Dilly Bread and Book Club

It has taken me a ton of self help books, almost fifty years, and a global pandemic to realize I am an introvert. LOL. I find I regenerate in the quiet. There is something earned in stillness that I cannot find entrenched in social stuff. I have also learned that this is perfectly ok.

Never to be one who liked theme parks or waiting in lines for rides, crushed by bodies at concerts or events, I am good to just…not. I like events. I like social things. I do like people. I just kinda have realized that I deplete after a while. Now add a couple of years of isolating and social distancing. I’m not sure where I fit in. I’m figuring it out. As we all are, but wow, am I finally ok to politely say “no” to things. With only slight guilt…that I can eventually sort through.

I have learned in the last however many years of books and podcasts that WE NEED TO LIVE AS AUTHENTIC SELVES. I got the memo. So here, I sift through if I really need-to-want-to-should. I have no diagnosis for any of my “stuff.” I’m just a woman approaching the world a whole lot less concerned about belonging than I did three years ago, and that’s probably on par with a lot of people in life right now.

That being said, there is such a communion in being with people you love. With people who interest you and make you smarter. With others who teach you and give you grace and make you better. So, no one is an island. We need to be around the people who make us better humans.

I am fortunate in my career to have such amazing friends. While education is not the same field I entered at all, I love what I do when I get to do what I do. I have a community of kind people who carry one another. I am so, so lucky in this.

And then there are the cool things in life (or cool to me) like book clubs, and groups of people who do the things and get to be together to talk about it. I have a friend who plays billiards weekly, and while it is a fun thing to do on a weeknight, it is also about the community that plays. Bottom line is, whether we find it at the gym or church, the local pub, or the library, we need people.

One thing I miss quite a bit is Cookbook Bookclub. My local library holds a meeting once a month and there is either a theme, a specific cookbook, or a topic such as “SOUP” that we all have for that one meeting. Then we bring a prepared item, the recipes are typed up by an amazing volunteer, and we share. Covid took care of that whole concept for a while. Not possible. Now they are still meeting, and while I took a break, I realize how important it is to be with people who love to cook. How did this recipe go? What did you substitute? Why is this spice so unbelievably expensive? Etc. Beautiful humans gathered around a table. Which, is kind of my thing. I hope to go back and soon.

One of the fun events we held was an author’s visit from the Pudding Hollow Cookbook. What a treat. There was also a bit of pressure to get the recipe right, since the author of the recipe would be at the actual table. This recipe for Dill Bread adds an additional kick in the fresh scallions and dill added to the dough. It also has a new (to me) ingredient of adding cottage cheese to the bread dough as well! This recipe is written up exactly as it appears in the cookbook, I did not alter it in any way. Two beautifully flavored loaves of bread are the yield. As in the photos, the texture is not like a typical sourdough or white bread, it is more dense, and obviously flavorful in its own way.

This bread is the perfect accompaniment to a hearty soup or stew, salad, even as a savory breakfast side. It is moist, flavorful, and hearty without being heavy. Definitely a win. I happen to love the flavor of dill so this recipe really delivers in the “cool bread” category in my opinion. Being able to celebrate the cookbook with the author and the recipes she collected (as well as the stories behind each) made it even more special.

So, for new recipes, coming together around a table, being social, and figuring out where the lines of this newly defined life after loss of what was (good with the bad), at least I know there are wonderful things such as bread and the people who give our life sustenance. That gives me hope. 🙂

I hope you enjoy this recipe, and as always, thank you for coming to the table.

Love,

Chrissy

Print