Sue's Diner: Vampire Meatballs

Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away.

So it's a perfect time to make and serve these sweet and sour "vampire" meatballs, either as an appetizer or a main dish.

Not only are they delicious, they won't scare anyone away. You can eat them with the lights turned on. And you don't have to be a fan of vampires to enjoy them.

This recipe not featured in any of the BryonySeries cookbooks, including Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties and features all the recipes referenced in the novel Bryony. 

However, you can try this recipe for vampire meatballs on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

Not sure what (or where) Sue's Diner is? Read: "Sue's Diner Through the Years."

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner-food. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

Check out all three BryonySeries cookbooks at bryonyseries.com/merchandise.

Sue's Diner: Recipe for Happiness

This recipe does not appear in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

It's simply my wish for you today and all the days of your life.

Check out the recipe at bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner-food.

If you have any questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

Sue's Diner: Homemade Pizza

We often make homemade pizza on New Year's Eve, which is traditionally a stay-at-home game or movie night. And tonight will also be a homemade pizza night.

If you're inclined to make homemade pizza, too, perhaps you'd like to try the recipe from "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from 'Bryony," which is a companion cookbook to the BryonySeries novel "Bryony."

Here is the explanation from the cookbook:

Before Melissa moved to Munsonville, her friends treated her to dinner at Pizza Express. Ogling cute bus boy Jason Frye was more fun than eating pizza, but we included the house’s signature recipe, anyway.

Note from Jim Brodnicki, who submitted the recipe for the cookbook: “ I added the option for the whole wheat flour given today's health awareness that we have. I remember one time my mom, Lillian, bought a package of dough mix from the store and it was really bad. That was when she just started doing it this way. The dough is what my mom use to use. The sauce recipe is my own.”

You can try the pizza recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks bryonyseries.com/merchandise.

Some "Wins" for B.L.O.C.K.S. at "Men Who Cook" (With Photos)

I believe 2025 was the first year I didn't write a "Men Who Cook" preview story for The Herald-News in the history of the fundraiser for the Will County Children's Advocacy Center.

That's because The Herald-News promoted the event in other ways.

And also because we participated in Men Who Cook this year.

Rebekah came up with the idea just a couple of weeks before the event, which made event preparation tight and stressful for Timothy, especially since he did some of the marketing, too.

But she had solid reasons for her idea.

1. Men Who Cook fell on Daniel's 30th birthday this year. What better way to celebrate the day than with service?

2. We (unfortunately - but fortunately) have first and secondhand experiences with the center. So we always wanted to give back.

3. The event was a way to showcase B.L.O.C.K.S. to many people ate once.

4. And we could bring awareness to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties by serving a modified recipe from this cookbook, which is a permanent fundraiser for the youth mentoring nonprofit. 

We also gave away a copy of the cookbook.

The boys were hopping all night and were understandably tired at the end of the event.

Yet before you scroll through the photos, I want to share the most important takeaway.

The event is also a friendly contest. We didn't win anything. But we knew that going into the event.

We didn't participate in "Men Who Cook" to win. We came to serve.

And I think we accomplished that.

Sue's Diner: Beef Stewed with Apples

This week's recipe is from the nineteenth century and is perfect for chilly November days.

This recipe was adapted from Miss Beecher’s domestic receiptbook: designed as a supplement to her Treatise on domestic economy.

Even with our adaptation, the recipe is vague as to amount of ingredients used. We assumed this meant the cook that determine that, based on what's on hand and the cook's instinct. This gives plenty of leeway and makes the dish almost impossible to get wrong.

Our version of Beef Stewed with Apples also appears in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

The recipe is also referenced in the novel Bryony, where it's served cold at a picnic that the book's protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis, attends in the nineteenth century with pianist/composer/vampire John Simons.

You can try our modified recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. It actually can be served hot or cold, so no need to heat up those leftovers.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Sweet and Sour Meatballs

This week's recipe for Sweet and Sour Meatballs was submitted by our BryonySeries pianist and composer James Onohan for the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

The recipe is referenced in the novel Bryony, where it's served at a memorial luncheon for the grandmother of that the book's protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis.

