Out of Moab
Bread of Life - Grandma's Rolls
My baking series will be mostly about challenging myself with bread and pastry recipes I’ve always wanted to try. But it seems fitting to start with where this began – my grandma’s rolls.
My maternal grandma was my favorite grandparent – she was a librarian and was skilled in baking, cooking and sewing (she made tons of clothes and dolls for us!)
I inherited my love of baking and books from her (though apart from her, I come from a family full of librarians and teachers, so I think I was always destined to love books!)
But unfortunately she died when I was only 12. As I grew into adulthood, I mourned that I would never get to know her then – to be able to connect with her in a deeper and richer way than I could as a kid. There’s so much I would love to be able to ask her, and I feel like I missed out on so much!
In her absence, baking is a way for me to feel close to her. There is a lot of dysfunction in my family history, displayed in myriad ways, and that side of the family is definitely included. But my grandma didn’t contribute to that. She displayed a gentle, quiet spirit and a beautiful faith.
As I wrestle with the brokenness in me that was birthed by the darkness in our family, connecting with her through baking helps to bring a measure of healing. Even when this brokenness feels overwhelming, I am reminded that I am not only a product of the worst aspects of my family. There are still beautiful and creative family traits that have left their mark on me – clear evidence of God’s mercy in my life!
My grandma always made these rolls for holidays. It’s a basic enriched dough, rolled up into crescent shapes.
In my early adult years, I took over the responsibility of making them for Thanksgiving and Easter. Though I’d baked cakes and cookies since I was young, this was the first yeast dough I’d ever attempted – and I fell in love!
Why I love breadmaking
It helps me conquer my perfectionism (or at least doesn’t allow my perfectionism to conquer me!)
For example – I have improved in my rolling pin skills, but I still cannot get a perfectly round circle. This means that the rolls will never be all the same size, even though I use a ruler as I cut them to try and make them as uniform as possible.
But I’ve come to be ok with that! And when I start trying trickier recipes that I’ve never done before (and posting pictures for all to see!), the inevitable failures mean that I will be facing and conquering my perfectionism even more!
The process of breadmaking can be putzy, detailed and long, but the satisfaction that comes with the final product makes it worth it!
It helps to foster patience in me that I wouldn’t otherwise have.
And there is nothing quite like the smell of baking bread!
Historically and scripturally, bread was a humble but essential form of sustenance. Now, between the ease of purchase and the modern fear of carbs, it’s something we overlook or take for granted. Yet for me, bread has come to mean so much more than daily sustenance. The beauty of both the process and the final result is healing!
If you want to read about what I learn as I try (and maybe fail at) some challenging breads and pastries, be sure to subscribe!
And comment below or contact me if you have any ideas of what bread recipes I should attempt!
Hey, I'm Deanna!
I'll start with the typical introductory details - I live in Wisconsin and work as an Administrative Assistant for a non-profit organization - but those are the least interesting things about me!
I love reading (theology, spiritual formation, biographies), baking and cooking, hiking and exploring the the beauty God has created - in all 4 seasons! All of these things bring me life, and they are all things I will be writing about here - so if any of that is interesting to you, subscribe and stick around for a while!
Join my mailing list - and receive a free download of a Spiritual Disciplines resource!
Created with © systeme.io