a little red hen

Glorious Rye Bread in the Oven

In my sourdough travels, many of my efforts have focused on rye breads.  Is it being Jewish, even so marginally, that turns me to the darker flour, the pungent taste.  Or the memory of my late, angry father who disparaged commercial white with the comment, "Punk bread." 

Since the spring, I've tried more recipes from  books long-owned, newly acquired, and a few found online.  The quintessence (link here to vegan, raw food  eatery so named) of the work came in a class at Bob's Red Mill back in May.   Alan Maniscalco who collaborated in opening  Ken's Artisan Bakery here in Portland has worked with Ken's to create what is a very popular pizza place.  You have to make careful plans to get a seat there; we have not mastered that yet.

However, we did get important immersion of rye breads under his direction.  Peasant bread--half of the dough with sunflower and flax seed plus millet and walnuts.  Excellent.  Another with currants.  One with pumpernickel flour (a/k/a cracked rye), and finally. 

All in two and a half hours!  Of course, Alan had helped it along by preparing the sourdough rye starters beforehand.  This was not an overnighter!  With two of us taking the class, we returned home with eight loaves of bread yet to be baked!  A particular challenge for the Blooms who only havea 20-inch stove.  You are impressed?  Our bread-making classmates were astuounded.

And this one is an improvement over the one we had when we moved in.  This one has a window and a light--slightly better temp control.  But it's all part of the challenge.  Generous neighbors have offered their larger ovens and I did take one up on it recently.

Serendipitously, our friend Toni was in a cheese-making class at same time we were excessing with making rye at Bob's.  Here's a recipe for her Primo sale, a light-tasting Silician cheese.  With her spouse Al, we had quite a feast--veggie dish for a little balance.  And, of course, sent them home with bread.

 

 

Transforming Enemies into Friends: Cyprus Friendship Program

Earlier this week, Ron and I had an unusual experience.  A notice with the provocative title, "Transforming Enemies into Friends," appeared on bulletin boards where I live and gave a brief descrpition of the Cyprus Friendship initiative for teenagers from that troubled country.

The 90-minutes  program was a boost for the 75 senior Americans in the meeting room, all of us overstimulated by bad news on the economy, the future of social security, the British tabloid mess.

Six young women, 16 and 17 years old, participants in this ambitious international program, told why it has been important for them to be far from their own country for a one-month stay with host families in Portland.

Three of them are from Turkish Cyprus, three from Greek controlled Cyprus.  It was painful to hear how they have to live their lives where the two factions do not interact, the consequence of a war 37 years ago.  To get a sense of the ethnic division in Cyprus, a quick look at this map makes it clear that there are two distinct parts--yellow and white.  Each considers the other the enemy.

Each of the girls in the photo is sitting with her partner from "the other side" she has lived with for the past month. They spoke eloquently--and in excellent English-- about the pain of the split not only in their country but also in their families.   What had been the response among family and friends to their participation?

Some families were reluctant for their daughters to attend, even fearful or opposed.  Others were hopeful, like the teens themselves, that the opportunity to live in peaceful coexistence could be empowering for the girls and a model for a better future for Turks and Cypriotes.  How powerful social media are around the world was brought home by the young woman at the right end of the table.  On Facebook, yes, they are on Facebook, she could not believe the harsh reactions of some of her friends:  she was equated with the enemy.

What she learned is that her partner in the program would be more of a friend in her future than some of these naysayers at home. All of them want to return here for college which they find "very expensive."

What struck them most about peers in America?  That family ties were not as strong as theirs.  They were proud of the connection they had to their own families, most of whom have spent generations struggling with ethnic conflict.

After their presentations, the girls were eager to talk with us old people.  There's a surprise! Ron and I explained that the United States had its own history of people at odds with one another for reasons as unreasonable as those in Cyprus.  Immediately, two girls spoke about their visit to Canada and learning how badly the native population had been treated by white explorers in earlier times.  They were quite startled and wanted  explanation when Ron remarked, "You know, we are all immigrants here."

Being in their presence lifted our spirits away from local or national concerns.  All of us in the room expanded by sharing their hopefulness about the future.

HASNA, the sponsoring organization has a number of other programs for women, water and agriculture in Turkey.   Their peace-building ograms in Cyprus began in 2001; there are other efforts directed to women, water and agriculture in Turkey.   Support is needed with donations and for American families to hosting pairs of girls and boys in cities around the U.S., explained in detail at the Cyprus Friendship Program.

 

Emily's List: Eileen Brady for PDX Mayor

Portland Tribune online brought brightness to a typically gray day (we're waiting for summer here):

Brady co-founded the New Seasons grocery chain and has served on numerous civic and environmental advisory board. In the Emily’s List press release announcing its endorsement, political director Jonathan Parker said, “Eileen Brady’s race is being billed as one of the most hotly contested in recent memory — and she’s up for the fight. Her success in business and track record of building regional partnerships to advance her community has made her a recognized leader in the private and public sector for more than two decades. Eileen has the experience necessary to bring strong leadership and a renewed focus on the right priorities to the Mayor’s Office to help Portland in these difficult economic times.”

Eileen Brady put out the word in May 2011 that she was considering a run.  Quirky Oregonian columnist Steve Duin even had positive comments:

The 10 [New Seasons] stores support local farms and bakeries. They add, rather than subtract, from neighborhoods. They insist on transparency in packaging.  And they have a zest for job creation: On Mother's Day afternoon, more than 60 employees, all making at least $10 an hour, were working the counters and aisles at Mountain Park.