You can try the recipe for Sweet and Sour Meatballs on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Fried Potatoes

This week's recipe features an unusual twist for fried potatoes. A former daughter-in-law submitted it a decade ago when we were collecting recipes for a companion cookbook prior to the release of the first book in the BryonySeries.

This recipe appears in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

The recipe is referenced in the novel Bryony, where the protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis, finds it on her breakfast tray during her first morning in the 18th century when she wakes up inside Simons Mansion,

You can try our modified recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan. 21 to Jan. 27

Good morning!

Today I have just nine features and news stories to share with you today with several more to be posted over the weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

If you live in the area, stop out at The Book Market in Crest Hill from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rebekah and I will be there with BryonySeries books. WriteOn Joliet anthologies, and a few miscellaneous titles. And if none of those interest you, you'll find thousands of new, used, and rare books at The Book Market, all waiting for you to find them.

Also, WriteOn Joliet has big news to share next week. In the meantime, white you're sitting at the edge of your seat with anticipation, here is a quick recap on BryonySeries projects in the works.

I now have rough drafts for the first five chapters of in the final book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy: House on Top of the Hill and hope to get another done this weekend.

I am in the process of writing the next book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer subseries: Cornell Dyer and the Hounds of Basketville and made some progress on that story on Monday. Sue Midlock almost has the art done, too. But I will adjust and get that book written soon.

I am also working on the fourth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries series.

You can find other titles in the series here. Timothy has not yet added our latest titles to the BryonySeries bookstore. But all titles are also on Amazon. 

I'm also working on a guide book to the series called: Welcome to Munsonville: the People, Places, and Things of the BryonySeries.

And I'm also working on a novella. But I'm not sharing any details yet. 

Rebekah is also slowly updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts, so watch for those.

Now back to the stories. Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!

But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too.

Finally, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Sunday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks or will be featured in an upcoming cookbook.

Check out the recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year, well, except this year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.

If you need support in your writing, I highly recommend this Twitter group: #5amwritersclub. I  joined a couple years ago. Writers support each other on Twitter and meet every three weeks at 5 a.m. (4 a.m. CST - needless to say, I am often late!) on Zoom.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Daily updates: I do post the briefs on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I post curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter at @BryonySeries and assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

BRYONYSERIES BOOKS

For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.

BRYONYSERIES EVENTS

A full month of virtual events can be found at bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events.

QUESTIONS

Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.

FEATURES

More Will County residents are raising chickens for eggs. But is it worth it?: Will County Farm bureau said all municipalities may not allow it.

Longtime Rockdale steakhouse served up ‘lots of good memories.’: Patrons of the share their fondness for the newly closed Syl’s Restaurant.

Make a Plainfield woman’s cancer fight a little brighter on Jan. 29: Eva Mores: ‘We just really want to surround her home with light and love.’

Big Brothers Big Sisters partner with District 202 in Plainfield for in-school mentoring program: Stephanie Hook: ‘Our SOAR program was created just for this partnership.’

What you should know about new Omicron variant: Health experts in Will County offer tips for protecting yourself.

Baran-Unland: For a terrific pork tenderloin sandwich, head to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox: An employee in the cafeteria developed the sandwich. 

Our Lady of Angels in Joliet will host final Mass on Feb. 11. Reservations are required.

Pets of the Week: Jan. 23, 2023: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

5 Things to do in Will County: Joliet theater to host ‘Playwrights and Poets Festival’: Plus, enjoy a winter scavenger hunt, an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and a singer/songer spotlight.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Sue's Diner: Pizza

Few foods beat a homemade pizza, and we have a good recipe for you to try this week.

This pizza recipe is featured in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

This recipe is referenced in the BryonySeries novel Bryony. Here is the explanation from the cookbook:

Before Melissa moved to Munsonville, her friends treated her to dinner at Pizza Express. Ogling cute bus boy Jason Frye was more fun than eating pizza, but we included the house’s signature recipe, anyway.

