we are living in a weird time. it’s been surreal waking up every morning realizing that i no longer have such a freedom to walk classes every day. that i no longer can go down the block to watch a movie on a friend’s couch. that restaurants are closed. that people are sick. that others are putting their lives on the line to save the rest of us, to feed us, to deliver the things that we need. that i’m grateful to be able to have a mask whenever i leave the house. that soap and clorox wipes are precious. that i don’t have to change out of my pajamas but i should. that i could eat nutter butters all day but i shouldn’t. that as much as i don’t want to be inside all day, it is a privilege to be able to do so.

life has transformed itself into a daily game of how far of a distance i can keep from every person in my peripheral radius. the mini games include how many different ways i can subside an itch on my nose without touching my face or how much i can maximize the use of a latex glove.

my computer time has skyrocketed to 12 hours a day as of this week (how is that possible?). i feel like i’m constantly connected to its screen. it’s quite literally now how i access my education, how i talk with my friends and my parents and my brother, or connect with anyone, really. so how could i possibly dial back on it without feeling completely isolated? it’s something i’m still trying to work on. to balance at least.

this is what days have looked like lately:

8am – wake up

8:15am – coffee/matcha and kcrw

9am – breakfast

9:30am - 4pm ish – zooming (with lunch somewhere in-between)

4pm – dance-rsizing (“dancing” + “exercising”)

5pm – baking and/or cooking and/or snacking and/or dinner

7pm – fresh air

9pm – movie/tv while simultaneously looking up recipes to make for tomorrow

and repeat.

it’s been a manageable and sanity-evoking schedule. it’s good for now and that’s enough. baking has been my escape (this is my current list of things i want to make).

so among all these uncertainties, here’s sweet potato bread that i made a few weeks ago.

sweet potato bread for uncertain times

makes 1 loaf

what you do

preheat oven to 350˚F. spray a 4x8” loaf tin with coconut oil and line with parchment paper along the sides.
whisk together white whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices in a large bowl
in another medium bowl, whisk together, mashed sweet potato, oil, milk, vinegar, and sugar
fold wet ingredients into dry until just combined.
pour (thick) batter into loaf tin and spread until it’s even
sprinkle with sesame seeds and turbinado sugar. place sliced persimmon along the top in any lovely fashion that you desire.
bake for 60-80 minutes until an inserted into the middle comes out clean.
leave to cool for 15 minutes before lifting out the loaf with the parchment paper. store in the refrigerator until ready to slice up.
serve with butter & cinnamon & sugar, warm.

what you need

2 medium sweet potatoes, steamed, skinned & mashed
1 + 2/3 cups (200g) all-purpose flour
1 + 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbs fresh grated ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup cashew milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 + 1/3 cup brown/coconut sugar
sesame seeds
turbinado sugar
sliced persimmon

stay safe everyone.

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among uncertainties, sweet potato bread