Ostara Brunch

Saturday, I decided to make Greek Easter bread, even though it's not Greek Easter until next Sunday. The recipe originally came from my YaYa (Grandma), via my Thea (my aunt) and then via my sisteropolis Kally, (sister). I had never made it before and the only things that I've ever baked have been out of a box. It probably should've stayed that way.

So, while talking to a friend on the phone, I began to assemble the ingredients. This was my first mistake, I think that I lost track of how much of the ingredients I was putting in...especially the sugar to salt ratio.

I was kind of feeling a little excited about it in an undemonstrative kind of way. This was another one of my ideas that I hadn't communicated to Will and hoped that he would understand, partake and attain from the strong psychic powers that I was sending to him, i.e. I thought that this would be very earthy and bonding for us to be making the bread together. Our hands covered in flour and the scalding of the milk and the scenting of the water and the stirring and the kneading and the pounding and the drip of perspiration forming at the base of my neck edging its way down the arch of my back to my firm, yet supple ass, working to create a sustenance that has been around much longer than Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. Well, when I inquired with him to see if the mental telepathy had worked, it hadn't. He was busy making a CD for Kami and Susan, where we were going for Ostara Brunch, called: Jesus loves the 80's - full of great 80's music. And the cover being the best part, as you can see.

Okay, fair enough, he didn't have to help, 'cause that was pretty damn funny. Well, he did help me stir the ingredients once they were all together, mismatched and all. I kneaded it for 10 to 15 minutes and then I let the dough rise for two hours, then kneaded and pounded some more, then shaped it and braided it and let it rise for two more hours. Then I brushed the tops of the four braided loaves with a beaten egg and sprinkled sesame seeds upon their zeniths. I pre-heated the oven to 350, then put the bread in. And burned it.

At first the smoke coming from the oven was from chicken grease from the night before, but after that burned off, something else began to smoke...yeah, that would be the bread. It ended up being alright. All the bottoms burned, but I really didn't give a shit at that point. It was 10:30 at night and I was ready for bed. I almost chucked all of it over the neighbors patio wall, let them think that the Easter Bunny left them burnt bread.

The next morning, Will scraped off the burnt bottoms and it was fine,...and salty. It wasn't Greek Easter bread, but that's okay. We just drank a lot of water after eating it. I'll do better next time.

In the late morning, we went to Kami and Susan's and everything was spectacular. The table outside on their patio was beautifully decorated. And the food was out-standing. They clearly out-did themselves. We toasted Mimosas with them and their families and ate and ate. We talked casually, without a need to hurry in consumption or conversation. We got to know their families and thus themselves a little more.

After a leisurely morning and early afternoon, we prepared to plant the tree that Kami and Susan were dedicating to Eostre and the arrival of Spring. Kami said a few words and made an offering, as did their friends Chris and Maria, as did Will. Then we all shared in planting and watering the young tree. We wished the tree a long, prosperous and peaceful existence. And I thought of its glorious life ahead and the things that it will witness as it continues to blossom and grow. The shade and the shelter that it will give and the air that it will endow to us for our very lives. And I thought and knew in my heart that it's not unlike our budding friendship with Kami and Susan. And how thankful I am to have met them and to be reminded that when you find true friends, you hold on with both hands.

(image compliments of William Bezek)