Note from Jim Brodnicki, who submitted the recipe for the cookbook: “ I added the option for the whole wheat flour given today's health awareness that we have. I remember one time my mom, Lillian, bought a package of dough mix from the store and it was really bad. That was when she just started doing it this way. The dough is what my mom use to use. The sauce recipe is my own.”

You can try the pizza recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Roasted Root Vegetable Medley

Each week for the next couple of weeks, I'm planning to feature one selected recipe from the Thanksgiving menu that's featured in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

All of these recipes are referenced in the novel Bryony. The complete menu is found in the cookbook.

Here is the explanation from the cookbook:

For the Marchellis’ first Thanksgiving in Munsonville, Melissa’s little brother Brian shows off the depth of his newly acquired culinary skills, under the direction of his mentor, Steve Barnes, the village maintenance man.

You can try the Roasted Root Vegetable Medley on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe from the Thanksgiving menu will take it's place.

Crocheted mouse not included (Did you catch Bertrand the Mouse's photo bomb?)

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Sweet and Sour Meatballs

This week's recipe was submitted by our BryonySeries pianist and composer James Onohan for the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

The recipe is referenced in the novel Bryony, where it's served at a memorial luncheon for the grandmother of that the book's protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis.

You can try the recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Beef Stewed with Apples

This week's recipe is from the nineteenth century and was adapted from Miss Beecher’s domestic receiptbook: designed as a supplement to her Treatise on domestic economy.

Our version of Beef Stewed with Apples also appears in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

The recipe is referenced in the novel Bryony, where it's served cold at a picnic that the book's protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis, attends in the nineteenth century with pianist/composer/vampire John Simons.

You can try our modified recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. It can be served hot or cold.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Steve's Spaghetti Sauce

This week's recipe is a homemade spaghetti sauce that was submitted by one of the characters in the BryonySeries.

This recipe appears in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

The recipe is referenced in the novel Bryony, where the brother of the protagonist, 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis, is being mentored by the village maintenance man, Steve Barnes. 

Steve helps Brian Marchellis with his homework, teaches him to cook, and provides a father figure after the death of Brian's father. Spaghetti topped with Steve's homemade spaghetti sauce is one of the meals the two make for dinner together.

You can try our modified recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Fried Potatoes

This week's recipe features an unusual twist for fried potatoes. A former daughter-in-law submitted it a decade ago when we were collecting recipes for a companion cookbook prior to the release of the first book in the BryonySeries.

This recipe appears in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

The recipe is referenced in the novel Bryony, where the protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis, finds it on her breakfast tray during her first morning in the 18th century when she wakes up inside Simons Mansion,

You can try our modified recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Italian Herb Monkey Bread with Garlic Olive Oil

 This week's recipe is called "Italian Herb Monkey Bread with Garlic Olive Oil" and my daughter Sarah Stegall created it

This recipe appears in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

The recipe is referenced in the novel Bryony, where the protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis, enounters it at a potluck memorial luncheon for her grandmother.

You can try our modified recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Apple Ice

This week's recipe is a nineteenth century apple ice, which is perfect for these warm summer days.

This recipe appears in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

The recipe is referenced in the novel Bryony, where the protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis, enounters it at a nineteenth century garden party at Simons Mansion. 

Here is the excerpt:

Several older ladies from church were discussing the latest corsets, so Melissa decided to join them. Henry Matthews, plate in hand, followed like an obedient puppy. He placed her food before her, sat beside her, and offered a glass. “I brought you an ice.”

With a frustrated sigh, Melissa accepted it, took a taste, then pointed her spoon at his nose. “Can’t you take a hint?”

This recipe for apple ice is adapted from Miss Beecher’s domestic receiptbook: designed as a supplement to her Treatise on domestic economy.

 You can try our modified recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: House Salad

This is my favorite side salad in the entire world, as served in the fictional Sue's Diner in the fictional Munsonville, Michigan of the BryonySeries world, and as developed by my chef son Timothy Baran.

It's delicious any time of the year, but especially this time of the year when temperatures are warmer and salads are even more welcomed.

