Farmer’s Rye Rings

As late as just a century ago, rye bread was a significant part of the peasant diet in Northern Europe. Not only is rye easier to grow in poor soil than other grains, it retains moisture better, which made it possible to store the breads longer. A hearty slice of rye bread blended well with the simple peasant fare. Preparing the loaves in a ring shape had a practical purpose in the old days. The rings could be hung up high on dowels, where they stayed dry and were protected from pests. Toda