Baking Therapy

When Rebekah was a little girl, she dreamed of becoming a pastry chef, a dream that hasn't worked out for her (yet).

She will occasionally bake a treat to keep her skills up (and because she enjoys it). But with diabetes running in the family and everyone trying to be very health conscious, she doesn't go all out with baking most of the time.

Still, for Rebekah, baking is relaxing. so when Rebekah's feeling stressed, she will bake something.

Well, we've had plenty of stress the last few years, and this summer proved to be extremely stressful.

So one day after work, Rebekah went all out.

She baked two loaves of buttermilk bread (we gobbled up one before I could take a photo), two loves of banana bread, a few dozen chocolate chip cookies with some vegan chips she wanted to try (the cookies were flat but delicious), and the ricotta cheesecake for my birthday that she waited to make until I felt better (as you can see, we wasted no time digging in).

Of course, baking didn't chase all the stress away. But we could deliciously drown our sorrows while we griped.

How about you? What's your antidote for high stress days?

If You Need Some Really Amazing Cookies or Cakes for An Event...

 ...check out Sugar 'N Spice And Everything Nice, a small in-home scratch bakery in Grundy County.

The owner, Jasmine Rosenboom, has created a variety of sweet treats for the BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet.

Scroll through these photos to see her talents...

...these WriteOn Joliet cookies in the shape of pencils for one of our first anthology release parties. (Bertrand the Mouse photo bomb not included with orders).

...like these hot chocolate bombs she created for the BryonySeries to give away with select purchases at the 2021 WriteOn Joliet anthology release party.

Here are a few unboxed  bombs.

...like this cookie with Ed Calkins' likeness on it for Calkins Day 2023:

... this edible vampire slaying kit she created for the the BryonySeries to give away with select purchases at the 2022 WriteOn Joliet anthology release party.

...like this BryonySeries-themed cake she created for my birthday in 2020.

...like unicorn cake she made for my granddaughter Jessica's birthday in 2019.

like cake with homemade macaroons she made for Rebekah's birthday in 2021.

Jasmine actually makes amazing macaroons in a variety of colors and flavors. She's done wedding cakes, too. 

For more photos and to message her with questions, visit facebook.com/sugarnspiceandeverything.

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.

"And a little child shall lead them"

My head has an interesting mix of ideas this morning.

It's Christmas Eve, and my two of my adult children are already hard at work (I shall soon join them - maybe - for I might be banned from the kitchen in favor of their bonding) preparing our traditional twelve course, Eastern European Christmas Eve dinner.

In the BryonySeries world, it's the day dedicated to werewolves.

And last night, Timothy did an extremely imaginative photo shoot with Bertrand for his first cookbook that Rebekah put together: she prepared and shot all the recipes and formatted the book. I was the taste-tester.

In fact, Timothy staged, and then took, such an interesting mix of photos that we can use most of them (with a few more) for another Bertrand the Mouse book.

Yes, I am going somewhere with this.

During the editing process of "Bryony," the first book in the BryonySeries, my publicist (back when I had a publicist) complimented me on how "in touch" I was with my inner child.

Last night, Timothy showed off his creative inner child, a child he once thought he'd lose.

During this time of year in our newspaper delivering days, we listened to Christmas music as we delivered, including recordings of my favorite albums growing up.

One of them included this version of this song. 

Except we rarely listened to it because it made Timothy sad. I shared a memory of my thoughts when I was eight and trying to picture what that meant.

Fortunately, it didn't come true for any of us; the borders are still there, and we can go in and out whenever we wish. And it showed last night.

So Christmas Eve, BryonySeries werewolf day, Bertrand the Mouse, childhood and childlike attitude - all of these made me think of this verse: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb...and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 1:6

However you worship and wherever you are in your faith journey and approach to life, may you always retain a sense of wonder, awe, and good-old fashioned playfulness.

Now, here is a sampling of Bertrand's culinary adventure. For who else to lead Bertrand through the experience than a professional chef?

"I Have a Thing For You"

This is what Timothy's girl friend Jasmine called out to me as I was on my hands and knees last night after work cleaning the downstairs bathroom.

Side note: My mother hates that I wash floors from a "hands and knees" position. She thinks it's demeaning. I think it's the best way not to miss anything. But whatever.

A "thing for me?"

"Does Timothy know?" I called back.

I should say here that Jasmine is pretty awesome. Two nights ago, she was in the ER after getting smacked in the nose with a softball (yes, it's slightly broken), but she was up early the next day, ready for work.

Yesterday, she spent the day babysitting my granddaughters because Joshua as at work, and Amber had to accompany Ezekiel on a field trip.

She sent me photos of the fun they were having. I should add here that Jasmine's specialty is cakes, and her dream goal is to open her own bakery one day.

The girls did some baking...

Some waiting...

And sharing...

Yes, this was the "thing" Jasmine had waiting for me at the other end of the door.

What's really sweet about this, more than Jasmine engaging the girls in the kitchen, is Jasmine teaching Jessica and Riley how to be thoughtful and kind.

Wouldn't you agree?