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Jeannine and David Jordan​

HANNOVER BREAD
David writes: 

My Hannover bread is inspired by the delicious breads we discovered in the local markets. It's a combination of half white and half wheat flour, with added sunflower and pumpkin seeds. The resulting loaf is hearty yet easy to make. The recipe may seem lengthy, but I've included all the necessary details to ensure your success. So go ahead and give it a try – you'll enjoy every bite!
INGREDIENTS
Equipment needed: 
6-qt. Cast iron Dutch Oven

  • 4 ½ cups (36 fl oz) 115°F water
  • 3 Tbs (42g) instant or active yeast
  • 4 ½ cups (550g) white flour
  • 4 ½ cups (550g) wheat flour
  • ½ cup (75g) sunflower seeds
  • ½ cup (75g) pumpkin seeds
  • 1 Tbs (15g) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbs (42g) sugar
  • 1 Tbs (42g) salt
  • Egg wash: Whisk 1 egg. Brush on loaf just before baking.
METHOD
  1. Mix the water, yeast, sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a large bread bowl and let generate for 10 minutes.
  2. Heat oven to 170 ̊F (77°C).
  3. In a separate bowl combine seeds and flour. Mix well.
  4. Add flour and seed mixture to water/yeast mixture. Use hands to blend together. Turn off the oven.
  5. Cover bowl with towel and place in oven for 40 minutes. Take bowl out of oven. Reheat oven to 170 ̊F (77°C).
  6. Lift edge of dough in bowl, stretch and fold mixture in on itself. Repeat lifting and stretching all 4 sides of the dough. 
  7. Turn oven off and return bowl to the oven for 40 minutes. Remove proofed dough from oven.
  8. Turn oven up to 480°F (249°C) degrees and place Dutch Oven on center rack of oven. Dust an 18in (45cm) piece of parchment paper well with flour.
  9. Form dough into ball and place in center of parchment. Cover with cloth while oven pre-heats.
  10. When oven reaches 480° F (249°C) take Dutch Oven out of oven.
  11. Using the parchment paper lift the dough into the preheated Dutch Oven. Brush loaf with egg wash.  Cover Dutch Oven and return to oven.
  12. After 20 minutes, remove cover. Bake for 14-16 additional minutes.
  13. Take the Dutch Oven out of the oven. Use the parchment paper to lift the bread onto a cooling rack.
  14. Allow bread to cool completely before slicing.

Eat and enjoy as much as you dare! ​
David and Jeannine Jordan
David and Jeannine Jordan, with a familiar figure monitoring them closely...
David writes: 
Jeannine and I had the amazing opportunity to stay in our friends' apartment in Hannover, Germany for 90 days last summer. It was a wonderful experience, with the chance to explore local markets, walk everywhere, and use public transportation. What we didn't expect was that Germany had a special promotion for two months, encouraging people to travel again. We were able to purchase tram and train passes for just 10 Euros per month, allowing us to travel all over the country. This opened up countless possibilities for us, and Jeannine even had the chance to play some incredible historical organs across the country.
Unbeknownst to us, Hannover is actually considered the choral centre of Germany. Due to Covid, several concerts from the past 1½ years had been postponed, and we were fortunate enough to witness their rescheduled performances. The music we heard was extraordinary, with every nuance perfected by the talented choirs. The pieces were sung exactly as they were intended to be heard, creating an indescribable experience. In a span of 90 days, we visited 45 churches, listening to the organs and enjoying 27 beautiful concerts.
A Fugue in Two Voices 

David and Jeannine remain joyfully ensnared in the staff lines of a life well-scored. Jeannine, ever the devoted organist, lends her artistry to sacred spaces and distant students alike—her music travelling via Zoom.

David, meanwhile, has penned a whimsical duet with the ghost of Bach himself: *A Mostly True Story of Johann Sebastian Bach*, a semi-autobiographical caprice co-authored with the maestro “in absentia.”
The book is dancing its way through international book clubs, leaving readers amused, bemused, and delightfully confused.
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