There are tons of things I want to do in a single week...and in life. But there seems to always be one thing keeping me from them: time. Time is the ultimate ruler of our lives, isn't it? Not only does it weigh in on what we do, but it is a means by which we measure ourselves.
During the summer between my sophomore and junior year of college, I traveled to Spain and walked the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. To date, it was (by far) the most challenging and impactful experience of my life. One of the many lessons I learned while on this path was how insignificant time can be. Here we were walking all day to get to a destination; and it didn't matter when we got there, as long as we made it. Without a watch, you are left to decide for yourself what you actually want to do in the moment, rather than what you should be doing. I admit, it sounds silly, but it was an incredibly liberating realization.
Alas, the real world doesn't permit you to live that way. Time is a universal constant and stressor.
At this time in my life, I am meant to be "living"...reaching for my goals and doing as I wish. And I truly love my life right now; I am busy doing what I want (outside of working hours) and seeing who I want to see. However, when am I supposed to find the time to figure out what I want my "goals" in life to be?
I've made it a goal to do SOMETHING next fall, whether it be me going off to a graduate program or to a new job in a new city. So I have a plan with no specifics...is that even a plan? Which choice is the right one? What will ultimately make me happy? Again, I'm afraid, only time will tell. Time spent both living and seeking.
Most immediately, my time will be spent at work, exercising, and making time for other "more attainable" wants. Like this bread. Bread is demanding of time and patience, which seems appropriate, given my discussion above. However, this particular focaccia recipe managed to perfectly fit into my weekly schedule.
I made the dough during my lunch break and let it sit until the next morning before my run. I baked it while I was in the shower and, voila! I had delicious panini bread for the entire week! It's soft and flavorful, with a little bit of that typical focaccia "toughness".
If only all life decisions were this rewarding.
Ya know, even if making this bread resulted in a horrible loaf, I'm not sure I would've considered it a waste of time. I think knowing is better than not knowing; and trying and learning is better than just avoiding.
And that right there is a good life generalization.
P.S. Baking yeast bread makes me contemplative...if you couldn't tell.
No-Knead Focaccia
Slightly Adapted from Budget Bytes
Servings: one small loaf (4-6 sandwiches)
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon yeast
1 cup water
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
italian spices
2 tablespoons cornmeal
- Combine flour, salt, and yeast in the bowl of a standing mixture until combined. Add water and mix until a sticky, shaggy dough is formed; add more water, if needed. Cover loosely and let it sit at room temperature overnight (for about 14 hours).
- After dough has set for about 14 hours, it will be "wet, fluffy and may even be bubbling from the fermentation". Using a spatula, stir the dough onto itself a few times.
- Line a baking sheet with foil, spray with non-stick baking spray and sprinkle cornmeal over top. Dust hands with flour and move dough to the baking sheet. Stretch and spread dough into a rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick. Using a pastry brush, cover the top of the dough with olive oil and sprinkle italian spices. Let dough rise for another hour.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Using your fingers, poke dimples into the dough. Bake for about 15 -20 or until top is golden brown. Immediately remove loaf from sheet to a cooling rack.
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