How To Cook Your Life (find nirvana in the kitchen)

Recently on our mission to remove things from our bills that weren't necessary we removed cable. Although to be honest our original intention was actually switching to a dish, that was a huge, monumental failure. Although being surrounded by nature has its benefits, the trees do not benefit you while trying to install a satellite dish. We noticed a lot of the neighbors have a dish so hey, why not try it out right? The bill is a lot lower, the boxes are freaking awesome in comparison to the junk blue ridge cable gives us and better yet we'll get our wish list channels!!!! (for Stephen its G4, for me I wanted the cooking channel, and the boys ...well the cartoon channels are endless!) So the short of the story is that the end result was that we'd have to trim, remove or kill trees. For me thats just not an option. I moved into nature to appreciate it and live amongst it, I hardly think killing trees for the sake of digital entertainment is justifiable. After a few hours of ranting and babbling and calling Stephen a murderer, (yeah I said it... I actually called him a murderer) we "agreed" that cutting down, trimming or modifying the trees was not going to happen. Not that Stephen wanted to cut down trees any more than I did, but I'm actually heavily attached to the trees, certain trees more than others even. They are big and beautiful and older than we are, who are we to cut them down for no good reason? I truly love the trees, There you have it...I'm a tree hugger. Are you really surprised? ... 

So we managed to wiggle through a little over a week without cable. The boys did ok, they played games and ran around, Stephens at work most of the time which pretty much just leaves me... How did I do? The person who stood against the "man" and preached against its grasp on us...I realized. Theres No: top chef, Martha Stewart show, Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson! I suffered through it for a little bit and honestly thought I'd be ok with it for a while...and then I found out the only food shows I could find on netflix were shows about where food comes from, it took out the gluttony and pleasure from the process. Now how to's, no recipes... It was straight up facts, mostly un-pleasant facts at that, it made me feel incredibly worthless and lazy. Although I do avoid a lot of what I'd consider un-healthy preservative packed foods I realized: its really not the case. Everything even on my grocery list is somehow horrifying. Food Inc in specific set me off (thats a whole nother post folks) 

One of my happier documentary experiences however was How To cook your life (find nirvana in the kitchen). My fist impression of the primary subject Edward Espe Brown, was, ... well I thought he was freakin nuts! Not in the "no impact man" way, he did not forbid toilet paper or rant and rave like a health Nazi wacko. He was just a little off, somewhat...slow not mentally slow but physically slow and deliberate per say? (which I later realized is entirely intentional, I guess "find nirvana in the kitchen" was not obvious enough as to the real subject of this documentary huh?). He just kind of reminded me of a hippie that just smoked waaaayyyyyy to much ganja. He really does just have a bit of a life-less dullness to him. Completely sort of mellow and almost vacant. At first it was a little off putting but by the end of the film I was actually calmer, more inspired and comforted than when I first turned it on. Although I've found that negative reviews of the film complain about him not teaching techniques or skill, I feel that it touched on something much more significant. Appreciation.

We should be honoring the food we prepare, by actually preparing it. Focusing on the food instead of treating it as a fuel to shovel in our faces, making it something to cherish and appreciate, not a sack of fries and burgers, but something wholesome. Although I've appreciated making home made food for years I never really thought of savoring the process. Its nourishing yourself by actually slowing down, calmly preparing and appreciating making the food, real food. "While cutting a carrot, simply cut the carrot", don't focus on shopping lists, television, ipods etc. Take a moment to actually do what your doing, calmly and peacefully. It sounds strange I know but it really set something off for me. I focus so much on trying to make "impressive" foods or blog foods that I forget what it is my family actually wants, I focus on taking the perfect picture instead of sitting down and savoring my meal while its hot and fresh.  Edward at one point even mentioned that he'd spent a number of years trying to figure out why his biscuits were "not right", why can you not make a biscuit thats like the ones out of the pop tin? (This instantly reminds me of the great number of recipes I've made trying to replicate the store bought stuff my family loves.)

The closing scene for me, was really just truly inspiring. He approached being humble, and sincere although the tea pots he was holding were not perfect, they were aged, dented, cracked rusted etc. They were sincere tea pots happy to serve you hot tea with no regard of whether or not they were perfect, they were not new, shiny, plastic or glamorous, they were banged up tea pots and ok with it. (ok we're pretending its not just an inanimate object) The meaningful statement for me: "Sincerity is letting your imperfections show".  I can achieve this by not embellishing things, no over-working or stretching, or trying to be something I am not...I should just be me and let the food be food. 

Is the apple a better apple because its been waxed and shined and propped together with other unblemished perfect fruit? Does the food taste finer when its placed in expensive china? So yes, I realize that the pictures are significant in food related adventures but I think I sometimes forget what its really about and for me its the journey, the progression. This is my diary essentially. I share my food memories with the world via the internet. My memory is no less significant because I took 500 pictures of a bowl of noodles. Now passing 200 posts in under a year I realize food is my life and although how humble some of it may be, its part of the journey. As much as we'd like to brush away the years we were obese or had acne, bad clothes, all the bad hair cuts... etc. You cant erase them from your own personal journey. 

I went straight into the kitchen after watching "How to cook your life" and I made this Honey Oat bread. I did not just make the bread, I made the bread. I really took a moment, I smelled the dough and kneaded it and really just appreciated the process. I always love making bread because it makes me feel good but this time I was actually comforted that I'm not the only person who loves their bread, I mean truly loves it. Just like I truly love my children, my trees...and cable television I love cooking. This recipe is somewhat rustic or humble maybe?  Its scrumptious, and well it never looks the way I want it to but its freakin awesome!. Its amazing and delicious, perfectly sweet. The oat gives it a perfectly nutty flavor and brushing it with butter just does wonders. I've made this bread before in the past and it never seems to rise as perfectly as I'd expect but its really remarkable and perfect with peanut butter and honey. Peanut butter and banana sammiches anyone? Nom Nom Nom! 

Honey Oat Bread:

1 tablespoon or 1 packet of yeast

1 cup warm water (no more than 110 degrees)

3 tablespoons raw sugar

2-3 tablespoons oil or melted butter

3-4 tablespoons honey 

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup flax meal

1 cup whole wheat flour 

1 cup rolled oats

2 cups all purpose un-bleached flour

*3-4 tablespoons  melted butter for brushing

In a large bowl combine yeast, water, sugar, butter and honey. Stir to combine and allow to foam up. (this should take approximately 5 minutes) If you are unsure if your yeast is still active simply add the yeast to water. Combine salt, cinnamon, flax, whole wheat flour and rolled oats. Stir to combine. Stir in 1 cup of flour. Place dough on a liberally floured surface and knead the remaining 1 cup of flour into the dough. Add more or less flour as needed. The dough will mostly stop absorbing the flour when its had enough.

Knead the dough by hand 5-10 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl and allow to rise. (1 hour) Once the dough has risen punch down and allow to rise again. Divide dough into two portions. Place into bread pans sprayed with cooking spray or greased with butter, or form into two balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Spray lightly with cooking spray and allow to rise again. To prevent a hard crust you can brush with melted butter and lightly cover with plastic wrap. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Once the loaves have risen again brush with melted butter or an egg wash.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden. The center temperature should be about 190 degrees.