How to Eat Bread

Last week was B week so we just had to learn bread manners.  Now this post is going to throw some of you for a loop and you simply will not accept the proper manners on How to Eat Bread.  But I will still impart the information, you can decide what to do with it.

Attention Getter: Set the table with a bread plate.  Another dish on the table will instantly get your kids’ attention.  The bread plate goes to the left of the main plate.

Manner: Use your bread plate.  It will be located to the left of your main plate.  Place butter and/or jelly on your plate first, before it goes on your bread.

Pass bread to the right.

Don’t saw the roll in half with your knife.  Use your hands and break the roll in half. Especially with hard rolls, cutting with a knife makes too many crumbs.

(This is where you are all going to revolt if you haven’t already.) Break off one bite at a time and only butter this piece.  Don’t slather the whole half of the roll with butter.   Butter each bite as you go.  This manner goes back to old times when the servants would get to take home the extra bread.  If the bread had butter on it then it wouldn’t keep.  (At least this is what I read.) Plus one bite at at time demonstrates self- restraint.

The exception to this rule is toast and muffins- if they are warm- you can butter the whole thing so the butter can melt.

If the bread is served in one whole loaf to everyone (without a knife) it is okay to use your hands to break off a chunk.  If there is a knife served with the bread plate, use a knife to cut off your piece.

Practice: I served rolls one night to practice buttering one bite at a time and I served Peasant Bread another night to help my kids practice the concept of a communal bread loaf.  (My husband and I ate at Macaroni Grill the other night where they serve this type of bread, and my bread is yummier if I do say so myself.)

Recipe: Here is the recipe to Erika’s/Rebecca’s fabulous peasant bread (I have to give credit where credit is due):

1 pkg yeast

1 T. sugar

4 c. flour (I have used wheat flour before and it works)

2 c. warm water

2 tsp. salt

1 T. Italian seasoning

Mix yeast, sugar, salt, and water until dissolved.  Add flour and Italian seasoning.  Mix with spoon.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray.  Divide dough into 2 balls and put on oiled/sprayed cookie sheet.  Cover with towel and let raise 20-30 minutes.

Pull in sides; brush top with melted butter.  Sprinkle with salt and Italian seasoning.  (I use sea salt.)

Bake at 425 degrees for 10 min; then bake at 375 degrees for 15 min.

Dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar garnished with grated Parmesan cheese.

You can thank me later! Enjoy!