Ask Kytka Archives: June 12, 2002
Do you have any resources for bread baking?

I sure do!

Here are a few of our favorite verses, a Sunday Bread story!

Enjoy!

Bread Making Verses:

* * * * * * * *

The farmer gave us golden grain
For us to grind and grind.
Now it’s flour brown and white,
Soft and very fine.
Add the water, yeast and honey,

Mix it with our hands.
When it’s soft and not too runny
Let it stand and stand.
Shape the dough into a loaf.
Put it in to cook.
When it’s crusty, crisp and brown,
We’ll have a look.

* * * * * * * *

Slice, slice, the bread looks nice.
Spread, spread butter on the bread.
On the top put jam so sweet,
Now it’s nice for us to eat.

* * * * * * * *

Bread is a lovely thing to eat.
God Bless the barley and the wheat.
A lovely thing to breathe is air.
God Bless the sunshine everywhere.
Earth is a lovely place to know.
God Bless the folk that come and go.
Alive is a lovely thing to be.
Giver of life we say: Bless Thee.

The Sunday Bread Story

In the town lives the baker. On Saturday he wants to bake. He takes a bowl and from his sack pours flour into it, and then he adds milk. He kneads and leaves it on the table to rise. Then he goes off to the garden to have a rest. He lies down under a tree and soon dreams his sweet baker’s dream.

The dough in the bowl rises, and rises over the edge and looks around and says: “Oh, how large the world is. I want to rise more and see the whole wide world:

I rise and rise, higher and high
I rise and rise to see the sky.”

And the dough rises up the chimney, and to the top of the chimney there he sings:

“I rise and rise, higher and high
I rise and rise to see the sky.”

The song awakens the baker. He looks up, sees the dough on the chimney and says; “What are you doing up there?” – “I want to see the whole wide world.” says the dough. ‘Well, I will help you to see the whole wide world, come down.”

The dough comes down and goes back into the bowl. Then the baker takes the dough, adds raisins and nuts and divides the mixture into pieces. He rolls each piece out and kneads it and kneads it. Then he puts the loaves on the baking tray and pushes them into the oven. When they are baked golden brown and crisp, he lays them into his basket and goes into the street, where he calls out:

“Sunday bread, Sunday bread,
Baked with nuts and raisins red.”

Doors open and children come running along and say: “A Sunday loaf, please.” – “Yes, here you are,” says the baker. “A Sunday loaf please!” – “Yes”, says the baker and shares out the loaves of bread. The children say: “Thank you,” and skip away. Then the baker looks into his basket and says: “And now my dough has gone into the whole wide world!” and he goes home.

Bread Baking Verse

Lads and maidens, fair and strong,
to the baker: come along!
Early in the morning hour
bring the meal and bring the flour,
coarse or fine – corn or wheat,
makes delicious bread to eat.
But whatever you may bring,
don’t forget the seasoning:
put in salt and caraway,
anise seed or sesame,
mix it well to make the dough,
yeast and water make it grow.
Keep it warm and let it rest
For to rise – that is the best.
Now you knead with might and main,
knead it over and over again,
shape a round loaf, roll or bun,
stretch a long loaf – easy done.
Stroke them well with water clear,
gentle hands are welcome here.
In the oven’s steady glow
to be baked the bread must go,
basking there like in the sun,
getting brown until it’s done.

*Special Thanks to Miss Michelle for sharing this story & verse.

Please visit the following pages to learn more…

• Child’s Food for Life – A look at diet in relation to Waldorf Education
• Steiner on Vegetarianism
• Steiner Speaks on Nutrition
• Cooking Measurement Equivalents

Recommended Reading:

• The Tassajara Bread Book:   This book is the Bible of bread books – and all of the Waldorf schools I have been in contact with use the dough recipes from this wonderful little book.   Highly Recommended!
• The Waldorf Book of Breads:  What child doesn’t like to feel and knead bread dough, watch it rise, and then taste it fresh from the oven? Not only is such hands-on sensory experience fun for everyone, it is also invaluable to young children as they continue to incarnate into our world. These recipes have been handed down by grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and friends. They are easy to follow and encourage the baker, young and older alike, to use the best possible ingredients, making bread once again the healthy “staff of life” it once was. The Waldorf Book of Breads includes tasty breads for the daily table and specialty breads for the seasons and special occasions.
• The Waldorf Cookbook: The Waldorf Cookbook is a collection of recipes from Waldorf Schools, teachers, and parents all over the world. These recipes are the most cherished in the Waldorf tradition, and hand selected by Waldorf Schools around the globe. Inside The Waldorf Cookbook you will find wholesome, natural recipes to fill your home with health and harmony. These recipes have been passed down from generation to generation, crossing oceans and mountains to find their way into your family’s home. There is nothing like an old-fashioned recipe, one that has a history and has been nourishing the hearts and minds of the world for ages. This is what the Waldorf Cookbook brings to you.