11.14.16
*I cannot ignore the 2016 Election results, and you are totally free to skip ahead to pics of me in a great jacket and of this delicious braided bread. However, I must respond once, and then work on what I can do to help this country so this never happens again. Thank you for understanding, as this has been a very sad time for me, and many fellow Americans.*
This past week has been very challenging for me. After the election on Tuesday night I felt defeated, like I had the wind knocked out of me, and I lost all motivation to do anything creative. I didn’t want to bake, I didn’t sleep well, I spoke and cried a lot with my friends and husband, discussing the future and what kind of a world we’re in for with this president-elect. As Dave Chapelle so brilliantly spoke on SNL, I hope he proves us all wrong. And I won’t dwell on this past this post; this isn’t going to be a blog that is constantly hammering on how poor of a choice we have made. I will say this as a take away with this outcome: I feel stupid. Since Tuesday I have tried to read articles, on both sides, to educate myself on why something I was so sure was in the bag, got pulled from under our feet. Too little too late of course. I blame myself, I blame the fact I obviously surround myself with like-minded people and therefore social media algorithms cater to such, and I blame the media for pushing things that shouldn’t have been a focus instead of actual situations. Because of the articles I’ve read, the numbers, the statistics of the people out of work, the decrease in wages in this country, the fact Hillary didn’t even visit Wisconsin since April because they voted Bernie and assumed it’d go blue, these are all things that lead to a president I am personally scared of. The difference I will point out between the past 8 years and Obama’s campaign, and why I will NOT just “get over it” is because Obama didn’t build his support base on discriminating against anyone who wasn’t like him. Trump has thrived on this, because from what I’ve watched and read……..a plan? Not so much. Just a lot of words and empty promises. And when hate crimes spike in schools, when the KKK has a parade to celebrate our next president, that is a clear clue. That is a warning. And you can defend the fact that Trump actually cares about the Rust Belt, will help these men and families, and I REALLY REALLY hope he does. I hope he proves me wrong. However, you must also take responsibility for the fact he has chosen a VP who is the most anti-LGBTQ elected official in the nation, he has insulted the black community, the Hispanic community, veterans, the disabled, women, and numerous other people, including fellow Republicans (who then endorsed him). You don’t get to cherry pick his qualities, you must take responsibilities for all of them. And those families he promises to help? I’ve yet to see any solid outline of what he will do to ‘fix this.’ This country is great, it will continue to be great, it didn’t need to be great again. Half this country didn’t even vote. In two years I will do my part to take back Congress (by voting!!), and in 4 years, I want to help a huge chunk of this country feel not so desperate that their only hope, their only viable choice, is the current president-elect.
END SCENE
If you skipped my political diatribe, then you have come to the place where I will tell you about the delicious twist I put on one of our favorite childhood foods! Remember that Arugula Braided Bread I made ages ago and promised I’d show you what the other loaf became? Well I hope you didn’t hold your breath, but I’m finally showing you!
I filled it with peanut butter and jelly! Not only is this a soft and delicious bread, but filled with the contents of a sandwich favorite, it could feed a crowd, or be perfect for your kids birthday!! This produces two good-sized loafs, so making them for parties or large dinners are the best. And you can fill them with anything. I think my husband actually gave this idea to me. It was genius. It’s like being a kid again in school and opening up your lunch box and getting all the good stuff, no crust, just soft cloud-like bread, peanut butter and your favorite jelly.
Sometimes I yearn to go back to school, for the structure, because I have a better attention span and work harder now. I was a good student, but I wish I could go back and absorb things all over again. Then I think about four more years of that, being so broke I’d never be out of debt, and being reduced to a NYC college because I love it here, and snap out of it. But I can pretend I’m in The Breakfast Club with this killer bomber jacket I just got from Uniqlo and dream about dancing in detention.
I really wanted a new transition jacket for this time in New York when it’s clearly not warm, but there’s no need for a jacket that looks like a sleeping bag. I hadn’t even seen this jacket in the store (and don’t shop in actual stores as much anymore) but on a very rare occasion, I will. And a few weekends ago my husband and I went out with goals. And while my husband works in fashion by day, he’s pretty chill with clothing opinions and is very casual on the weekends. So when he spotted this jacket and told me I had to try it on, and how awesome it was, how could I not try it on? This enthusiasm?? Where did it come from?! It definitely made me feel like the coolest kid on the block.
The rest of this outfit is Stitch Fix. While my last Fix was far from a home run, I did get this sweater out of it, which I have already worn constantly during the past chillier weeks. I like its casual feel, simple but a pop of pattern, and it was right up my autumn alley.
And these jeans are some of my favorites from Stitch Fix, a little stretch, a little low rise, ankle length and perfect for a shorter stature.
So I wear my bomber jacket, watch Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald fall in high school love and make this bread. PB & J belong together, like Ally Sheedy and Emilio Estevez.
For more picture of the process to make this bread, check it out here.
Classics are classics for a reason amiright? Enjoy! The holidays are creeping up, and I’ll be sharing some recipes you can bring to Thanksgiving dinner if you’re in charge of dessert! And that Pesto Bread I made along side this one? Perfect for Thanksgiving!
Wear it:
Uniqlo Bomber Jacket / Lizzy Colorblock Striped Sweater [Stitch Fix] / Just Black Ankle Skinny Jeans [Stitch Fix] / H&M silver watch (similar, the real version)
Braided PB&J Bread
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 2 tsp sugar + 1/2 cup sugar, divided, plus extra for sprinkling
- 1 tbsp instant yeast
- 1/2 cup flour + 5 cups flour, divided
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, beaten (plus 1 extra for egg wash)
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup fruit jelly
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together warm water, 2 tsp sugar, yeast, and 1/2 cup flour and cover loosely with plastic until ‘sponge’ rises and forms, it should be bubbling
- In the bowl of a stand up mixer, add in sponge, sour cream, butter, 2 eggs, salt, vanilla, and 4 1/2 cups of flour
- With the paddle attachment on low, allow to loosely combine, creating a shaggy dough
- Switch to a dough hook and on medium speed knead until a smooth dough is formed
- Move dough to a medium sized greased bowl, sprinkle flour over the top and loosely cover with plastic wrap until it rises, anywhere from 60-90 minutes (it should double in size)
- Once risen, divide in half, set half aside, and roll out other half on lightly floured parchment paper to a rectangle about 10″ X 15″
- Using a ruler, make impressions lengthwise to divide the rectangle into three sections
- Then take the ruler and make impressions horizontally about 1/2″ apart all the way down the dough
- Cut the horizontal marks so strips of dough are on either side of the rectangle
- Spread the smooth peanut butter down the center area of the dough, keeping the top and bottom area clear
- Spread the jelly over top of the peanut butter
- Starting on which ever side you’d like, cross one strip over the filling to the other side, follow with the opposite side, crossing over top the previous strip
- Continue down the entire rectangle, giving a braided appearance
- (At this point repeat with second loaf with same filling, therefore doubling recipe, or with whatever filling you’d like)
- Place both on a baking sheet and cover with a towel for about 30 minutes, they will puff up
- Preheat oven to 375
- Remove towel and brush loaves with egg wash (beaten egg and some water)
- Sprinkle top of loaf with sugar
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, until tops are golden
- Allow to cool before slicing and enjoying
P.S.
*This recipe makes two loaves!!!
*If you want to make both loaves peanut butter and jelly, double the filling ingredients
Adapted from King Arthur Flour
