"The family ate Afghan-style, sitting around a plastic cloth spread out on the floor.  Food cheered everyone up, and the family lingered after the meal was over."  Parvana and her family eat nan - a type of yeasted flat bread served with hot meals.  Nan is cooked in a tandoor, or clay oven.  It resembles pita bread, but is slightly softer.

The above quote was taken from a book the 5th Graders have been reading called The Bread Winner by Deborah Ellis.  Inspired by a scene from the the book, they headed  to the Teaching Kitchen to make their very own freshly baked Nan.  While the yeasted dough was rising, students went to the roof top garden to pick fresh herbs.  Almost everyone incorporated herbs into their Nan dough (rosemary, type, basil, chives) although some choose to keep it plain.  Each student rolled a ball of whole wheat dough into rounds and baked them.  Sitting around a large tablecloth, they "broke bread" together.  Discussion about the story, the ingredients, and the outcomes ensued.  Everyone enjoyed the bread, and most especially enjoyed time in the kitchen.

NAN BREAD

Ingredients

- 2 cups warm water

- 4 T. unsalted butter

- 2 T. dry yeast

- 2 tsp. salt

- 2 T.  honey

- 5 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour