It seems that I go in phases with my baking. Some seasons I find myself making batch after batch of rosemary rolls (which are sooooo delicious) and other seasons may find me hovering over new recipes and trying anything that has a foreign word in the title. I won’t try to figure out patterns, that would be silly (and time consuming!), but this season, I’ve noticed, has been all about the molasses bread and no-knead sourdough.
And look, here they are, all tidy, in one basket, ready to take to church for a Friday service, then soup dinner.
Do you have soup dinners in your life, too? Times when a community comes together to do something, then you all share a meal after that something? At our church, we become a tight knit clan during Lent, praying together often, not just on Sundays, and we follow some of those times of prayer–with food. Together, we can all enjoy the soup and the bread, and swap recipes, and generally try to boost and encourage our fellow journeymen.
Long ago, my husband and I played on a soccer team, and after every single game in the summer, we shared a meal at a team member’s home. I’m sure we played better on the field because we broke bread together so often (we were the Red Hots!). Not only did we have Lucie, with her tough-as-a-bulldog-defending, but we had Eric, who made these amazing gooey chocolate chip cookies with pudding in them. Fun to remember those times, and how the soccer plus the food made us into a family.
Anyway, back to this Lenten season, this season of molasses bread and sourdough. Spring has come, and our yard is green all over–the plum tree has set fruit,
the callas and nasturtiums and succulents are in bloom,
and our favas are almost eight feet tall and covered with ripe and ready beans.
And I’ve been writing like a mad woman. I’ve been neglecting the house and scribbling stories about journeys, and hedgehogs, and researching spices, and wondering about the Kingdom of God. And I’ve been praying, and reading, and gardening and playing with my kids. And listening. I’ve been trying to open my ears, and just listen more.
But that’s enough about me. What has this season been for you? We’re about to enter a new realm, you know, with Easter and Pascha almost upon us. And certainly there will be change–there will be roasted chicken, that’s for sure–and maybe there will be chocolate shortbread, too.
Or rosemary rolls. Not sure yet.
Happy last days of Lent, everyone! Enjoy this season, whatever that might mean for you this time around…
The Woman and the Wheat 
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I love eating your bread at the soup dinners!! It certainly is a wonderful season and I am looking forward to the season of Pascha!
I have enjoyed listening to the beautiful hymns of the Church this lenten season as well as reading some books that help me better dive into this time of repentance. Thanks Jane for sharing yourself so freely with the community around you. You are an inspiration.
Jane,
What a blessing you are to me! An inspiration! Enjoy the simple, enjoy the divine, enjoy God’s precious gifts that He has surely given to you!
Love,
Kh. Tammy
WOw! spring has certainly arrived at your place! my “fava’s” are yet to sprout out of the soil here in the UK let alone having swelling pods like yours. Thank you for your inspiring and faithful blog. Love from across the pond,Tamsin.
Tamsin–love back. Enjoy your favas–they are such fun to watch grow. Like in a fairy tale.
My girls would be so happy to have a plum tree…every time we get plums, they plant the pit, but it’s not the right climate here. ♥ I also adore nasturtiums, especially in a salad! Yum. And fava beans…we considered planting some in our backyard garden. What do you plan to make with them?
Yes, plums are favorites around here. We eat them fresh, make jars of jam, and always make gads of plum leather for lunches. Maybe at a nursery they might be able to find the right variety for your climate? I know they are fairly versatile–we had plum trees in Colorado, and a different variety here in Santa Barbara. Do try 🙂
Favas. This is our third year planting favas and we are in love. They don’t seem to develop any diseases and grow like a jack-in-the-beanstalk vine. We can plant them in early October here, but I’m sure in colder climates you have to wait until early spring. Anyhoo… my husband makes all sorts of cold salads with them–with goat cheese (soon!) and one of our favorites is a jamie oliver recipe (he’s making it tonight) http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetarian-recipes/incredible-smashed-peas-fava-beans-o Since this recipe is on toast, I get to participate by baking some delicious sourdough or French bread recipe. Once you see some favas in the grocery store, I dare you to try this. You’ll love me forever 🙂
Kristin and Kh Tammy. You are both very sweet. Blessed remaining days of Lent!
Your breads always look so good. My family requests for me to make bread more often than I do. I really should plan ahead during my day so that I can. I enjoy kneading the dough.
Our church has presanctified on Wednesday evenings followed by a pot luck. There is always so much good food that I feel guilty for the indulgence during Lent. I have been loving the Lenten melodies this year, more so than in the past. They are so soothing and just wash over me. Fish this Sunday!!