Lots of firsts for me this week. Last night I hosted a reboot of the library’s cookbook club. So. Much. Fun!! There were a total of 11 of us. This month’s cookbook (or theme in this case) was the one and only Ina Garten. Folks cooked or baked a recipe from one of her 13 best-selling cookbooks, and we shared those dishes with the other group members. The conversation veered from how to make vanilla extract to achieving the optimal polenta consistency. And in case you were curious, participants weren’t only women! Our group requested an email recap and left with copies of June’s cookbook tucked under their arms, along with a promise to return. GAH! I am so damn happy. Would you like to learn more? Here are some of the best takeaways from last night:
Making homemade vanilla extract is easier than you think. Here is a video tutorial. Those of us who do have our own concoction agreed that using pliable and quality vanilla beans was key, as was waiting long enough for it to steep before using it. Hint: If it smells like vodka, it’s not ready.
Maldon Sea Salt for the win. This is the finishing salt that Ina refers to in so many recipes. According to my son, it’s the only salt that should be on your dinner table.
Where to find a quality polenta? I stand by Meadowlark Farm and Mill. It’s the brand that Reunion uses, and its flavor is far superior to grocery store brands.
Today is the first day of May, and my baking subscription is up and running. Members have received information about their first delivery, which coincides nicely with Mother’s Day. If you are experiencing FOMO, there’s still time to join!
A sneak peek of Heimweh Bakes’ FIRST EVER BAKED GOOD.
Now that I’ve mentioned Mother’s Day, let me rant a bit about this contrived holiday. It feels disingenuous to set aside a single day to praise mothers. The unpaid labor we perform (worth approximately $ 140,000 a year) day in and day out deserves more than a card from Walgreens. Where is the real conversation about the sacrifices we make, both professionally and personally, when we become moms? Yes, being a mom can be very fulfilling, but becoming a mother has many more consequences for a woman than those for men who choose to be fathers. We can and should do better. I’d love to know what you think. Leave a comment and let’s learn from each other.