Earlier this month, one thousand people showed up at New Seasons to apply for positions in their new Beaverton store.  A number of them were already employed but this employer is known for providing great health benefits, good wages, opportunities for growth--and a very positive work environment.  That shows and, aside from the great produce and environmentally-conscious food choices--we always feel it's almost our neighborhood store.  Even though we have to cross the Willamette River to reach their Seven Corners store.  It's a great place to snap photos as I did HERE in 2009--if the very polite manager does not catch you!

It would be wonderful if Portland, Oregon, had another woman mayor in sync with the 2012 centennial of woman suffrage in Oregon.  She would not be the first.   Dorothy McCullough Lee served from 1949-53, was described by an historian as, "more qualified by experience and training to serve...than anyone in Portland's previous history."

Second was Vera Katz--who chose to move here from New York in the 1960s.  She spent a number of years in public office and was the first person in Oregon to sevve as Speaker of the House of Representatives for three terms.  She was Mayor for two terms, 1993 to 2005.

This City needs another strong woman leader in the Mayor's seat.

"Somehow, the Unemployed became Invisible," all 14 million

From New York Times online @1 p.m PST, July 10, 2011  , "Somehow, the Unemployed became invisible," Catherine Rampell writes.  Jobless rate rose to 9.2% last month to 14,087,000.

"The United States is in the grips of its gravest jobs crisis since Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the White House. Lose your job, and it will take roughly nine months to find a new one. That is off the charts. Many Americans have simply given up.

 But unless you’re one of those unhappy 14 million, you might not even notice the problem. The budget deficit, not jobs, has been dominating the conversation in Washington. Unlike the hard-pressed in, say, Greece or Spain, the jobless in America seem, well, subdued."

She ends by expressing the frustration of all of us who do not have to worry about finding a job:

"The old fire has gone out."  [boldtype is mine;  the Times would not do that]

We want them to do something, don't we?  Do something we are not doing ourselves?  Would it have occurred to me during the many times I was looking for a job in the 20th century to go out on the street with a sign scolding the economy.  Never.

 Along with groups whose causes have reflected my own--peace, CHOICE-- I've carried signs.  Like this woman in wintry Madison, Wisconsin, a teacher who joined other union members, state employees to express her feelings.  A person needs others for meaningful protest.

In the July 9, NY Times, I was stopped again by anAssociated Press photo.  Don Ryan took this one that tells much about one struggling family--Matthew Weisker, his daughter Lexi, and wife Mindy at the Tualatin, Oregon Employment Center.

Where is the organization that will help them express their rage in a street demonstration?  Tualatin is a suburb not far from Portland. It never gets a mention in the frequent  Times' stories about the specialness of Portland--the great food, the many DIY creators, the burgeoning beer culture.  Tualatin's major feature is a large shopping mall, Bridgeport Village.  And it is illegal to demonstrate in shopping malls which are private property.

Looking at this picture disturbs me.  I do not know how to help this family.  Maybe I need to think whether some fire of my own has gone out rather than theirs.

What is so very wrong with this picture?

Reading The Oregonian this morning, I was unhappy to see this page two photo.   An "iconic" image by Associated Press photographer, Pablo Martinez Monsivais, a sign of how little has changed?

How would you describe it?  Please, feel free to innovate.

Is there an EMERGE group where you live?  After two years of residence in Portland, I only discovered a local version yesterday in the Blue Oregon newsletter.  Laura Taylor, Exec Director of Emerge Oregon, comments about the first open seat for the 2012 state legislature:

I run Emerge Oregon, the premier training program for Democratic women who are interested in running for office, and I know first-hand that we need more women who are willing to set that example. We need more women who are willing to step into public service and advocate for the issues they are passionate about. We have graduated 40 women—almost half of whom have been elected or appointed to office—and it’s not nearly enough.

The next person to fill [Mary] Nolan’s seat should be a woman who will be a role model, who will be a passionate advocate and who will represent the issues of that district from OHSU to Gabriel Park and back out to Old Town/Chinatown.

I don't yet know who that woman is, but I look forward to meeting her.

Me too, Laura!

 

KNEADING TO KNOW, process/outcome/future

For the past month I've hoped that it would occur to me how to move the energy of public beadmaking to the next phase of its/my life.  

What had I learned? The dough I was kneading survived well and became, of course, another two loaves.     That it would be possible to carry around a bowful of indoors, outdoors, through the changing temperatures of Portland spring and have it survive as another loaf when it went into the oven.  Best French bread produced so far; perhaps made finer by many hours of travel and kneading!  Recipe was the "long method" from Sunset Cookbook of Breads.*

The flour and water in the jar also performed.  Wild yeast found its way there, as I'd told my audience it would.  Once returned to my kitchen, it produced another bread that connected me to another new recipe in an old paperback from my 20th century baking days.**

But I missed the chance to share that success with my class.  Would the students have appreciated a result that was harder to the touch and teeth than the other bread?  Would it have mattered?

Had I even made the point about the wonders of collecing wild yeast?

As personally satisfying as the entire venture had been, something was missing.  There had not been enough time to have a more meaningful exchange.  The ideal would have been to have others kneading the dough, to have more of an exchange between myself, between one another of people experiencing kneading.

Was it sufficient to mention world hunger in Manifesto #3 and have that make an impact on those who took the "Bread not Bombs" button?  Would anyone besides me wear the button?  Trying to do too much, not an unusual problem with my projects.

Here I am, the day after July 4, 2011.  The photo on the right marks the beginning of "Kneading to Know."  Meanwhile I've thought about venues for another performance--the Farmers' Markets are now in full season.  Would one of them be the right place...can I find others to do this with me?  Ron has volunteered to be another kneader...or two.

Meanwhile the bread adventure continues...more loaves ahead.

_____________________

 *1977 edition of this Sunset magazine book can be found through used book sites.

**Sourdough Raisin Casserole Bread from Rita Davenport's Sourdough Cookery (1980 paperback, out of print)