It feeds on sugar and water, and gives off carbon dioxide and alcohol as it grows. According to Joy of Cooking, there are 200 billion yeast cells in an ounce of yeast. In bread, carbon dioxide makes the bubbles in the dough and the alcohol evaporates in the oven. In beer or wine, the alcohol preserves the liquid and the carbon dioxide adds a sparkle unless we let it escape into the air. In either case, it is the yeast that gives life to the food that sustains us and focuses our celebration.
Yeast makes the difference between manna and miracles.
Nevertheless, he suggested, he had been given a different recipe, a yeasty recipe, a recipe of call and commitment. In a breakfast of bacon and eggs, the chicken is involved, but the pig is committed. The yeast is committed to the bread. There are probably one and a half trillion yeast plants in this vase of rising dough. They are dividing into new plants once every 10 minutes.