Our kitchen at the co-op was entirely non-functioning for three months this fall, as we did a to-the-studs complete renovation of the space; and everyone's nerves were frayed by the end, with a lot of petty arguing going on every day. The kitchen is now finished and open again, and I'm celebrating by making homemade Rustic French artisan bread boules several times a week all winter, using house ingredients and meant for house eating. This will let me do something I find fun, plus provide something meaningful to my housemates, plus encourage what I hope will be a "back to good vibes" attitude around here, breaking bread and hanging out in our newly open kitchen (the main hangout space of the entire house), the room and hallway constantly filled with the aroma of fresh bread. I even tried stenciling a common logo for co-ops (two trees whose tips are touching in the middle) on top of the loaves with rice flour, but only did so-so; but this was also the first time I've ever tried bread stenciling, so I'm sure future tries will go better. Here's to all of us hopefully achieving happy, homey vibes this winter, after a particularly challenging last autumn for so many of us.

#bread #breadmaking #rustic #french #white #boule #artisan #noknead #riceflour #stencil #coop #cooperative #nasco #chicago #qumbya #bowershouse

A new start to old-fashioned posting. https://write.as/jasonpettus/a-new-start-to-old-fashioned-posting

#1000WordsOfSummer: An Introduction. https://write.as/jasonpettus/1000wordsofsummer-an-introduction