though (being half Asian. It *is* the center of an Asian diet, after all).
    Beer–Don’t like it, except for Guinness. Otherwise, I don’t like the taste.
    Slight derail, but about still eating like our ancestors–there’s an iron disorder that runs on my dad’s side of the family and it traces back to a single family group in Ireland some thousands of years ago, because scientists think that family’s iron absorption genes mutated so they kept more iron in their bodies because of their iron-poor diet. Now, of course, all that excess iron is a health issue.

    Reply
  37. I like bread, but other having it for a sandwich or with peanut butter in the morning for breakfast (protein!), I don’t typically eat it otherwise. Unless the bread has chocolate in the middle, as some Japanese types of pastry do. Yum. There’s a lot of white rice in my diet, though (being half Asian. It *is* the center of an Asian diet, after all).
    Beer–Don’t like it, except for Guinness. Otherwise, I don’t like the taste.
    Slight derail, but about still eating like our ancestors–there’s an iron disorder that runs on my dad’s side of the family and it traces back to a single family group in Ireland some thousands of years ago, because scientists think that family’s iron absorption genes mutated so they kept more iron in their bodies because of their iron-poor diet. Now, of course, all that excess iron is a health issue.

    Reply
  38. I like bread, but other having it for a sandwich or with peanut butter in the morning for breakfast (protein!), I don’t typically eat it otherwise. Unless the bread has chocolate in the middle, as some Japanese types of pastry do. Yum. There’s a lot of white rice in my diet, though (being half Asian. It *is* the center of an Asian diet, after all).
    Beer–Don’t like it, except for Guinness. Otherwise, I don’t like the taste.
    Slight derail, but about still eating like our ancestors–there’s an iron disorder that runs on my dad’s side of the family and it traces back to a single family group in Ireland some thousands of years ago, because scientists think that family’s iron absorption genes mutated so they kept more iron in their bodies because of their iron-poor diet. Now, of course, all that excess iron is a health issue.

    Reply
  39. I like bread, but other having it for a sandwich or with peanut butter in the morning for breakfast (protein!), I don’t typically eat it otherwise. Unless the bread has chocolate in the middle, as some Japanese types of pastry do. Yum. There’s a lot of white rice in my diet, though (being half Asian. It *is* the center of an Asian diet, after all).
    Beer–Don’t like it, except for Guinness. Otherwise, I don’t like the taste.
    Slight derail, but about still eating like our ancestors–there’s an iron disorder that runs on my dad’s side of the family and it traces back to a single family group in Ireland some thousands of years ago, because scientists think that family’s iron absorption genes mutated so they kept more iron in their bodies because of their iron-poor diet. Now, of course, all that excess iron is a health issue.

    Reply
  40. I like bread, but other having it for a sandwich or with peanut butter in the morning for breakfast (protein!), I don’t typically eat it otherwise. Unless the bread has chocolate in the middle, as some Japanese types of pastry do. Yum. There’s a lot of white rice in my diet, though (being half Asian. It *is* the center of an Asian diet, after all).
    Beer–Don’t like it, except for Guinness. Otherwise, I don’t like the taste.
    Slight derail, but about still eating like our ancestors–there’s an iron disorder that runs on my dad’s side of the family and it traces back to a single family group in Ireland some thousands of years ago, because scientists think that family’s iron absorption genes mutated so they kept more iron in their bodies because of their iron-poor diet. Now, of course, all that excess iron is a health issue.

    Reply
  41. Goodness, they ate bread for the protein, now we avoid it for the carbs. Was their wheat different? I’m not bread-addictive, but I love me some yeasty baked stuff, yes, doubly if it’s chocolate-filled (Starbucks chocolate croissant, I’m sniffing you out).
    I do like the occasional good beer, the heartier the better, but not wine, thankyouverymuch, and water’s usually fine for me. You non-beer drinkers better not go to China, at least as a tourist. Beer comes with every lunch and dinner there!

    Reply
  42. Goodness, they ate bread for the protein, now we avoid it for the carbs. Was their wheat different? I’m not bread-addictive, but I love me some yeasty baked stuff, yes, doubly if it’s chocolate-filled (Starbucks chocolate croissant, I’m sniffing you out).
    I do like the occasional good beer, the heartier the better, but not wine, thankyouverymuch, and water’s usually fine for me. You non-beer drinkers better not go to China, at least as a tourist. Beer comes with every lunch and dinner there!

    Reply
  43. Goodness, they ate bread for the protein, now we avoid it for the carbs. Was their wheat different? I’m not bread-addictive, but I love me some yeasty baked stuff, yes, doubly if it’s chocolate-filled (Starbucks chocolate croissant, I’m sniffing you out).
    I do like the occasional good beer, the heartier the better, but not wine, thankyouverymuch, and water’s usually fine for me. You non-beer drinkers better not go to China, at least as a tourist. Beer comes with every lunch and dinner there!

    Reply
  44. Goodness, they ate bread for the protein, now we avoid it for the carbs. Was their wheat different? I’m not bread-addictive, but I love me some yeasty baked stuff, yes, doubly if it’s chocolate-filled (Starbucks chocolate croissant, I’m sniffing you out).
    I do like the occasional good beer, the heartier the better, but not wine, thankyouverymuch, and water’s usually fine for me. You non-beer drinkers better not go to China, at least as a tourist. Beer comes with every lunch and dinner there!

    Reply
  45. Goodness, they ate bread for the protein, now we avoid it for the carbs. Was their wheat different? I’m not bread-addictive, but I love me some yeasty baked stuff, yes, doubly if it’s chocolate-filled (Starbucks chocolate croissant, I’m sniffing you out).
    I do like the occasional good beer, the heartier the better, but not wine, thankyouverymuch, and water’s usually fine for me. You non-beer drinkers better not go to China, at least as a tourist. Beer comes with every lunch and dinner there!

