St. Sarah’s Quick Bread

History

In the grand scheme of history, St. Sarah is a relatively recent addition to the sanctoral calendar. For this reason, the historic traditions connected to her commemoration are limited. Nevertheless, like many Old Testament saints, there is plenty about her in the Scriptures from which we can learn and glean some idea of what food might be appropriate for St. Sarah’s Day on January 20th.

But before we share a deliciously easy and quick bread inspired by Sarah and Abraham’s hospitality, there is one quirky tradition taken on by the Dutch that we do have to note, and that is referring to one’s 50th birthday as the “Sarah birthday” for women or “Abraham birthday” for men. The naming of this special milestone birthday is drawn from John 8, when even though he was not yet 50 years old, Jesus says that before Abraham was born, “I am.” This is just one more fun cultural connection to St. Sarah and her husband, Abraham.

At any rate, today’s recipe is inspired by the great pleasure Abraham and Sarah had to host the three visitors bearing blessings. When the three men pass by, Abraham bids them to stay and eat with them, which they do while Sarah, Abraham, and the servants prepare a meal in haste. Sarah, we read, mixes flour and forms little cakes. Keeping this quick meal in mind, we have the perfect bread to enjoy while reflecting on the faithfulness of St. Sarah and her example for us in faith and hospitality—a recipe which you can make right in the pinch of time!

Quick Bread

In the spirit of hosting, a good hostess is always prepared for company, so it is fitting that Sarah was ready for the company of her Lord. There are many things a hostess can do before a guest comes, but if you find yourself in a bind and need to make a quick loaf of bread, this is one of the fastest options out there (along with these biscuits). The rise of the loaf is powered not by yeast (hence the shorter wait time) but by baking soda and baking powder. And you can hardly beat a 30-minute cook time for a large loaf of bread.

Ingredients

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ stick butter

fresh herbs (rosemary, sage)

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 ½ – 2 cups milk, divided

1 egg, divided

1 cup cheese

1 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and place a sheet of baking parchment in an oven-safe pan or dutch oven.
2. In a pan on the stove, heat the butter, herbs, and garlic until fragrant. Meanwhile, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl.
3. Remove the butter herb mixture from the stove and add one cup of the milk, stir, add the egg, reserving a tablespoon of the egg white for later, stir again, and pour the wet ingredients into the dry.
4. Add ½ – ¾ cup more milk until a dough forms. Knead the cheese into the dough and work it all together to form a ball. Place it in the dutch oven.
5. Combine the remaining egg white with 1 tbsp of water and brush over the dough.
6. Bake it for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown on top and a knife inserted comes out clean. Remove it from the oven and brush with butter and top with extra cheese and herbs, if desired.