How I Took Control

Hi folks, it's Karen here. I love bread. And not just any bread - soft, yeasty, fresh bread that you can't buy off the grocery store shelf. But since I am a dietitian, I also want bread that is made from whole grains and is high in fiber. Is this possible? Can I have my whole grain bread and eat it too? For a long time, I believed the answer was no. 

At one point, I was buying a locally made whole grain bread from Whole Foods, but my guilt about paying $7 a loaf made it impossible for me to enjoy. And yes, I could go to a local bakery, such as Bluegrass Bakery (which I hear sells fantastic whole grain bread!) But after running all the other "must-do" errands, I just can't seem to make that one happen. So for many years, I lived a life of sad bread. I gave up hope and relinquished control. 

Just a few weeks ago, I reminded that myself that actually own a bread machine. I mean, I know I do, but I never use it to make whole grain bread. The truth is, I had a some very bad experiences a few years ago trying to make whole grain bread. I gave up and never tried again. But then I thought,  I have learned a few things about cooking since that time, so maybe I could figure it out now? 

And figure it out I did. I tried one recipe I found online and it was a bust. But I was undeterred. Then I thought about how many King Arthur Flour recipes I have made over the years. They have fantastic recipes that are well-written and generally fool-proof (I promise I am not a paid spokeswoman for King Arthur Flour!) So, I looked up their bread machine recipe for whole grain bread and gave it a try. It was a winner! It's everything I want in a bread, and something that takes five minutes to throw into the bread machine. Finally, my bread dilemma is solved. 

But this story isn't really about bread. It's about how we often think we can't do things, or assume certain things that prevent us from achieving what we want. We give up control voluntarily and allow ourselves to follow a narrative that keeps us stuck. I know I did, but it sure feels good to prove myself wrong (and it tastes even better!)