    Reply
  46. I love beer. I only drink non-alcoholic now. If I didn’t already have too much food to eat, beer would be a staple in my diet. Lately I’ve been trying the new fizzy kombucha drinks, which are very low in sugar. They’re not exactly a replacement for beer, but…
    I can do without bread most of the time. It’s mostly a vehicle for jam, which I try to avoid.
    My favorite bread is oatcakes. I once used bacon fat to make them (rather than butter). Not as good to a modern-day palate, but I’m sure to the olden days working folk, the bacon flavor was delish.
    Cheese, though — sigh. I adore cheese.

    Reply
  47. I love beer. I only drink non-alcoholic now. If I didn’t already have too much food to eat, beer would be a staple in my diet. Lately I’ve been trying the new fizzy kombucha drinks, which are very low in sugar. They’re not exactly a replacement for beer, but…
    I can do without bread most of the time. It’s mostly a vehicle for jam, which I try to avoid.
    My favorite bread is oatcakes. I once used bacon fat to make them (rather than butter). Not as good to a modern-day palate, but I’m sure to the olden days working folk, the bacon flavor was delish.
    Cheese, though — sigh. I adore cheese.

    Reply
  48. I love beer. I only drink non-alcoholic now. If I didn’t already have too much food to eat, beer would be a staple in my diet. Lately I’ve been trying the new fizzy kombucha drinks, which are very low in sugar. They’re not exactly a replacement for beer, but…
    I can do without bread most of the time. It’s mostly a vehicle for jam, which I try to avoid.
    My favorite bread is oatcakes. I once used bacon fat to make them (rather than butter). Not as good to a modern-day palate, but I’m sure to the olden days working folk, the bacon flavor was delish.
    Cheese, though — sigh. I adore cheese.

    Reply
  49. I love beer. I only drink non-alcoholic now. If I didn’t already have too much food to eat, beer would be a staple in my diet. Lately I’ve been trying the new fizzy kombucha drinks, which are very low in sugar. They’re not exactly a replacement for beer, but…
    I can do without bread most of the time. It’s mostly a vehicle for jam, which I try to avoid.
    My favorite bread is oatcakes. I once used bacon fat to make them (rather than butter). Not as good to a modern-day palate, but I’m sure to the olden days working folk, the bacon flavor was delish.
    Cheese, though — sigh. I adore cheese.

    Reply
  50. I love beer. I only drink non-alcoholic now. If I didn’t already have too much food to eat, beer would be a staple in my diet. Lately I’ve been trying the new fizzy kombucha drinks, which are very low in sugar. They’re not exactly a replacement for beer, but…
    I can do without bread most of the time. It’s mostly a vehicle for jam, which I try to avoid.
    My favorite bread is oatcakes. I once used bacon fat to make them (rather than butter). Not as good to a modern-day palate, but I’m sure to the olden days working folk, the bacon flavor was delish.
    Cheese, though — sigh. I adore cheese.

    Reply
  51. I cannot imagine doing without bread—toast for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, nice crusty bread to sop up the sauce at dinner. There are so many delicious varieties of bread out there that I refuse to deny myself the pleasure of indulging in them.

    Reply
  52. I cannot imagine doing without bread—toast for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, nice crusty bread to sop up the sauce at dinner. There are so many delicious varieties of bread out there that I refuse to deny myself the pleasure of indulging in them.

    Reply
  53. I cannot imagine doing without bread—toast for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, nice crusty bread to sop up the sauce at dinner. There are so many delicious varieties of bread out there that I refuse to deny myself the pleasure of indulging in them.

    Reply
  54. I cannot imagine doing without bread—toast for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, nice crusty bread to sop up the sauce at dinner. There are so many delicious varieties of bread out there that I refuse to deny myself the pleasure of indulging in them.

    Reply
  55. I cannot imagine doing without bread—toast for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, nice crusty bread to sop up the sauce at dinner. There are so many delicious varieties of bread out there that I refuse to deny myself the pleasure of indulging in them.

    Reply
  56. My late dad was first generation American, born of Eastern European parents. We NEVER tossed bread around at the table, it was always passed. That was because bread was sacred, the body of Christ. It’s a tradition my brother and I have passed down to our own children.

    Reply
  57. My late dad was first generation American, born of Eastern European parents. We NEVER tossed bread around at the table, it was always passed. That was because bread was sacred, the body of Christ. It’s a tradition my brother and I have passed down to our own children.

    Reply
  58. My late dad was first generation American, born of Eastern European parents. We NEVER tossed bread around at the table, it was always passed. That was because bread was sacred, the body of Christ. It’s a tradition my brother and I have passed down to our own children.

    Reply
  59. My late dad was first generation American, born of Eastern European parents. We NEVER tossed bread around at the table, it was always passed. That was because bread was sacred, the body of Christ. It’s a tradition my brother and I have passed down to our own children.

    Reply
  60. My late dad was first generation American, born of Eastern European parents. We NEVER tossed bread around at the table, it was always passed. That was because bread was sacred, the body of Christ. It’s a tradition my brother and I have passed down to our own children.

    Reply
  61. I am allergic to almost everything (which seems to be because of my father’s heavy exposure to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War). I LOVE bread, but only eat the gluten-free variety now. Some places make WONDERFUL gluten-free bread.
    Coming from a European family: bread is on every table, all the time. Worrying about the calories in it just seems silly when it’s part of a healthy diet. Everyone needs carbohydrates to survive!
    I worked in pubs in England for years, but I have never taken to beer. One September 11 I was in New York and accidentally was in the pub all the World Trade Center firefighters go to each year. There’s free beer all day, so I drank it with them. However, my stomach simply cannot cope with it. I was sick for a full day afterwards!

