Pastor Bob’s Communion Bread

Pastor Bob’s Communion Bread.

Pastor Bob’s Communion Bread

Pastor Bob’s Communion Bread

The preparation and baking of this bread was demonstrated to my son years ago by Pastor Bob for his first communion. Pastor Bob used a Greek bread press for a crowning touch to the bread.

“This recipe was given to me by my Pastor when I lived in Stanley, ND many years ago. Over the years of making this bread, I have given a demonstration to many students in preparation for communion. I have discovered that there are many biblical aspects to the bread as well as many community centered qualities. This bread making process and the resulting discussions have been a source of prayer and centering for me for many years. I hope that you will take the time for prayer and contemplation as you experience Christ and scripture in this bread.”

1 Cup White Flour
2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder

Sift these ingredients together three times, then cut in
3 Tablespoons oil

Mix together ¾ cup plus 3 Tablespoons hot water with 3 Tablespoons molasses and 3 Tablespoons honey.
Add this liquid mixture to the dry ingredients

Form this into a dough and knead it until a little smooth in texture, about 1 minute.

Cut into 4 pieces and pat each piece into a round about ¼ inch thick.

Mark each piece with a cross and bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Brush with oil and return to the oven for 3 minutes

Let cool and store in an airtight container.

Peace
Pastor Bob

Note; Pastor Bob’s Greek bread press, was a part of his ancestry. The wooden bread press was similar to this one, which I came across during one of my many “treasure hunts.” I was able to contact him as he shared the above message and recipe.

Gr. Viv’s Bran Muffins

Gr. Viv’s Bran Muffins.

Gr. Viv’s Bran Muffins

Grandma Vivian’s Bran Muffins

6 cups bran flakes } set aside
1 cup boiling water}
1 cup oil(or applesauce)} cream
2 cups white sugar }together
1 cup brown sugar. }
4 eggs——–add beaten eggs
and 1 quart(4 cups)of buttermilk
5 tsp. baking soda}
1 tsp. salt }add dry
5 cups flour }ingredients
2 cups raisons(boil to soften)add
Mix everything together, fill tin or muffin cups 2/3 full.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min.

Dough may be kept in fridge for several weeks.
Makes 6-7 dozen muffins.

An aluminum muffin tin from my childhood.

Thinking like a Zamboni

Thinking like a Zamboni.

Thinking like a Zamboni

When you see a figure ice skating show or a hockey game, the glazed ice is initially smoothed and cleared by a Zamboni. This machine melts the top layer of ice as if glazing the frosted top of a baker’s prized dessert.
The figure skater spins, cuts, and tears into the ice with the flat, sharpened blades and the jagged, jutting toe-picks as the skater glides and jumps up dancing like a feathery bird in flight to the graceful rhythm of a song, with sudden stops and pauses in between.
The hockey skater brings in a bolder, yet, just as graceful move onto the surface with the larger, curved blades of hockey skates. There’s checking, stick handling, flying, gliding pucks, and, an occasional nose-bleeding fight, often penalized while the remaining players use their knowledge, skills, and the expert advice of their coaches and the referees to score or defend against their opponents’ goals. Fast-paced action shaves, cuts, and scrambles the ice to a snow-strewn, disheveled, carved surface, until a break in the action releases the Zamboni towards it’s circular course. Resurfacing, clearing, forgiving all of the marring of the icy surface, as the “clean slate” is heated, melted, and, once again, smooth and clear.
Charlie Brown once said, “There are three things in life that people like to stare at: a flowing stream, a crackling fire, and a Zamboni clearing the ice.”