The Bakery

The aroma of yeast and cherries draws us in. It’s cold outside and the dawn’s barely touching the horizon, but the bakery already hosts a small crowd. The display case holds coffee cakes, pastries, donuts, and many things I have no name for. Behind the counter hang baskets holding breads of so many varieties I look to the price tags to figure out what bread we might want. 

The tags are all in German. My husband and I share a glance and we both shrug. 

When we reach the counter, my husband tries to ask what they’d recommend. He’s bolder than I in trying to speak German but it still takes a moment for them to understand. Finally, a woman suggests a round loaf of what might be wheat bread. We agree to take it. The tag names it “König Ludwig Brot.” 

We also take a piece of coffee cake and a donut for breakfast, ordering them by pointing. Then we walk the short distance home and set our treasures on the kitchen island, thrilled at our first German shopping success. 

Turns out König Ludwig Brot or bread, is named after King Ludwig II of Bavaria and is a mix of rye and wheat flour. It’s delicious. So is the kornbrot and the bauernbrot. There are over 3000 types of bread in Germany. I suspect each one offers its own little piece of heaven. 

Between the bells I wrote about last week and our local bakery, I’m not sure what’s my favorite. Perhaps it’s the whole picture that I love so much. It’s like an invitation to slow down long enough to be thankful. To enjoy the simple things in life.

My husband and I have started walking to the bakery at least once a week. The baker is starting to recognize us and if she tells us something is delicious, well, that something’s now guaranteed to be part of our breakfast. 

What brings simple joys to your life? 

Blessings,

Jennifer

The post The Bakery appeared first on Jennifer M Zeiger.