Bread and Stories

Thanks so much for being with me here at Things Invisible to See. The invisible will stay visible—past posts still live here—but new emails will come from a new space called Bread and Stories. The project has energized me in a way I didn’t think possible in these heavy times. I hope the posts will feed your spirit, too.

Taguella, a traditional Tuareg bread that Inhinan described in Bread from Ashes.

What’s Bread and Stories?

If you have enough money to buy two loaves of bread, buy a loaf of bread and a pot of geraniums. —a long-ago neighbor of our family’s

This project brings to life an idea that has tugged at me for more than a decade: a collaborative blog that shares people’s fondest and most meaningful memories, alongside a recipe for a dish connected with those moments. Each post is a loaf of bread and a pot of geraniums. And because the world is a dark, divided place that tries to separate us, Bread and Stories crosses as many borders as possible. Barriers drift away like the steam from your mother’s ragout chicken. What’s left is just a person telling you their story and inviting you to savor a mouthful of comfort and care.

Bread and Stories plans to invite guest posts from everywhere. (Please email me if you’re interested in sharing a story.) At first, this blog will provide space and editorial support for friends from a variety of countries and cultures to share their memories and reflections along with a recipe. I'm excited to share these lovely people's offerings, and I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do.

First up is Bread from Ashes, a collaborative post with my friend Inhinan. He grew up in Libya within two cultures, Arab and Tuareg, and as he says, “had the blessing of seeing, hearing, and looking at things from different angles.” He shares his memories along with a recipe for taguella, a Tuareg bread baked under hot sand.

Sending warm wishes and a bowl of soup,
Jody