I recently read a book called “Make the Bread, Buy the Butter.” It’s a fun look into what is worth making at home- as a result of price or taste superiority. And what is simply better to buy. The author suggests that it is better to make bread, yogurt, vanilla extract, and a multiplicity of other things. It was an insightful book, and sparked my interest in trying to make a few things at home. Peanut butter and yogurt are on my list so far.
I’ve been making our bread for the last six months or so. I make it, because I prefer it. And now, I can’t go back. Store bought bread just tastes nasty- at least the cheap stuff I’m willing to by. Making my own bread allows me to have a far superior bread for a cheaper price. I make 100% whole wheat bread and often throw in a bit of flax. I make 4 loaves at a time. Freeze two, give away one, and enjoy the other fresh. Despite the inconvenience of waiting for the rising, it really doesn’t take much hands on time- it just limits when you can leave the house- and often by the time the bread is ready to go in the oven, I’m eager to get out! For me, it’s worth it, Scotland most definitely concurs. “Bread” will likely be his first word.
I’ve also been experimenting with whole grain flours. I made one a few weeks ago with barley, duram, quinoa and millet that was extraordinary in waffles and pancakes. I ground another with brown rice instead of barley that I’m eager to try. I’ve always had a fascination with grains, probably because I love to bake.
A few days ago I watched the documentary “Forks over Knives.” The premise of the movie is that a plant based diet is crucial to health, and successful in preventing and even curing disease e.g. heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypertension. I’ve been reading the blog Word of Wisdom Living for the last year, so the ideas were not new, though a more thorough explanation of the studies the blog mentioned was appreciated. All in all the more I’ve read about nutrition the more I’ve realized how divinely inspired the Word of Wisdom is. (The word of wisdom is God’s law of health, given in revelation to Joseph Smith in 1833.) Let me list a few things that have really caught my attention lately, and things that I feel I have done a poor job of following:
D&C 89
10 . . . verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs [plants] God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
Note that the first thing God tells us TO eat, as opposed to NOT eat or drink, is plants.
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
Note the mention of eating in season. A blog author I follow eats solely in season. I’ve always thought this a bit extreme. (Tomatoes are in season somewhere right?!) I may need to pay this more heed.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used csparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
This is the one that struck me the strongest. Meat is to be eaten only in times of winter, cold or famine. That is definitely more sparing that I eat meat. This command is very much in keeping with the thesis behind “Forks over Knives.” (Though D&C 49:18 suggests complete abstainance from meat is not essential.)
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these [referring to the previous animals] hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—