Dough Re Mi

Hey, did you steal that title from a third season episode of the Brady Bunch?

Uh, yeah. Greg didn’t have enough “dough” to rent a studio to record his really groovy song “We Can Make the World a Whole Lot Brighter.”

Maybe that’s because he spent all his dough on this bread.

I think we’ve exhausted the dough joke.

Fine, but I kneed to know what’s so great about this bread.

This is special bread. It’s made by unicorns in a secret rain forest with salt extracted from the tears of angels.

Really?

No. This is simply fabulous award-winning bread baked with the finest ingredients at Zingerman’s Bakehouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Varieties range from the classic (pumpernickel, French Mountain bread) to the more unique (chocolate sourdough, anyone?). Seriously, today I brought a loaf of their parmesan pepper bread ($15 + shipping) to a tailgate, and a group of us enthusiastically brainstormed all the great ways it could be used: As the base for a Reuben sandwich, a mop to sop up all the leftover marinara sauce from a rich plate of spaghetti, as a scoop for soups ranging from broccoli cheddar to minestrone, etc. The bread is so full of flavor, though, it can be enjoyed on its own–as it was today.

But really, bread as a gift? And why wasn’t I invited to this tailgate?

Well, this ain’t Wonder Bread. It’s pretty, hearty, and, well, zingy. It makes a great housewarming gift, or get-well gift, or “Hey, I hear you like bread” gift. I sent it to a friend when he moved to Florida and to another friend’s family on the weekend of her wedding.

And you weren’t invited to the tailgate because you don’t exist in any actual human form. You’re just bold-faced type.

Can you eat Zingerman’s bread with tea and jam?

Of course! Tea is a drink with jam and bread. But you should know that this bread is known for its thick crust (it protects the loaf’s insides, and is quite delicious) and should be oven-warmed before enjoying.

Wait; now we’re referencing The Sound of Music? Is this a gift recommendation or just a chance for you to throw out random 40-year-old pop culture references?

In all fairness, two of the actors who played Von Trapp kids showed up later on Brady Bunch episodes.

D’oh!

Zingerman’s bread; from $7 + shipping per loaf; Gift boxes from $40 + shipping.
Bread of the Month” Club available. (A 3-month, 1-loaf membership is $60; $225 gets you 6 months of 3 loaves a month. Two-day shipping included in bread club prices.)

Bread is shipped fresh, usually via 2-day shipping, and can be frozen. (Freezer bags and instructions are provided.)