    Reply
  62. I am allergic to almost everything (which seems to be because of my father’s heavy exposure to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War). I LOVE bread, but only eat the gluten-free variety now. Some places make WONDERFUL gluten-free bread.
    Coming from a European family: bread is on every table, all the time. Worrying about the calories in it just seems silly when it’s part of a healthy diet. Everyone needs carbohydrates to survive!
    I worked in pubs in England for years, but I have never taken to beer. One September 11 I was in New York and accidentally was in the pub all the World Trade Center firefighters go to each year. There’s free beer all day, so I drank it with them. However, my stomach simply cannot cope with it. I was sick for a full day afterwards!

    Reply
  63. I am allergic to almost everything (which seems to be because of my father’s heavy exposure to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War). I LOVE bread, but only eat the gluten-free variety now. Some places make WONDERFUL gluten-free bread.
    Coming from a European family: bread is on every table, all the time. Worrying about the calories in it just seems silly when it’s part of a healthy diet. Everyone needs carbohydrates to survive!
    I worked in pubs in England for years, but I have never taken to beer. One September 11 I was in New York and accidentally was in the pub all the World Trade Center firefighters go to each year. There’s free beer all day, so I drank it with them. However, my stomach simply cannot cope with it. I was sick for a full day afterwards!

    Reply
  64. I am allergic to almost everything (which seems to be because of my father’s heavy exposure to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War). I LOVE bread, but only eat the gluten-free variety now. Some places make WONDERFUL gluten-free bread.
    Coming from a European family: bread is on every table, all the time. Worrying about the calories in it just seems silly when it’s part of a healthy diet. Everyone needs carbohydrates to survive!
    I worked in pubs in England for years, but I have never taken to beer. One September 11 I was in New York and accidentally was in the pub all the World Trade Center firefighters go to each year. There’s free beer all day, so I drank it with them. However, my stomach simply cannot cope with it. I was sick for a full day afterwards!

    Reply
  65. I am allergic to almost everything (which seems to be because of my father’s heavy exposure to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War). I LOVE bread, but only eat the gluten-free variety now. Some places make WONDERFUL gluten-free bread.
    Coming from a European family: bread is on every table, all the time. Worrying about the calories in it just seems silly when it’s part of a healthy diet. Everyone needs carbohydrates to survive!
    I worked in pubs in England for years, but I have never taken to beer. One September 11 I was in New York and accidentally was in the pub all the World Trade Center firefighters go to each year. There’s free beer all day, so I drank it with them. However, my stomach simply cannot cope with it. I was sick for a full day afterwards!

    Reply
  66. I love all kinds and types of bread. I am not a person who avoids the carbs or calories in bread, but I am conscious of them now and do not eat as much bread as I once did. But, I truly do love any sort of bread.
    I have allergies to mold and related critters. So, no beer or any fermented liquid for me.
    As for the staff of life, yes, absolutely. I think when we look at nearly any early society, each of them had some form of bread which was a mainstay in their diet.

    Reply
  67. I love all kinds and types of bread. I am not a person who avoids the carbs or calories in bread, but I am conscious of them now and do not eat as much bread as I once did. But, I truly do love any sort of bread.
    I have allergies to mold and related critters. So, no beer or any fermented liquid for me.
    As for the staff of life, yes, absolutely. I think when we look at nearly any early society, each of them had some form of bread which was a mainstay in their diet.

    Reply
  68. I love all kinds and types of bread. I am not a person who avoids the carbs or calories in bread, but I am conscious of them now and do not eat as much bread as I once did. But, I truly do love any sort of bread.
    I have allergies to mold and related critters. So, no beer or any fermented liquid for me.
    As for the staff of life, yes, absolutely. I think when we look at nearly any early society, each of them had some form of bread which was a mainstay in their diet.

    Reply
  69. I love all kinds and types of bread. I am not a person who avoids the carbs or calories in bread, but I am conscious of them now and do not eat as much bread as I once did. But, I truly do love any sort of bread.
    I have allergies to mold and related critters. So, no beer or any fermented liquid for me.
    As for the staff of life, yes, absolutely. I think when we look at nearly any early society, each of them had some form of bread which was a mainstay in their diet.

    Reply
  70. I love all kinds and types of bread. I am not a person who avoids the carbs or calories in bread, but I am conscious of them now and do not eat as much bread as I once did. But, I truly do love any sort of bread.
    I have allergies to mold and related critters. So, no beer or any fermented liquid for me.
    As for the staff of life, yes, absolutely. I think when we look at nearly any early society, each of them had some form of bread which was a mainstay in their diet.

    Reply
  71. Unfortunate about the iron problem. What a thing to have in the family.
    (Though, you know … those little tiny iron supplements they give some anemic people are one of the more dangerous things to kids. They look just like candy and have a sweet coating. So I knew too much iron could be dangerous.(
    I wish I could like Guinness because it would be so nifty to go into a pub and order a pint.
    I think Guinness is sort of Ur-beer. The real stuff. Just chock full of B vitamins.

    Reply
  72. Unfortunate about the iron problem. What a thing to have in the family.
    (Though, you know … those little tiny iron supplements they give some anemic people are one of the more dangerous things to kids. They look just like candy and have a sweet coating. So I knew too much iron could be dangerous.(
    I wish I could like Guinness because it would be so nifty to go into a pub and order a pint.
    I think Guinness is sort of Ur-beer. The real stuff. Just chock full of B vitamins.

    Reply
  73. Unfortunate about the iron problem. What a thing to have in the family.
    (Though, you know … those little tiny iron supplements they give some anemic people are one of the more dangerous things to kids. They look just like candy and have a sweet coating. So I knew too much iron could be dangerous.(
    I wish I could like Guinness because it would be so nifty to go into a pub and order a pint.
    I think Guinness is sort of Ur-beer. The real stuff. Just chock full of B vitamins.

    Reply
  74. Unfortunate about the iron problem. What a thing to have in the family.
    (Though, you know … those little tiny iron supplements they give some anemic people are one of the more dangerous things to kids. They look just like candy and have a sweet coating. So I knew too much iron could be dangerous.(
    I wish I could like Guinness because it would be so nifty to go into a pub and order a pint.
    I think Guinness is sort of Ur-beer. The real stuff. Just chock full of B vitamins.

    Reply
  75. Unfortunate about the iron problem. What a thing to have in the family.
    (Though, you know … those little tiny iron supplements they give some anemic people are one of the more dangerous things to kids. They look just like candy and have a sweet coating. So I knew too much iron could be dangerous.(
    I wish I could like Guinness because it would be so nifty to go into a pub and order a pint.
    I think Guinness is sort of Ur-beer. The real stuff. Just chock full of B vitamins.

    Reply
  76. I think the wheat actually was different, ancient to modern.
    I didn’t go into this because it’s complicated and deserves a post of its own. And many folks feel strongly about the subject.
    *cough*
    While I have no objection to holding my ground and scrapping, I’m not keen to call upon the sword of wheat proteins.
    But anyhow, over just the last few centuries wheat’s been selected for ease of grinding and length of storage, germination percentage, drought and disease resistance, flavor, the height the grain grows (i.e how much plant energy goes into the straw rather than the grain,) protein percentage, and who-knows-whatall.
    I am going to jump on the chocolate-in-bread bandwagon. I’m up there cheering with you.
    I am delighted to run into a beer drinker. We brew beer locally, though our hard apple cider is more widely known.

    Reply
  77. I think the wheat actually was different, ancient to modern.
    I didn’t go into this because it’s complicated and deserves a post of its own. And many folks feel strongly about the subject.
    *cough*
    While I have no objection to holding my ground and scrapping, I’m not keen to call upon the sword of wheat proteins.
    But anyhow, over just the last few centuries wheat’s been selected for ease of grinding and length of storage, germination percentage, drought and disease resistance, flavor, the height the grain grows (i.e how much plant energy goes into the straw rather than the grain,) protein percentage, and who-knows-whatall.
    I am going to jump on the chocolate-in-bread bandwagon. I’m up there cheering with you.
    I am delighted to run into a beer drinker. We brew beer locally, though our hard apple cider is more widely known.

    Reply
  78. I think the wheat actually was different, ancient to modern.
    I didn’t go into this because it’s complicated and deserves a post of its own. And many folks feel strongly about the subject.
    *cough*
    While I have no objection to holding my ground and scrapping, I’m not keen to call upon the sword of wheat proteins.
    But anyhow, over just the last few centuries wheat’s been selected for ease of grinding and length of storage, germination percentage, drought and disease resistance, flavor, the height the grain grows (i.e how much plant energy goes into the straw rather than the grain,) protein percentage, and who-knows-whatall.
    I am going to jump on the chocolate-in-bread bandwagon. I’m up there cheering with you.
    I am delighted to run into a beer drinker. We brew beer locally, though our hard apple cider is more widely known.

    Reply
  79. I think the wheat actually was different, ancient to modern.
    I didn’t go into this because it’s complicated and deserves a post of its own. And many folks feel strongly about the subject.
    *cough*
    While I have no objection to holding my ground and scrapping, I’m not keen to call upon the sword of wheat proteins.
    But anyhow, over just the last few centuries wheat’s been selected for ease of grinding and length of storage, germination percentage, drought and disease resistance, flavor, the height the grain grows (i.e how much plant energy goes into the straw rather than the grain,) protein percentage, and who-knows-whatall.
    I am going to jump on the chocolate-in-bread bandwagon. I’m up there cheering with you.
    I am delighted to run into a beer drinker. We brew beer locally, though our hard apple cider is more widely known.

    Reply
  80. I think the wheat actually was different, ancient to modern.
    I didn’t go into this because it’s complicated and deserves a post of its own. And many folks feel strongly about the subject.
    *cough*
    While I have no objection to holding my ground and scrapping, I’m not keen to call upon the sword of wheat proteins.
    But anyhow, over just the last few centuries wheat’s been selected for ease of grinding and length of storage, germination percentage, drought and disease resistance, flavor, the height the grain grows (i.e how much plant energy goes into the straw rather than the grain,) protein percentage, and who-knows-whatall.
    I am going to jump on the chocolate-in-bread bandwagon. I’m up there cheering with you.
    I am delighted to run into a beer drinker. We brew beer locally, though our hard apple cider is more widely known.

    Reply
  81. I have a recipe for oatbread that I sometimes make. Very wholesome and satisfying and complex.
    But traditional Scottish/Yorkshire havercakes I have never made nor tasted.
    I make a passing mention of havercakes in my Spymaster novella Gideon and the Den of Thieves, which I really will get put up for sale again sometime.

    Reply
  82. I have a recipe for oatbread that I sometimes make. Very wholesome and satisfying and complex.
    But traditional Scottish/Yorkshire havercakes I have never made nor tasted.
    I make a passing mention of havercakes in my Spymaster novella Gideon and the Den of Thieves, which I really will get put up for sale again sometime.

    Reply
  83. I have a recipe for oatbread that I sometimes make. Very wholesome and satisfying and complex.
    But traditional Scottish/Yorkshire havercakes I have never made nor tasted.
    I make a passing mention of havercakes in my Spymaster novella Gideon and the Den of Thieves, which I really will get put up for sale again sometime.

    Reply
  84. I have a recipe for oatbread that I sometimes make. Very wholesome and satisfying and complex.
    But traditional Scottish/Yorkshire havercakes I have never made nor tasted.
    I make a passing mention of havercakes in my Spymaster novella Gideon and the Den of Thieves, which I really will get put up for sale again sometime.

