Jen’s Artisan Breads strives to bring you a healthy loaf of bread, bursting with flavor. Our bread is slow fermented, using high quality flour, filtered water, and fresh ingredients, that are local when possible.
Our passion is two-fold, not only to bake bread that provides nourishment, but also allows us to form valuable friendships, gathering opportunities and promote community. We believe bread can be comforting and life giving.
Mount Morris resident Jennifer Koertner has always loved to bake. She fell in love with the breads she found in Europe while serving in the U.S. Army. Instead of the mess hall for breakfast, you could find her at the local backerei. For years, she has been in pursuit of that perfect loaf – a substantial bread with a crusty exterior and chewy crumb. To her delight she has found that artisan bread, and is able to provide it and other goodies for you today at local events and farmer’s markets.
I have always had a love for bread. It was always a part of our family meals growing up. My family went on a vacation to Disney World. Everyday we ate a different meal at Epcot. My favorite part was the bread that they would bring out before the meal. One place had particularly good bread. I was afraid we wouldn’t have it again.. so I filled my pocket with bread… after that I was the bread girl.
The next year, I was able to visit a friend in Paris, France. Every morning we had a beautiful breakfast with different breads, jams, and fruit that we would get from the bakery down the street. I was able to bring some of the bread home with me but it was quickly gone. I looked but couldn’t find similar bread locally.
When I went to the farmers market in Oregon, IL, I bought a loaf of Jen’s bread. I was in love and knew I needed more of this in my life. It was exactly the kind of crusty bread I was looking for. I found her on Facebook and began to follow her. I was able to talk to her at a winter market at the cypress house in Rochelle, IL. She delivered my bread order to the business I was working in as a cook. It was there she asked me if I would like to help her bake.
