Photo cred: Annie Cosgrove
If you are like me you woke up this morning and wondered how it could be possibly be the end of November already. Where did the time go? There are months (and years) that fly by and other moments when time seems to stand still. How do we manage our time?
Our time is precious and how we spend it is important. Certain days, though, it feels like there are just too many tasks to complete and not enough time. Working can take up a lot of our time and our careers are important to us. But how do we balance working to pay for our lives and making the time to live our lives?
Time and food have an interesting relationship. Most of us do not have a lot of time to cook something elaborate on a busy Wednesday night. And though there are many quick recipes that are delicious, there are certain foods that take some serious time. Whether it is the aging process of cheese, fermentation or a good stew. Some foods just get better with time.
With Thanksgiving just days away, the holidays have officially started. It is a busy time for everyone. But what are we really busy doing and do we like any of it? With the holidays and our lives so full of responsibilities and obligations, is it possible to like how we spend our time?
So how do you spend your time? And what food is easy to grab on your way home from work or prepare quickly when time is short? Conversely, what do you love to buy or make that takes some serious time to be delicious?
As I get older time seems to move more quickly. I wish we could pause time (or at least more time for naps!) but it just keeps on going. People spend a lot of time working in NYC, in fact it seems to be the cool thing to do here. Even though I have take some drastic measures to change how I spend my time (like quitting various jobs), I still find myself feeling proud of being busy. It is as if being busy is a badge of worth. Why do I think the acceptable answer to the question of how are you?, is “busy”? In the US, though, being busy is social currency. Being busy means we are relevant, we are important and we are needed. Perhaps, I am hiding behind my busyness, because if I truly know what I wanted and how I wanted to work, I would be way more efficient.
In 2020 I am doing things differently (famous last words). But seriously in 2019 I said yes to most things.
All meetings: yes
Gigs for not nearly enough money: yes
Social engagements VERY far from home: yes
You get the idea...
In 2020 I want to give saying “No” whirl. Like instead of just filling up my time out of fear of scarcity (of money, opportunities, friendships, love) I am going to say no to things. I will even attempt to plan things I actually want to do in my schedule (radical I know). Working for myself means I have notoriously devalued my time for others. Just because I work from home a lot does not mean I have a flexible schedule. I also want to make more time for activities I love to do and ones that even may be good for me. If anything, just doing this a little bit could have potential to really change how I spend my time in 2020.
Eating and cooking is always a good way of spending time in my experience . This recipe takes some serious time but is SO worth it. We make it every Christmas in my family and gives loaves of this delicious bread as gifts (see pic above). Time well spent. Happy Holidays!
We have spent some serious time using this recipe.
Austrian Struezel Coffee Braid (from the “Colden Country Cookbook” by the Colden United Methodist Women)
1 package yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2/3 cup milk, scalded
1/2-2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
4 1/2-5 cups flour
1 tsp. lemon rind, grated
1 cup raisins (yes they are in the recipe but we do not use them)
confectioners sugar frosting (powdered sugar, milk and vanilla)
1) Dissolve yeast in warm water
2) Pour scalded milk over the sugar, salt and butter. Let cool until lukewarm, then stir in the yeast.
3) Add the eggs, egg yolks and about 2 1/2 cups of flour. Beat thoroughly. Stir in 2 more cups of flour and lemon rind. Add enough flour to make a firm dough.
4) Place in greased bowl and let rise until double.
5) Divide into 6 parts, 2 of the parts being smaller then the others. Roll each part into a long rope. Braid 4 ropes together and place on a buttered cookie sheet. Twist the 2 smaller ropes together and place over the braid. Let rise until almost double.
6) Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Cool on rack and drizzle with confectioners sugar frosting if desired.