    Reply
  85. I have a recipe for oatbread that I sometimes make. Very wholesome and satisfying and complex.
    But traditional Scottish/Yorkshire havercakes I have never made nor tasted.
    I make a passing mention of havercakes in my Spymaster novella Gideon and the Den of Thieves, which I really will get put up for sale again sometime.

    Reply
  86. There are not so many people who’ve managed to hold onto this tradition in America and pass it down.
    But once, yes, bread was sacred. Bread was symbol of food in general. One ‘earned his daily bread’. A stranger who had ‘eaten your bread’ created a mutual obligation. Bread and salt welcomed newcomers to the neighborhood.

    Reply
  87. There are not so many people who’ve managed to hold onto this tradition in America and pass it down.
    But once, yes, bread was sacred. Bread was symbol of food in general. One ‘earned his daily bread’. A stranger who had ‘eaten your bread’ created a mutual obligation. Bread and salt welcomed newcomers to the neighborhood.

    Reply
  88. There are not so many people who’ve managed to hold onto this tradition in America and pass it down.
    But once, yes, bread was sacred. Bread was symbol of food in general. One ‘earned his daily bread’. A stranger who had ‘eaten your bread’ created a mutual obligation. Bread and salt welcomed newcomers to the neighborhood.

    Reply
  89. There are not so many people who’ve managed to hold onto this tradition in America and pass it down.
    But once, yes, bread was sacred. Bread was symbol of food in general. One ‘earned his daily bread’. A stranger who had ‘eaten your bread’ created a mutual obligation. Bread and salt welcomed newcomers to the neighborhood.

    Reply
  90. There are not so many people who’ve managed to hold onto this tradition in America and pass it down.
    But once, yes, bread was sacred. Bread was symbol of food in general. One ‘earned his daily bread’. A stranger who had ‘eaten your bread’ created a mutual obligation. Bread and salt welcomed newcomers to the neighborhood.

    Reply
  91. Sorry you carry that experience with you. But you’re one of many who lived it and will never forget. You hold that knowledge to tell the rest of us.
    Gluten-free bread is genuine bread. It’s just a different set of grains. It’s an “on beyond wheat bread” choice.
    Nordics and East Europeans would be the first to sing the praises of rye bread and pumpernickel. Scotland praises the humble oat. I don’t know much about the traditional breads of the Far East and Africa, but I imagine that are some interesting ones. The New World ate maize. And as I was saying above, my family grew up with the “real bread is cornbread” option.

    Reply
  92. Sorry you carry that experience with you. But you’re one of many who lived it and will never forget. You hold that knowledge to tell the rest of us.
    Gluten-free bread is genuine bread. It’s just a different set of grains. It’s an “on beyond wheat bread” choice.
    Nordics and East Europeans would be the first to sing the praises of rye bread and pumpernickel. Scotland praises the humble oat. I don’t know much about the traditional breads of the Far East and Africa, but I imagine that are some interesting ones. The New World ate maize. And as I was saying above, my family grew up with the “real bread is cornbread” option.

    Reply
  93. Sorry you carry that experience with you. But you’re one of many who lived it and will never forget. You hold that knowledge to tell the rest of us.
    Gluten-free bread is genuine bread. It’s just a different set of grains. It’s an “on beyond wheat bread” choice.
    Nordics and East Europeans would be the first to sing the praises of rye bread and pumpernickel. Scotland praises the humble oat. I don’t know much about the traditional breads of the Far East and Africa, but I imagine that are some interesting ones. The New World ate maize. And as I was saying above, my family grew up with the “real bread is cornbread” option.

    Reply
  94. Sorry you carry that experience with you. But you’re one of many who lived it and will never forget. You hold that knowledge to tell the rest of us.
    Gluten-free bread is genuine bread. It’s just a different set of grains. It’s an “on beyond wheat bread” choice.
    Nordics and East Europeans would be the first to sing the praises of rye bread and pumpernickel. Scotland praises the humble oat. I don’t know much about the traditional breads of the Far East and Africa, but I imagine that are some interesting ones. The New World ate maize. And as I was saying above, my family grew up with the “real bread is cornbread” option.

    Reply
  95. Sorry you carry that experience with you. But you’re one of many who lived it and will never forget. You hold that knowledge to tell the rest of us.
    Gluten-free bread is genuine bread. It’s just a different set of grains. It’s an “on beyond wheat bread” choice.
    Nordics and East Europeans would be the first to sing the praises of rye bread and pumpernickel. Scotland praises the humble oat. I don’t know much about the traditional breads of the Far East and Africa, but I imagine that are some interesting ones. The New World ate maize. And as I was saying above, my family grew up with the “real bread is cornbread” option.

    Reply
  96. Havercakes! That’s a great name. I will make a point of trying them.
    I also make oat farls from time to time — a kind of bread made with oats and buttermilk. Oats are far and way my favorite grain.
    Maybe when you get around to dashing off a few more novellas (says she who has just spent over three months on a novella that’s going nowhere), you could put them together with Gideon as a collection. 🙂

    Reply
  97. Havercakes! That’s a great name. I will make a point of trying them.
    I also make oat farls from time to time — a kind of bread made with oats and buttermilk. Oats are far and way my favorite grain.
    Maybe when you get around to dashing off a few more novellas (says she who has just spent over three months on a novella that’s going nowhere), you could put them together with Gideon as a collection. 🙂

    Reply
  98. Havercakes! That’s a great name. I will make a point of trying them.
    I also make oat farls from time to time — a kind of bread made with oats and buttermilk. Oats are far and way my favorite grain.
    Maybe when you get around to dashing off a few more novellas (says she who has just spent over three months on a novella that’s going nowhere), you could put them together with Gideon as a collection. 🙂

