🌾 BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY

January at Kindred Acres Farmstead

January has a way of quieting a farm. The cows move slower, the wind cuts a little sharper across the pasture, and even the kitchen seems to whisper instead of sing. After the rush of Christmas baking and family gatherings, the first month of the year invites us to take a breath—a long, steadying breath…the kind you don’t realize you’ve been missing.

Out here at Kindred Acres Farmstead, the stillness is never empty. It’s the kind of quiet where you can hear your own thoughts again… and, more importantly, the Lord’s gentle nudging. Winter on a farm reminds us that not every season is meant for plowing or planting. Some are meant for resting, mending, and letting the soil of our hearts settle so new things can grow.

And just like that, God brings us right back to bread.

🍞 Daily Bread for a New Year

Bread has always carried deep meaning. From Scripture to supper tables, it’s a symbol of God’s provision—simple, steady, and faithful. Not flashy. Not hurried. Just like January.

Every time I mix dough in my farmhouse kitchen, I’m reminded that bread starts humbly: a little grain, a little water, a little patience.

Wheat was God’s idea for sustaining us, and every loaf tells the story of His goodness. It also tells a bit of our story here at Kindred Acres—where family traditions are kept alive, and where we’re doing our best to plant seeds of faith for the next generation.

This month, I wanted to share a recipe that feels like a fresh start: simple, wholesome, comforting… and the perfect reminder that God is already in our tomorrow.

🍯 HONEY WHEAT SANDWICH BREAD

A farmhouse favorite for the whole family.

Ingredients

• 3 cups freshly ground Kindred Acres wheat flour (or whole wheat flour)

• 1 cup bread flour

• 1 ½ cups warm water

• ¼ cup honey

• ¼ cup oil or melted butter

• 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)

• 1 ½ tsp salt

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk warm water, honey, and yeast. Let it sit 5 minutes until bubbly.

2. Add oil, salt, and 2 cups of the wheat flour. Mix until combined.

3. Add remaining flour gradually until a soft dough forms.

4. Knead 8–10 minutes until smooth and stretchy.

5. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise about 1 hour.

6. Shape into a loaf and place into a greased bread pan.

7. Let rise again 30–40 minutes.

8. Bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes or until golden brown.

9. Brush with butter if you feel like being extra kind to yourself.

Serve it warm, slice it thick, and enjoy it with someone you love—or with a quiet moment to yourself.

🌿 A Thought to Carry Into the New Year

Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”He didn’t tell us to sprint into the year with fear or frenzy. He simply invited us to trust Him for today.

So as 2026 begins, may your home—and your heart—be filled with the same peace that rests over our fields this time of year. May you find joy in the slow moments, courage for the busy ones, and enough grace in every day to remember that God is still writing your story.

And He writes beautifully.

From our farmhouse kitchen to yours…Happy New Year, friend.

May this be a year of harvest in ways only the Lord can bring.

Much love,

Cindy (Mom and Grandma)