One Common Thread : Bread

More than sustenance!

One Common Thread : Bread

More than sustenance!

Time-line of Bread

• 73000 BC Asia– Crushed grain mush• 8000 BC Asia- Heated over fire• 3000 BC Mesopotamia– First baking vessels• 2000 BC Switzerland- First bread in Europe• 1500 BC Egypt- First leavened bread (40 types)• 1400 BC Egypt- Jews left; Matzo; Passover• 800 BC Greece- Refined art of bread making• 300 BC Rome- Baker’s guilds

Mud ovens Water/wind mills for grinding

• 70 AD Rome- First published cookbook• 100 AD Rome- First baking school • 1000 AD England- Trenchers (first bread bowls)

Time-line of Bread

• 1202 AD England- First laws regulating bread• 1307 AD England- Rift between bakers of white

bread and brown bread• 1620 AD Atlantic ocean- Ships biscuits• 1700 AD America- Batter breads• 1760 AD England- Earl of Sandwich• 1793 AD France- “Let them eat cake”• 1800’s England- Refined bread for aristocracy• 1860’s America- Quick breads• 1928 AD America- Sliced bread• 1930 AD America- First fortifying w/ nutrients• 1940’s Russia- Bread of immeasurable value• 1996 AD Jordan- Riots over price of bread

Bread Ingredients

• In it’s purest form• Ground grain• Water• Salt

• Unleavened or leavened with yeast• Wide array of grain flours

• Wheat for gluten

• Herbs, fruits, onions, olives, seeds, etc.

Why is bread the “staff of life”?

• Inexpensive source of calories• Excellent source of carbohydrates• High in fiber (if whole grain)• Protein

• Gluten in wheat is a partially complete protein

• Excellent source of most B vitamins• plus some vitamin E and K

• Wide array of minerals• Fe, Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Mn, Se, Zn, Cr

• Low in fat

Current Dietary Guidelines

• Make half of your grain intake whole grains

• 3 whole grains per day for a 2000 kcal diet

• Whole grains, as part of a healthy diet, may protect again chronic disease

• FDA has approved 3 whole grain health claims statements for use on labels

What kind of bread should I choose?

• Look for a WHOLE GRAIN BREAD• “Whole grain” or “Whole wheat” as first

ingredient• Label that says 100% Whole Grain• Don’t be fooled by “Wheat Bread”,

“Stone Ground” or brown colored breads• Enriched flours or breads have some

nutrients replaced, but they do not contain everything that a whole grain bread does

Our Project:

Most cultures view bread as an critical part of lifeActually synonymous with the word ‘life’

or a similar derivative in many languagesAn integral part of life in most cultures deserves

further study . . . We are currently collecting recipes & information

in 2 categories: 1) Everyday breads2) Celebratory breads

Traditional & Celebratory BreadsWhat about rituals?Consider based on the form of ritual:

Family Celebrations--holidaysFamily Traditions--vacations, birthdaysPatterned interactions--dinner, bedtime, etc

Consider based on the purpose of ritual:Connection rituals--outings, vacations, etcLove rituals--birthday’s, Mother’s Day, etcCommunity rituals--weddings, religious activities

All are common in most cultures! Wolin & Bennett-- Doherty

Traditional & Celebratory Breads

Value of Rituals & Traditional Celebrations

1) Stability (predictable, links past & future)

2) Continuity & Security (life goes on)

3) Protective positive forces during trauma (I’ll be OK)***something as common as bread can be

an important part of traditions, rituals and celebrations

Results. . .

Responses vary greatlyCommon thread-

Those who respond have positive memories

Let’s let some of them tell you!

Sample cultures:

Culture Daily   Holiday

Egypt/Jewish Exodus Matzo Challah

Greece Pita Bread Tsoureki (easter egg bread)

France Baguette Pastries

Italy Peasant Bread Foccacia

Holland Oliebollen Pofferffes

England Malt Loaf Crumpets

America Corn Bread Anadama

Russia Black Rye Kulich (Russian Easter Bread)

Hawaii Hawaiian Sweet Bread Aloha Bread

Finland Rye Bread Finnish Easter Bread

Middle East Pita Bread Yemen Sponge Bread

New Zealand Pakipaki Foccacia

Germany Gingerbread Loaf (early monks) Stollen

Classroom Applications

• Foods—this is a given and we’ll move on!• TLC• Adult Roles and Financial Literacy• Clothing/Fashion Strategies• Entrepreneurship• Teen Living• Interior design• Child development• Hospitality• Life management• Consumer economics• Child care

Handout contents:

Project letter & formsRecipes (thus far)Breadmaker adaptation when

availableBook listWeb links