    Reply
  99. Havercakes! That’s a great name. I will make a point of trying them.
    I also make oat farls from time to time — a kind of bread made with oats and buttermilk. Oats are far and way my favorite grain.
    Maybe when you get around to dashing off a few more novellas (says she who has just spent over three months on a novella that’s going nowhere), you could put them together with Gideon as a collection. 🙂

    Reply
  100. Havercakes! That’s a great name. I will make a point of trying them.
    I also make oat farls from time to time — a kind of bread made with oats and buttermilk. Oats are far and way my favorite grain.
    Maybe when you get around to dashing off a few more novellas (says she who has just spent over three months on a novella that’s going nowhere), you could put them together with Gideon as a collection. 🙂

    Reply
  101. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  102. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  103. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  104. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  105. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  106. Thanks for an interesting and informative post, Joanna. I’m not one for beer (or wine or any alcohol) as I don’t care for the taste. My husband though is happy to drink my share. I do like bread, though I’ve never lived in a household in which it was deemed sacred. My husband and I have recently had to go to a low sodium diet. You’d likely be amazed at the sodium content of most breads and other baked goods such as bagels, muffins, cakes, and the like — it’s not only the salt used in baking but often the sodium found in baking soda and baking powder. Low sodium bread is not nearly as satisfying as what we used to eat … sigh.

    Reply
  107. Thanks for an interesting and informative post, Joanna. I’m not one for beer (or wine or any alcohol) as I don’t care for the taste. My husband though is happy to drink my share. I do like bread, though I’ve never lived in a household in which it was deemed sacred. My husband and I have recently had to go to a low sodium diet. You’d likely be amazed at the sodium content of most breads and other baked goods such as bagels, muffins, cakes, and the like — it’s not only the salt used in baking but often the sodium found in baking soda and baking powder. Low sodium bread is not nearly as satisfying as what we used to eat … sigh.

    Reply
  108. Thanks for an interesting and informative post, Joanna. I’m not one for beer (or wine or any alcohol) as I don’t care for the taste. My husband though is happy to drink my share. I do like bread, though I’ve never lived in a household in which it was deemed sacred. My husband and I have recently had to go to a low sodium diet. You’d likely be amazed at the sodium content of most breads and other baked goods such as bagels, muffins, cakes, and the like — it’s not only the salt used in baking but often the sodium found in baking soda and baking powder. Low sodium bread is not nearly as satisfying as what we used to eat … sigh.

    Reply
  109. Thanks for an interesting and informative post, Joanna. I’m not one for beer (or wine or any alcohol) as I don’t care for the taste. My husband though is happy to drink my share. I do like bread, though I’ve never lived in a household in which it was deemed sacred. My husband and I have recently had to go to a low sodium diet. You’d likely be amazed at the sodium content of most breads and other baked goods such as bagels, muffins, cakes, and the like — it’s not only the salt used in baking but often the sodium found in baking soda and baking powder. Low sodium bread is not nearly as satisfying as what we used to eat … sigh.

    Reply
  110. Thanks for an interesting and informative post, Joanna. I’m not one for beer (or wine or any alcohol) as I don’t care for the taste. My husband though is happy to drink my share. I do like bread, though I’ve never lived in a household in which it was deemed sacred. My husband and I have recently had to go to a low sodium diet. You’d likely be amazed at the sodium content of most breads and other baked goods such as bagels, muffins, cakes, and the like — it’s not only the salt used in baking but often the sodium found in baking soda and baking powder. Low sodium bread is not nearly as satisfying as what we used to eat … sigh.

    Reply
  111. My father used to say that putting somebody on a low salt diet was a sure way to make them miserable.
    I don’t know of any really good substitutes for salt, either. Onion maybe? Hot pepper?

    Reply
  112. My father used to say that putting somebody on a low salt diet was a sure way to make them miserable.
    I don’t know of any really good substitutes for salt, either. Onion maybe? Hot pepper?

    Reply
  113. My father used to say that putting somebody on a low salt diet was a sure way to make them miserable.
    I don’t know of any really good substitutes for salt, either. Onion maybe? Hot pepper?

    Reply
  114. My father used to say that putting somebody on a low salt diet was a sure way to make them miserable.
    I don’t know of any really good substitutes for salt, either. Onion maybe? Hot pepper?

    Reply
  115. My father used to say that putting somebody on a low salt diet was a sure way to make them miserable.
    I don’t know of any really good substitutes for salt, either. Onion maybe? Hot pepper?

    Reply
  116. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  117. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  118. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  119. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  120. There are tens and dozens of specialized, local varieties of grains. Heirloom grains. I hope our generation manages to preserve them, especially the small traditional grains of remote places..
    There are seed banks and heirloom growers. Many thanks to all of them, says I.

    Reply
  121. I loved reading this article, Joanne. Bread is one of my passions. Also very cold beer on very hot days, but only the light beers that don’t sink like lead weights to the bottom of my stomach.
    I’m Australian and keep hearing about corn bread in American novrls. also biscuits, which I think is another American breadlike substance. I keep meaning to find recipes and make them.
    Bread is an absolute treat in our house. My husband’s favourite meal is buttered toast slathered with vegemite while I can think of nothing more sublime to eat that hot buttered toast dipped in soup.

    Reply
  122. I loved reading this article, Joanne. Bread is one of my passions. Also very cold beer on very hot days, but only the light beers that don’t sink like lead weights to the bottom of my stomach.
    I’m Australian and keep hearing about corn bread in American novrls. also biscuits, which I think is another American breadlike substance. I keep meaning to find recipes and make them.
    Bread is an absolute treat in our house. My husband’s favourite meal is buttered toast slathered with vegemite while I can think of nothing more sublime to eat that hot buttered toast dipped in soup.

