I was writing about my experience of inauguration day to share, but then felt such a swell of negativity that it didn’t feel worthwhile or even responsible to do so. Also, like many, I’m feeling very disoriented by it all, and as a result, have very little of substance to say. Rebecca Traister, in conversation with Brittney Cooper, Abby Wambach, Glennon and Amanda Doyle about their feelings post-inauguration, said that this moment is like watching a child have a temper tantrum. There is no way of reasoning with or calming this moment. No sense to be made yet. There is this sense like we need to wait it out to survey the actual scope and the reality of the destruction that we are working with. So in the meantime, I thought maybe you’d want to make some brownies. It couldn’t hurt…
Chocolate Tahini Brownies
yields 1, 9in x 13in baking dish
240g (1/2C) butter
240g (or 2.25 chocolate bars) bittersweet chocolate
4 eggs
300g (1.5C + 2TBS) sugar
120g (1C) flour
30g (1/4C) cocoa powder
10g (2 tsp) salt
150g (3/4C) tahini
Method
Butter your pan and line it with parchment paper.
Melt the butter and chocolate over a double boiler.
Sift together flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
Whisk eggs and sugar with a hand mixer or standing mixer until pale. Slowly drizzle in the chocolate butter mixture.
Fold in flour until just incorporated.
Pour the batter into prepared pan. Spoon the tahini over the top of the batter, by dolloping across the surface of the brownies. Take a fork and drag it through the tahini/brownie batter to make it appear marbled.
Bake at 375 for 50 minutes or until set and no longer wobbly.
Additionally, these three books have kept me company during this insane week.
1. The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, Robin Wall Kimmerer
2. Re-Enchanting The World:Feminism and the Politics of the Commons, Silvia Federici
3. The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self, Martha Beck
Sending you a lot of love.
I really like Robin Wall Kemerer’ writing! I didn’t watch the inauguration. He’s not my president as they say. Instead I had an appointment to get my hair done. Self preservation
The wisdom of abstaining from shouting into the dark abyss. We need more of it! More brownies, too. And I can't wait to read Re-Enchanting the World. Feels like a MUST for discussion. Big hugs and comfort to you, Gracie. Onward.