Today I dropped the F-bomb on Twitter. Don’t go looking for it because as soon as Twitter stopped being over-capacity, I deleted it. Landon Donovan, the US soccer team’s star striker scored a goal in the 91st minute of a critical game against Algeria in the World Cup.
Matt and I were glued to our television beginning at 7 am Pacific time, yelling and screaming in frustration until that moment. As the game went on, I wondered if our national team would propel itself to the next round against, seemingly, all odds. And we did. In overtime. All I kept thinking in the last few minutes of the game was this: in America, dreams DO come true. It’s not just a story people tell. It’s a story people live. Every day. In every state.
I don’t watch the Super Bowl. I don’t like baseball. I really, really don’t like any sort of candy made with peanut butter. But today I believed in American soccer. Because it wasn’t just about soccer–it was about being proud to live in a free country where pushing on and fighting for what you believe (even when the odds may be against you) is fundamental. Because sometimes you think you’ve been broken down and there’s no possible way you’ll persevere. Maybe everyone else believes it too. The US game against Algeria showed that believing CAN get you places. Of course, the story is written differently for the other side. We all frame our own narratives. This game. It spoke to me. It spoke to what I’ve always known about America, and what I wish more Americans knew about America!
It was a good day. We rode the train in to work, still on a high. Work seemed like a blur. And then we got home, roasted a chicken and made some Indian flatbread. The kind that you can’t get enough of because it’s just perfectly toasty, chewy, slightly charred and a bit greasy. The perfect thing to sop up some extra sauce from a curry, olive oil from a salad or the extra sop of soup. Indian flatbread. In America.
Musical Pairings
Today’s special Musical Pairings is featuring a download of Beck’s Record Club featuring St.Vincent, Liars and Os Mutantes covering INXS’ album Kick. Head over there to download it–it’s addictive! –Matthew
Chapati, Simple Indian Flatbread
adapted from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian
*serves 2
1 cup + 2 tablespoons of white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup of warm water
2 tablespoons of butter, melted
1. Combine the flours and salt in a food processor and pulse to mix.
2. With the motor running, pour in the water, processing for about 30 seconds. Add a tablespoon or two of water if needed and process until the dough is still a bit crumbly but sticks together when you form it with your hands. It shouldn’t be wet or too sticky.
3. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface, roll into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and let rest for about 30 minutes.
4. Divide the ball of dough into approximately 8 balls, squishing them into 4-inch round disks and separating them from each other with towels or plastic wrap.
5. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Line a plate with a towel.
6. Once the skillet is hot, dust your work surface with a bit of flour and roll out your first disk until it’s about 1/8th inch thick.
7. Drop the first flatbread into the skillet and brush with the melted butter. Cook for about 15-20 seconds before flipping. Brush the other side with butter and cook for another 15 seconds or so. Flip again. Depending on the thickness of your dough and how hot the skillet is, you may need to cook and flip several times (the dough will start to bubble and puff slightly and develop some nice brown marks). Transfer to towel-lined plate.
8. Roll the next disk and drop it into the cast iron skillet. Repeat step 7 with all disks. Serve and eat warm.
