You know the posts I mean. Twelve paragraphs about someone's grandmother before you ever see a measuring cup. Not here. If you want the myth and the meaning behind Lughnasadh, it’s here → The Meaning of Lughnasadh. The Myth, Mourning, & The First Harvest. This one's just the recipe.
Four herbs. One braid. A loaf worth the blue ribbon.
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Lugh's Blue Ribbon Harvest Bread
Adapted from China Bayles' Book of Days by Susan Wittig Albert
Golden braided bread with earthy herbs of sage, rosemary, thyme, & oregano baked in.
- Perfect to share with family and friends.
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine ¼ cup warm water, yeast, and sugar, stirring gently until everything dissolves. Pour in the remaining cup of warm water and 1 tablespoon of melted butter, letting the mixture come alive.
In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups flour, sea salt, and the minced sage. Slowly fold this into the yeast mixture, letting the dough take shape in its own time. Add flour as needed until smooth and no longer sticky. Knead for 5 to 6 minutes.
Place the dough in an oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Let rise 90 minutes, or until doubled.
Gently punch down the dough and divide it into three equal parts. Knead rosemary into one, thyme into the next, and oregano into the last. Roll each into a long rope, about 20 inches. ** Braid the ropes together on a lined baking sheet. Pinch and tuck the ends under.
Cover the braided loaf and let it rise for another 45 to 50 minutes, until it has doubled again. As it rises, preheat your oven to 375°F. Just before baking, brush the loaf with the remaining butter and sprinkle poppy seeds on top.
Ingredients:
2 ¼ tsp. active dry yeast
(1 packet)1 tsp. sugar
1 ¼ c. warm water, divided
2 Tbs. melted butter, divided
2 ½ – 3 c. bread flour
1 tsp. sea salt
2 Tbs. fresh sage, minced
2 Tbs. fresh rosemary, minced
2 Tbs. fresh thyme, minced
2 Tbs. fresh oregano, minced
2 tsp. poppy seeds
Yield: 1 large braided loaf (12 servings) | Prep: 20 min | Rise: 2.5 hrs | Bake: 35 -40 min**Pro-Tip: While braiding, set an intention you’d like to have for whoever the loaf is for. For example, braid in the energy of love, support, and harmony. It sounds a little woo, but that’s ok. Love is always the secret ingredient. 😉
Magical Correspondences
Sage — purification, wisdom (mixed into the base dough) • Rosemary — remembrance, protection, clarity • Thyme — courage, vitality • Oregano — joy, release • Poppy seeds — luck
“May your harvest be plentiful, your bread rise tall, and your gratitude outshine it all.”