Bread, Bangs, and Air Fryers...

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If you got through the pandemonium without a sourdough starter, bangs, or air frying everything under the sun, then more power to you.

I, on the other hand, fell prey to all three.

I ain't gonna lie; my air fryer is pretty awesome. And my bangs are lookin' sharp.

But my favorite new venture is bread-making!

At the beginning of lockdown, I made my own sourdough starter but killed it after a month or two. It is a big commitment, even when you aren't leaving the house.

Most recently, I obtained a more mature starter from my neighbors. A sourdough starter is an active colony of wild yeast and good bacteria cultivated by combining flour and water and allowing it to ferment. Fermentation is what is essential. Additionally, I add high end spore-based probiotics to assist in breaking down the gluten. If you have enough good bacteria working for you within your starter, then people who are gluten sensitive can usually enjoy the bread without a reaction. This is NOT for Celiac sufferers!

My neighbors also lent me a fantastic book that lays out directions in a way that is easy to follow.

"New World Sourdough" by Brian Ford

Why I love making bread...

• Bread making is a science and an art. The art only comes out if the science is correct. It's about balance and formulas.

• I feel a connection to the past. I imagine my ancestors using their hands and natural ingredients to feed their families. Even the action of borrowing from a neighbor makes me feel authentic.

• Time management and working with your hands create a form of grounding. Hand strength is key to one's health, and bread-making guarantees your hands get a workout.

• The variety of bread. I have made Pan Rustico (Country Bread), Olive Oil and Sea Salt Loaf, Foccacia, and Semitas De Yema.

• Sharing the bounty! Even when it doesn't turn out perfect, which is quite often, people still love fresh bread.

Now I am not saying I am gifted in this. I wouldn't even call myself a baker. One of my closest friends is a baker, and she has spoiled my tastebuds for good!

Shameless plug coming...

www.thegingeredpeach.com

I am just a mom that experiments with flour. Sometimes I get the flavors right, while the texture is off. Sometimes I forget crucial steps, and I have made a warm door stop.

But when it is correct, it is heaven.

Hug a Tree, It's Granola Time...

Granola is one of those things that you make and you wonder...

Wouldn't it be cheaper, easier and cleaner just to buy it?

I am here to say, YOU ARE WRONGE!

When you taste your first bite of granola out of the oven, you will never go back!

Making fresh means no preservatives, and customizing to your tastes.

Also, the smell throughout the house is worth the effort.

Someone should market a Hippie Granola Candle- I'd be all in!

I use less sugar than the recipe calls for and I uses almond extract instead of vanilla on occasion.

Add any dried fruit, nuts and seeds you want, I did... almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, dried cherries and currants.

Homemade Granola

• 4 cups old-fashioned oats

• 1 1/2 cup sliced almonds

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1/2  teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 1/4 cup honey 

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 300°F

In a bowl mix the oats, almonds, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon.

In a sauce pan warm oil and honey. Whisk in vanilla.

Carefully pour the liquid over the oat mixture. Stir gently to combine.

Spread granola in a 15 x 10“ baking pan. 

Bake 40 minutes, stirring carefully every 10 minutes.

Transfer granola-filled pan to a rack to cool completely.

Stir in raisins or cranberries. 

Seal granola in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag. 

Store at room temperature for one week or in the freezer for three months.

Enjoy!

My COVID19 Manifesto...

Holy hell this is getting crazy! Everyone is doing what they can to get the information they need to survive. I am not offering any advice here. I have no recommendations here. I am merely speaking from the heart.

This has been rough.

It may be my control issues creeping in because every day is a shocking reminder that none of us have ANY control. Control is an illusion.

It may be that I have grown accustomed to my alone time. I love to sit and eat my lunch while watching Golden Girls without a lightsaber battle happening in the living room.

Or... It maybe that I am more extroverted than I thought.

Go figure!

The main issue I have had through this is anger. I am angry. I am pissed for no good reason and I am having a hard time letting it go.

Springtime is growth and also when liver energy comes up. Liver in Chinese medicine is anger, irritation and trouble unwinding.

Yes, Yes and YES!

I know I should be meditating. I should be grounding to nature. I should be enjoying my home and family. I should be grateful.

I know all the things I should do to make myself feel better.

But like a little pissy kid I yell, "BUT I DON'T WANNA!"

We all have our weaknesses. I am not afraid to share them. I have lived through hard times in my life. Harder than this.

So, I know I will get through this. We will all get through this.

Where do I find hope?

• Our bodies are so wise and we can do better.

• Patience with breath.

• We are shaking up our normal. Change is good.

• Slowing down.

• Loving on the humans in front of me (cat included).

• The highest vibrations rise to the top.

• Being ok with not being ok.

• Studying my passion.

• Writing.

So I write...

Writing gives me an outlet for all the unmanageable emotions. Instead of crying for the fourth time in one day, I will bitch and moan within the interwebs and hope that someone out there can relate.

Writing is very cathartic. Under these insane circumstances, I feel I have lost my voice- not as a mother, not as a wife, but as a human on this planet.

What I have written will not be everyone's cup of tea. My creative writing teacher in high school called me a nihilist. I suppose that piece of me is always simmering but I have become more hopeful with age.

Heck, maybe I should stick to recipes, essential oils and zoom call pilates classes.

But, I'm not, so here it goes...

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COVID19 Manifesto

We have essentially been told by our government, "Go to your room!"

As a mother, I realize that this does not come out of nowhere. Ideally, every action leading up to this breaking point was a choice that we, the people, made.

We choose stress, EMF, oil, pesticides, drugs, avoidance, indulgence, fear.

We weaken our immune system. We weaken our will.

So, when we are told to go to our room, we rightfully deserve it.

Remember after 911 how they had color codes for heightened states of terrorism?

Red was a top terror.

Orange was pretty terrifying.

And Yellow was just scary.

For a while, they would give us the color warning.

"Today is an Orange Day. Be aware of your surroundings!"

"Today is a heightened state of awareness - It’s Red!" 

But after a while they were like, "Fuck it! We’re gonna live in Yellow and always be afraid at all times!"

With this virus, I am afraid that is what will become of our future.

A new state of fear. Do we stop hugging? Do we stop shaking hands?

They shut down the world. THE WORLD! What keeps them from doing it again?

What will be acceptable numbers to shut down the world again?

What will they mandate next?

What if it wasn’t a virus that was spreading, but an idea? A Revolution?

What if we turn this around and instead of doing all the things that sent us to our room, we choose differently?

Could we do it?

Could we get ourselves healthy in our minds and in our bodies so that we do not need their drugs, their vaccines, their fears?

Do we have what it takes to truly be brave before we lose our freedom?

I think we are a long way from this.

But one can hope.