I am reading this book, NOURISHING TRADITIONS, these days. learning about lacto-fermentation, and animal fats. Thinking my knee wouldn’t get stiff if I had more raw milk in my life. This morning I think I baked one of the delicious soda breads of my life, and I blame it on lacto-fermentation, although it could be love.
MY DELICIOUS SODA BREAD (all measurements are approximate)
12 to 24 hours in advance of baking, gently mix— 2 cups whole wheat flour, 2 cups spelt flour, 2 cups whole milk yogurt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, a little less of a teaspoon baking powder, a couple teaspoons of salt.
allow to sit covered with a towel. after 12 to 24 hours, turn out on a floured surface (I used dark rye flour), and then knead and fold in a handful of raisins and caraway seeds. form into a round loaf. butter an iron skillet and place loaf in center of skillet. cut a cross in the top of the loaf and bake at 375 degrees fahrenheit for 30 or 40 minutes [until done!].
cool! eat! I like it sliced thin! daniel likes it sliced thick! totes dee-lish.
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in other news. Daniel and I have been dreaming lately. Sleep-dreaming. vivid dreams. we have written some. we have not written some. we maybe will write some. Frank at the farmer’s market tells me that lots of people have been dreaming familiar things lately. That something big is happening. 2012??!!?!
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I ran the Chicago marathon. All 26.2 miles. without injury. I am very thankful for some friends I met around mile 18 who stayed with me through the end, who kept talking to me and being with me even as it became challenging for me, when my hips and my knees began to stiffen and tighten, and I secretly longed that someone would come pick me up and carry me to the end. And then it was done. and it was bananas and space blankets and relief and awe and sadness and joy and inspiration. I think there will be other runs if I want there to be. Now three weeks out, I am still running. It’s been a process of seeing what my body is ready for as it recovers and giving it the time and space it needs. oh amazing healing.
Today Daniel and I are spending the early afternoon at SWEET DREAMS ORGANIC BAKERY & CAFE in Glenview. I used to come here before my doctor’s appointments across the street or after my doctor’s appointments across the street while waiting for bus back to Evanston. I am sitting in the cushy cozy burgundy velvet chair. I want to fall asleep in it. mmmm….It is a gift to have this early afternoon to sit here and breathe and write and think and read and be. To me, it seems that much of my recent life time is spent doing. doing and being slash it seems like there is an accent on doing.
AND! there is an amazing gift of gifts in my life that is not all doing! I am taking part in a psychological study which is meant to ‘train psychic intuition in women’ through a series of biofeedback sessions. So! I go twice per week for these half-hour biofeedback sessions! for free! not only for free! I am being paid to practice meditation! hooray. what a lucky reminder that grounding and presence is for me.
