Caesar Salad & Bethlehem Bread

Welcome to the first course of Feasting on the Christmas Story, a Scripture-based meal to remember the first Noel.

Before we eat anything, we gather at the table and read Luke 2:1-5 (NIV).

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Then we serve Caesar Salad and Bethlehem Bread. This sets the stage for the Nativity story, that took place during the reign of Caeser, in Bethlehem.

For the salad, we make this dressing: ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 tsp lemon juice 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese salt and pepper to taste

Toss with a head of chopped romaine lettuce and top with Parmesan cheese, fried onions, and croutons. Voilà, you have Caesar Salad!

Then the Bethlehem Bread: "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread"... isn’t that beautiful? The town’s very name reveals what Jesus came to do: nourish us, body and soul. For this part of the meal, we make a simple leavened flatbread.

This recipe makes four pieces:

Mix 2 cups flour, 1 tsp yeast, and ½ tsp salt. Add ¾ cup warm water and 1 Tbsp olive oil; stir until a soft dough forms. Knead 2–3 minutes on a floured surface until smooth. Cover and let rest 30–45 minutes. Divide into 4 pieces; flatten each into a 6–7 inch circle. Heat a dry skillet over medium-high; cook each flatbread 1–2 minutes per side until puffed and golden.

As we eat, we read more of the story.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:18-23 (NIV)

Next up: Savory Eastern Trio!

You can find the full, printable version in the Christmas Download Kit on my Rocket Fuel page. The printable includes everything you need to make Feasting on the Christmas Story your own family tradition, complete with a convenient 1-page meal plan, printable Bible verse cards, and a stencil template for dessert.