An Invitation to Make Memories in the Kitchen With Us

For many years, our family made nearly all of the bread we make, and all six of my children grew up helping to make that bread.

One day in late 1993 while kneading bread dough that would be used for Communion in our church, I was struck by the whole Eucharastic nature of breadmaking in general: taking a few ingredients, working them with your hands, and then later distributing that bread with people I love - and sitting down to enjoy it with them.

And, honestly, you could apply that philosophy to all of cooking. Food is so basic - we all need to eat - but it can also can become the conduit for giving, receiving, and sharing love. There's something really sublime about preparing and serving the very substances a person needs to survive. 

And making and breaking together can create long-lasting bonds. Think of the saying: "It's hard to remain enemies when you've broken bread together." 

Last week, I wrote about how Rebekah and I would soon reinstate the Sue's Diner feature of the BryonySeries - a recipe from one of the BryonySeries cookbook that we would prepare and post on the website each week.

Our first recipe is ready to go - and I couldn't figure out the back page of Sue's Diner the way Timothy has created it. 

So I had two choices: decipher it myself (and risk altering many hours of his hard work) or wait and ask.

I chose the latter. 

So in the meantime, I'm sharing with you the background behind WHY the series is even publishing cookbooks - and an overview of where we found the recipes used in the original cookbook.

Our first recipe should be posted next week on the website, and I'll share the link on this blog.

Mostly, we are inviting you to join us - either by yourself or with a loved one - and make your own memories in the kitchen.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Introduction to Memories in the Kitchen: Bites andNibbles from “Bryony.”

Why a cookbook?

Well, why NOT a cookbook?

Even before I began submitting Bryony to agents and small presses, my kids and I talked about all the fun, additional products the novel might inspire.

Although I’ll probably never see bendable dolls with their own line of clothing (too bad, since we could make a fortune on all those lost, little shoes) or a Simons Mansion dollhouse (I REALLY want one), the cookbook idea flourished inside me, especially after I wrote a story on what Kathy Carey did for March of Dimes.

For two decades, this remarkable woman participated in Grundy County's March of Dimes walk. In 2000, after a friend gave birth to a premature baby, Carey increased her efforts. She assisted the district coordinator. She contacted companies for donations and sponsorships. She re-routed the local walk to increase its visibility.

Three years ago, Carey read an advertisement for fundraising cookbooks. Although she owned no computer and had no previous cookbook experience, Carey sent for the information. She studied it closely and decided she could do it. She set a fundraising goal of $7,000 and calculated that she needed to sell 1,000 cookbooks to reach it. Carey peddled the books at local stores, craft shows and festivals until she sold them all.

Inspired by Carey's story, I decided to create a Bryony themed cookbook and donate any profits it might make. Its recipient is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. In its 40-year history, the organization has matched over 15,000 at risk children from single-parent homes.

Because Bryony's main character, Melissa Marchellis, spends part of her childhood in a single parent home, the group was a good match for the cookbook. I am humbled that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties agreed.

So, I scrolled through the manuscript, jotted all the food references, and began collecting recipes. I modified many of the Victorian dishes to ease preparation, but kept the original language intact. Some, such as boiled calves head, are included so readers can learn about the culinary delights of days long past.

But enough talking. As Melissa’s younger brother Brian said during a holiday dinner, “We made all this food to eat, right?”

Right, Brian. Happy reading and bon appétit!

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From "Bryony," is the official BryonySeries cookbook.

(Editor's note: that should read "original," for we now have two more cookbooks: GRRR and Squeak!) 

 It's a collection of authentically Victorian recipes and recipes that were popular in the 1970s.

 

Some of the recipes came from 19th century, out-of-print cookbooks.

 

Some came from vintage cookbooks still in print and were used and modified with permission of the publisher.

 

Some came from the collection of The Henry Ford and features signature recipes of restaurants long since closed.

 

Some came from reader submissions.

 

All proceeds from cookbook sales benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties, a nod to the cooking/mentoring relationship between Steve Barnes and Brian Marchellis in Bryony.

 

So when you purchase a cookbook for yourself or as a gift, you not only might make your own "memories in the kitchen," you'll help a child.

 And that's a sweet combination.

Support My Charities?

My approach to selling my works is so soft that many fellow writers don't even know I've self-published works.

Today, however, I'd like to be more bold.

Ish.

Over the past few years, I've created products that support two Joliet-area organizations. One is a cookbook that benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. The second one is a series of three art therapy books for clinical use by the bereavement counselors at Joliet Area Community Hospice.

Just so you know, I make no profit on either.

For more information on the cookbook, visit http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2015/12/looking-for-unique-christmas-gift.html.

To purchase the cookbook, visit www.bryonyseries.com. To purchase a signed cookbook, message me at bryonyseries.com.

Now the art therapy books are not for sale, but I am raising money so JOHA can purchase them for their clients. I'm happy to report I have raised enough money so far for the purchase of a hundred of these little books. 

Donations can be sent directly to hospice (the preferable route). Just mention the donation is for the art therapy books. BTW, JOHA doesn't order the books from me, either, but directly from Lulu at cost through a special link not available to the public.

For more on the art therapy books, visit http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-bit-about-my-other-non-writing-project.html.

Feel free to share any of this information with anyone who might be interested.

And if supporting either of these projects isn't for you, then please do this in the new year: reach out and life someone up, be the means to someone else's end, be a helper.

Not a bad way to live 2017, methinks, no matter what else these next twelve months bring.

Bucottora

Once, after a sleighing party, Melissa had poked a suspicious-looking morsel, tasted it, and then hailed a servant on her way to the kitchen.

“Why Mrs. Simons, that’s terrapin,” the girl said. She smiled at Melissa’s blank look. “It’s turtle,” she added. Horrified, Melissa, retreated to a corner to spit the offending meat into her napkin.

Bucottora

By Suzy Staley Baker

1 medium-sized fresh water turtle

1 tablespoon black pepper

Vinegar or lime

1 large onion

! ball recardo (Belizean version of achiote paste) and anato (achiote)

Thyme, oregano, garlic, cilantro

Coconut oil

Thick coconut cream

Chop off head and cut around hard shell. After shell breaks, take knife and cut very close to the edge of the back, guiding the meat with your hand as you go along. Take out meat and clean with vinegar or lime. Place in hot water to scald off skin. Cut into pieces and season with spices to taste. Cook in hot coconut oil. Add little thick coconut cream to keep it from drying out, Turn occasionally and add more spices. Cook for 40 to 50 minutes. Yield: Depends on the size of the turtle

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 at www.bryonyseries.com/Dalton_s_Dry_Goods.html