    Reply
  123. I loved reading this article, Joanne. Bread is one of my passions. Also very cold beer on very hot days, but only the light beers that don’t sink like lead weights to the bottom of my stomach.
    I’m Australian and keep hearing about corn bread in American novrls. also biscuits, which I think is another American breadlike substance. I keep meaning to find recipes and make them.
    Bread is an absolute treat in our house. My husband’s favourite meal is buttered toast slathered with vegemite while I can think of nothing more sublime to eat that hot buttered toast dipped in soup.

    Reply
  124. I loved reading this article, Joanne. Bread is one of my passions. Also very cold beer on very hot days, but only the light beers that don’t sink like lead weights to the bottom of my stomach.
    I’m Australian and keep hearing about corn bread in American novrls. also biscuits, which I think is another American breadlike substance. I keep meaning to find recipes and make them.
    Bread is an absolute treat in our house. My husband’s favourite meal is buttered toast slathered with vegemite while I can think of nothing more sublime to eat that hot buttered toast dipped in soup.

    Reply
  125. I loved reading this article, Joanne. Bread is one of my passions. Also very cold beer on very hot days, but only the light beers that don’t sink like lead weights to the bottom of my stomach.
    I’m Australian and keep hearing about corn bread in American novrls. also biscuits, which I think is another American breadlike substance. I keep meaning to find recipes and make them.
    Bread is an absolute treat in our house. My husband’s favourite meal is buttered toast slathered with vegemite while I can think of nothing more sublime to eat that hot buttered toast dipped in soup.

    Reply
  126. I do love bread, and if I bake it, it’s usually the super easy “no-knead’ recipe. I also love the different varieties of flatbread, tortillas, pita, naan, etc. and I’m more likely to be eating one of those with dinner than a regular loaf.
    I come from a German-Austrian family, and we NEVER had bread or rolls with dinner, I think that’s more of a Spanish/French/Italian custom. But we had lots of whole grain breads(bauernbrot) for lunch with coldcuts and cheese.

    Reply
  127. I do love bread, and if I bake it, it’s usually the super easy “no-knead’ recipe. I also love the different varieties of flatbread, tortillas, pita, naan, etc. and I’m more likely to be eating one of those with dinner than a regular loaf.
    I come from a German-Austrian family, and we NEVER had bread or rolls with dinner, I think that’s more of a Spanish/French/Italian custom. But we had lots of whole grain breads(bauernbrot) for lunch with coldcuts and cheese.

    Reply
  128. I do love bread, and if I bake it, it’s usually the super easy “no-knead’ recipe. I also love the different varieties of flatbread, tortillas, pita, naan, etc. and I’m more likely to be eating one of those with dinner than a regular loaf.
    I come from a German-Austrian family, and we NEVER had bread or rolls with dinner, I think that’s more of a Spanish/French/Italian custom. But we had lots of whole grain breads(bauernbrot) for lunch with coldcuts and cheese.

    Reply
  129. I do love bread, and if I bake it, it’s usually the super easy “no-knead’ recipe. I also love the different varieties of flatbread, tortillas, pita, naan, etc. and I’m more likely to be eating one of those with dinner than a regular loaf.
    I come from a German-Austrian family, and we NEVER had bread or rolls with dinner, I think that’s more of a Spanish/French/Italian custom. But we had lots of whole grain breads(bauernbrot) for lunch with coldcuts and cheese.

    Reply
  130. I do love bread, and if I bake it, it’s usually the super easy “no-knead’ recipe. I also love the different varieties of flatbread, tortillas, pita, naan, etc. and I’m more likely to be eating one of those with dinner than a regular loaf.
    I come from a German-Austrian family, and we NEVER had bread or rolls with dinner, I think that’s more of a Spanish/French/Italian custom. But we had lots of whole grain breads(bauernbrot) for lunch with coldcuts and cheese.

    Reply
  131. Genuine corn bread and traditional Southern biscuits are quite different from most other traditional breads — though there’s a good bit of variety in the historical recipes.
    Commercially available corn bread and biscuits (jo sniffs disdainfully) represent modern interpretations.

    Reply
  132. Genuine corn bread and traditional Southern biscuits are quite different from most other traditional breads — though there’s a good bit of variety in the historical recipes.
    Commercially available corn bread and biscuits (jo sniffs disdainfully) represent modern interpretations.

    Reply
  133. Genuine corn bread and traditional Southern biscuits are quite different from most other traditional breads — though there’s a good bit of variety in the historical recipes.
    Commercially available corn bread and biscuits (jo sniffs disdainfully) represent modern interpretations.

    Reply
  134. Genuine corn bread and traditional Southern biscuits are quite different from most other traditional breads — though there’s a good bit of variety in the historical recipes.
    Commercially available corn bread and biscuits (jo sniffs disdainfully) represent modern interpretations.

    Reply
  135. Genuine corn bread and traditional Southern biscuits are quite different from most other traditional breads — though there’s a good bit of variety in the historical recipes.
    Commercially available corn bread and biscuits (jo sniffs disdainfully) represent modern interpretations.

    Reply
  136. I remember from my time in Germany that the main meal of the day — the “dinner” of the day — was served at lunchtime. That was still a custom in country households in the US until quite recently.
    The move of the main meal of the day to “after work” is an industrial society thing, I think.

    Reply
  137. I remember from my time in Germany that the main meal of the day — the “dinner” of the day — was served at lunchtime. That was still a custom in country households in the US until quite recently.
    The move of the main meal of the day to “after work” is an industrial society thing, I think.

    Reply
  138. I remember from my time in Germany that the main meal of the day — the “dinner” of the day — was served at lunchtime. That was still a custom in country households in the US until quite recently.
    The move of the main meal of the day to “after work” is an industrial society thing, I think.

    Reply
  139. I remember from my time in Germany that the main meal of the day — the “dinner” of the day — was served at lunchtime. That was still a custom in country households in the US until quite recently.
    The move of the main meal of the day to “after work” is an industrial society thing, I think.