Try the recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

This house salad recipe also appears in the BryonySeries cookbook Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Sue's Diner: Bohemian Biscuits with Jam

Today's recipe is most likely older than both of our ages together (mine and whoever is reading this - and if you're young enough, triple that!).

It's adapted from the Bohemian-American Cookbook by Marie Rosicky, published by the Automatic Printing Company.

Side note: My mother owns a much older version of the current cookbook. It's still in print and the company gave me permission to modify some of the recipes and republish them as long as it approved the modifications.

Here is the back story of this really fun cookbook (along with you you can get your own copy).

The recipe is referenced in chapter 27 of Bryony. In that chapter, (spoilers), Melissa develops a crush on Henry and boldly approaches him for a date. So Henry seizes his chance to enlarge Melissa’s world and gives her a kaleidoscope evening of theater, historical landmarks, and peasant food.

Try this recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. Scroll down to "Recipe of the Week."

But try it this week. It will be gone next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

From "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'"

All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties at bbbswillgrundy.org.

Order the cookbook at www.bryonyseries.com.

The Return of Sue's Diner - Soon

Her mother parked in front of a dingy, squat-looking building, Sue’s Diner. Brian turned and rolled his eyes. Melissa mouthed back, probably get food poisoning.

"Let’s go, guys!” Darlene peered in the mirror and patted her short hair, the color and texture of corn silk. “Don’t judge a book by its cover. I’ll bet the food is terrific.”

Stiff and cramped from the long ride, Melissa and Brian slowly emerged from the car and entered the dreary building. Brian poked Melissa, and her jaw dropped.

For a small, lakefront village restaurant, throngs of people packed the dining room. There were men in overalls and plaid shirts or business suits; women wearing faded, print dresses; and kids in jeans. Darlene asked the gum-cracking, pony-tailed hostess for a table, and the girl led the trio to a booth by the picture window overlooking Main Street. Melissa slid close to the fingerprinted window and glanced down. Clear tape sealed cracks in the vinyl blue-green seats. The table’s smooth top was speckled with gold and imbedded with coffee stains.

From "Bryony."

The one and only restaurant in the fictional fishing village of Munsonville, Michigan, Sue's Diner made a regular appearance as a Sunday blog for a couple of years until Rebekah and I became too busy for long Saturday cook-ins.

Huh?

You see, The BryonySeries has an official cookbook. It's called Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony" and it features recipes for all the 1970s and Victorian food references (divided by scene or them), along with historical references.

This cookbook is, and always has been, a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

Each week, Rebekah and I would prepare a recipe from the cookbook and post it on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website, which Timothy built piece by piece to look like an actual menu from Sue's Diner - if Sue's Diner was a real place.

Rebekah and I made a goal of bringing Sue's Diner back after the holidays - and then one of my cats - Midnight - and me, needed procedures done in the same week.

Now that we're past all of it (we hope), our plan is to cook one BryonySeries recipe a week and share it with you to try at home.

But don't wait too long. The "recipe of the week" disappears in seven days - to be replaced with a new one.

Please join us virtually in the kitchen.

Read a "restaurant review" of Sue's Diner. here.

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: And Now For Something Completely Different

Sunday, February 21, 2016

And Now For Something Completely Different

Yes, this was served up on a fictional wedding buffet. Those 19th century folk didn't waste a thing...

The Munsonville Times was so impressed by the spread John Simons served for his wedding to Miss Bryony Marseilles that the newspaper listed each item. Here's a recipe for one of them:

Boiled Pigeons with Turkey Stuffing

Pigeons

Butter

Flour

Pepper

Butter, the size of a goose egg, for every 12 pigeons

Pigeons are good stuffed and roasted or baked. They are better stewed thus: Stuff them like turkeys, put them in a pot, breast downwards, and cover them with salted water 1 inch above the top, and simmer them 2 hours in tender, and 3 if tough. When nearly done, stir in butter. Take them up and add a little flour paste to the gravy, with salt and pepper, and pour some of it over them, and put the rest in a gravy dish.

From "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'"

All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. www.bbbswillgrundy.org

Order the cookbook on Amazon (because Timothy temporarily took our page down on the website).