The Gift of Bread

Author: Karen Whiting
Genre: Inspirational Cookbook

A feast for the senses that combines inviting recipes, thoughtful reflections, encouragement, and instruction for how to live fully on God's provision.
Thirty-one chapters, each featuring detailed and easy-to-follow recipes for breads of every kind, celebrate the many ways we come together around the table. Whether you are a baker who enjoys thoughtful, inspirational writing or a reader who loves a good cookbook, you will find heartfelt stories and inspirations throughout this book. Expert tips, how-tos, and pointers will turn even a novice into a successful baker, and the writing will encourage readers to reach out and share their bounty with others, while thanking God for their daily bread.

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Reviewer: Valerie Jackson

A cookbook devotional! I hardly know what to do with myself, I’m so happy!

This is a fine example of how what you believe becomes part of your everyday life.

There are 60 devotionals here, all focused on bread as mentioned in the Bible, and especially on Jesus, the bread of life. There are several ways to tackle this book. If you are organized and patient, you can start with the first chapter and daily make your way through to the end. Or you can be like me and choose by topic or recipe.

One thing that would have made me love this book, even more, is if they had added some photographs. I very much wanted to see the bread platters and baskets the author mentioned, as well as some table settings and completed recipes. It also could use an index for the recipes as I wasn’t necessarily prepared to cook on the same day I read the devotional. There is no easy way to find a particular recipe.

These devotionals are short (not including cooking time if you decide to test out a recipe) and so they are easily incorporated into your day. The author starts each chapter with a personal story, moves on to examine scripture, and ends with a bread project you can get your hands into. The making of bread became an extended way to meditate on God’s Word. I could easily see adapting some of these lessons for a group setting. 

    I was astonished at how many mentions of bread were in the Bible. And if she can add some beautiful photographs, I hope her next devotional features wine.

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