    Reply
  140. I remember from my time in Germany that the main meal of the day — the “dinner” of the day — was served at lunchtime. That was still a custom in country households in the US until quite recently.
    The move of the main meal of the day to “after work” is an industrial society thing, I think.

    Reply
  141. Bread is my downfall in any diets. I love it. I only eat honey and spelt bread now as I can’t tolerate full wheat anymore. It’s delicious but I eat too much of it.I used to drink beer but not for years now. My favorite tipple is white wine. Enjoyable post.

    Reply
  142. Bread is my downfall in any diets. I love it. I only eat honey and spelt bread now as I can’t tolerate full wheat anymore. It’s delicious but I eat too much of it.I used to drink beer but not for years now. My favorite tipple is white wine. Enjoyable post.

    Reply
  143. Bread is my downfall in any diets. I love it. I only eat honey and spelt bread now as I can’t tolerate full wheat anymore. It’s delicious but I eat too much of it.I used to drink beer but not for years now. My favorite tipple is white wine. Enjoyable post.

    Reply
  144. Bread is my downfall in any diets. I love it. I only eat honey and spelt bread now as I can’t tolerate full wheat anymore. It’s delicious but I eat too much of it.I used to drink beer but not for years now. My favorite tipple is white wine. Enjoyable post.

    Reply
  145. Bread is my downfall in any diets. I love it. I only eat honey and spelt bread now as I can’t tolerate full wheat anymore. It’s delicious but I eat too much of it.I used to drink beer but not for years now. My favorite tipple is white wine. Enjoyable post.

    Reply
  146. I love bread. It’s my favorite food. But it’s not on the table anymore and hasn’t been for years. Too many carbs. I have toast for breakfast and the occasional burger. Pizza is a fond but distant memory 🙂
    It’s really a pity, because it’s the one thing I got fairly skilled at making.

    Reply
  147. I love bread. It’s my favorite food. But it’s not on the table anymore and hasn’t been for years. Too many carbs. I have toast for breakfast and the occasional burger. Pizza is a fond but distant memory 🙂
    It’s really a pity, because it’s the one thing I got fairly skilled at making.

    Reply
  148. I love bread. It’s my favorite food. But it’s not on the table anymore and hasn’t been for years. Too many carbs. I have toast for breakfast and the occasional burger. Pizza is a fond but distant memory 🙂
    It’s really a pity, because it’s the one thing I got fairly skilled at making.

    Reply
  149. I love bread. It’s my favorite food. But it’s not on the table anymore and hasn’t been for years. Too many carbs. I have toast for breakfast and the occasional burger. Pizza is a fond but distant memory 🙂
    It’s really a pity, because it’s the one thing I got fairly skilled at making.

    Reply
  150. I love bread. It’s my favorite food. But it’s not on the table anymore and hasn’t been for years. Too many carbs. I have toast for breakfast and the occasional burger. Pizza is a fond but distant memory 🙂
    It’s really a pity, because it’s the one thing I got fairly skilled at making.

    Reply
  151. I know some folks who have problems tolerating wheat who can get along with spelt. I see spelt bread for sale every once in a while. I should try it some time. Though apparently it tastes a lot like other wheat varieties.
    I guess it’s “heirloom grain” maybe.

    Reply
  152. I know some folks who have problems tolerating wheat who can get along with spelt. I see spelt bread for sale every once in a while. I should try it some time. Though apparently it tastes a lot like other wheat varieties.
    I guess it’s “heirloom grain” maybe.

    Reply
  153. I know some folks who have problems tolerating wheat who can get along with spelt. I see spelt bread for sale every once in a while. I should try it some time. Though apparently it tastes a lot like other wheat varieties.
    I guess it’s “heirloom grain” maybe.

    Reply
  154. I know some folks who have problems tolerating wheat who can get along with spelt. I see spelt bread for sale every once in a while. I should try it some time. Though apparently it tastes a lot like other wheat varieties.
    I guess it’s “heirloom grain” maybe.

    Reply
  155. I know some folks who have problems tolerating wheat who can get along with spelt. I see spelt bread for sale every once in a while. I should try it some time. Though apparently it tastes a lot like other wheat varieties.
    I guess it’s “heirloom grain” maybe.

    Reply
  156. It seems so unfair that food we really love and is traditional and everything turns out to be not good for you.
    I simply refuse to believe pizza is not a health food. I put lots of onion and green pepper on it and fool myself.

    Reply
  157. It seems so unfair that food we really love and is traditional and everything turns out to be not good for you.
    I simply refuse to believe pizza is not a health food. I put lots of onion and green pepper on it and fool myself.

    Reply
  158. It seems so unfair that food we really love and is traditional and everything turns out to be not good for you.
    I simply refuse to believe pizza is not a health food. I put lots of onion and green pepper on it and fool myself.

    Reply
  159. It seems so unfair that food we really love and is traditional and everything turns out to be not good for you.
    I simply refuse to believe pizza is not a health food. I put lots of onion and green pepper on it and fool myself.

    Reply
  160. It seems so unfair that food we really love and is traditional and everything turns out to be not good for you.
    I simply refuse to believe pizza is not a health food. I put lots of onion and green pepper on it and fool myself.

    Reply
  161. It’s much easier to digest, Joanne than ordinary wheat and no bloat. It’s also delicious. You should give it a try.

    Reply
  162. It’s much easier to digest, Joanne than ordinary wheat and no bloat. It’s also delicious. You should give it a try.

    Reply
  163. It’s much easier to digest, Joanne than ordinary wheat and no bloat. It’s also delicious. You should give it a try.

    Reply
  164. It’s much easier to digest, Joanne than ordinary wheat and no bloat. It’s also delicious. You should give it a try.

    Reply
  165. It’s much easier to digest, Joanne than ordinary wheat and no bloat. It’s also delicious. You should give it a try.

    Reply

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