Closed Loop Cooking Weekly Newsletter 4.24.20

April 24th, 2020

Hi fam,

What a year this week has been. What a decade it will continue to be. There’s a lot of heaviness to navigate right now so I’m making an executive decision to think about sourdough, a lot. We could all use a naturally leavened distraction so let’s focus on the things we can control–using up a plethora of starter discard, reading endless comments on how best to let your starter rise, and a dreamy, golden crust to cut into. It’s the simple things. And the not-so-simple things like temperature fluctuations in your kitchen at night. We’ll figure this out.

I’m amazed by fermentation, unseen yeast spores promote a magical bubbling in your starter that turns into bread? I will never not be in awe of this process. While there are quite a few considerations you have to adjust for when cultivating a starter or making your own bread from scratch, this process is relatively forgiving. I’m of the belief that with the right motivation, literally anyone can make sourdough. Learn from each mistake, eat those mistakes, and try again. Thankfully though, Portland’s own Cookshop has bread making kits back in stock to help get you started! (These go quickly!)

Break making is not just a coping mechanism, it’s a tool of empowerment. We can feed ourselves and our families with just a few ingredients made by hand. That’s pretty incredible. Not every loaf is going to be perfect but every bake encourages our self sufficiency, our creativity, our resiliency. So what are you baking for?

Stay hungry,Hawnuh Lee | Founder, Closed Loop Cooking

R E A D

Multi-disciplinary missions with Sara Kiyo Popowa of Shiso DeliciousOur latest interview with plant forward creative Sara Popowa. She’s dedicated to teaching others how to eat sustainably—minimizing food and packaging waste through thoughtful but simple preparation. Before you get lost in her beautiful Instagram, take a moment to read through Maia’s delightful conversation with her.

A T T E N D

Tender TakeoutOne of our fav Portland storytelling collectives, Tender Tables goes digital in their latest Tender Takeout series. Check out their upcoming Instagram Live session this Monday, April 27th with “Stories from the heart, food to your door.”

R E C I P E S

Carrot cake banana breadWe love this substitution friendly sweet loaf that lets ya use up whatever you have on hand. Carrot cake banana bread is the catch all dessert and / or breakfast you’ve been waiting for. Not convinced baking is this flexible? Check out Maia’s article on 4 easy baking swaps to help you improvise around the oven.

R E S O U R C E S

Pineapple Collaborative Community Bulletin Board

An awesome collection of ways to contribute / give back right now. If you’re looking for ways to support creators in the food space, restaurants, and workers this is a good place to start. They update the board on a regular basis and offer guidance on supporting yourself in the meantime.

Have an idea we should feature in the newsletter? Want to support us? Drop us a line at [email protected] and tell your pals to sign up. We can’t wait to see what y’all cook up next! #closedloopcooking