The opener to this is so wonderful, and I entirely agree, even though I don't use flour to do it.
I also find solace in looking at the past. There is never a time in history when things weren't challenging, and many times when they were more than a little existentially nerve-wracking. But things moved forward regardless, not around the mess, but through it, acknowledging and working with it. We untangle enough to keep going. That's what we do.
I'm sure there's some clever analogy here to do with how every dish is a mess of ingredients at some point, but it's late at night and my brain's not up to it. ;)
Thank you, Jolene, for writing about what we’re feeling now. I agree with Mike about recipes being a mess of ingredients sometimes. Such as when people in the past didn’t have butter and subbed oleo or things that say more about the mess they were in than their ability as a baker.
You know, that's one very goodlooking pound cake. They seem easy. But I find them hard to get right, kind of the roast chicken of the baker's craft. That cake, a dollop of cream, and fresh peaches certainly should put the world 🌎 to rights.
I love the phrase “stubborn gladness.” It seems to capsulize what we all need to endure the “furnace” of ills and horrors the world inflicts upon us. We are lucky to find simple joy in baking (your pound cake looks scrumptious!) that distracts us for a while, but sadly the world comes rushing back the moment the cake goes in the oven. Perhaps that’s why I’m always flipping through my cookbooks (and blogs!) looking for my next bake! Thanks for another great post!
Joleen! This is such a wonderful post. I needed to be connected with Gilbert's poem and I appreciate the links which I will save to read. And Eat A Peach summons me back to a time and place thar I visit every time I play it. The Allman' Bothers were big for us too. I'm going to play the album today while I make a peach crisp.
Oh, Jolene! This was such a wonderful newsletter, and exactly what I needed today. Thank you!
I especially appreciated the history of pound cake and the quote about eating a peach for peace (in fact, I wonder if I might use this quote in one of my upcoming creativity newsletters?) and finally, I loved hearing Elizabeth Gilbert's take on Jack Gilbert's poem. I knew Jack and was in poetry workshops with him. He was so gifted and so very kind. Thank you for all you do, dear friend. Love, Jamie
Great all-round story, but I was particularly interested in the music bit as I'm gathering music-related memories from friends, acquaintances and completely unknown people. One of these days I'd love to pick your brain about yours.
I love the quote about remaining obligated to joy and will always remember it. And, at this moment, I am listening to the Allman Brothers. Your post brought on the happy tears.
Lovely, Jolene. And that pound cake looks deeelicious. Haven't made one for decades but I used to use the Silver Palate recipe. Their first and second book are still my go to for baking.
Jolene, this is wonderful. I’ve been trying to think of a way to express my feelings about food and cooking framed in the current state of our world, and you’ve done a beautiful job of expressing my own sentiments. The Elizabeth Gilbert quote you shared about finding the middle ground between realism and optimism definitely speaks to me.
On a lighter note, I love the story about the name of The Allman Brothers Band’s album (Melissa is such a great song and now I’m listening to the entire thing). And I’m a huge T.S. Eliot fan; a book of his collected poems is sitting on a shelf beside me right now!
And that pound cake! 🤩 Thanks for the tip about checking the cake earlier than what the recipe calls for; our oven runs hot and I find that I often have to do the same!
The opener to this is so wonderful, and I entirely agree, even though I don't use flour to do it.
I also find solace in looking at the past. There is never a time in history when things weren't challenging, and many times when they were more than a little existentially nerve-wracking. But things moved forward regardless, not around the mess, but through it, acknowledging and working with it. We untangle enough to keep going. That's what we do.
I'm sure there's some clever analogy here to do with how every dish is a mess of ingredients at some point, but it's late at night and my brain's not up to it. ;)
Well, this made me cry.
Oh Jolene, this was so lovely. Full stop. Thank you.
Thank you, Jolene, for writing about what we’re feeling now. I agree with Mike about recipes being a mess of ingredients sometimes. Such as when people in the past didn’t have butter and subbed oleo or things that say more about the mess they were in than their ability as a baker.
You know, that's one very goodlooking pound cake. They seem easy. But I find them hard to get right, kind of the roast chicken of the baker's craft. That cake, a dollop of cream, and fresh peaches certainly should put the world 🌎 to rights.
Absolutely loved this Jolene, thank you!
Oh gosh, word after word of heart/mind/stomach commiseration and relability. <3
I love the phrase “stubborn gladness.” It seems to capsulize what we all need to endure the “furnace” of ills and horrors the world inflicts upon us. We are lucky to find simple joy in baking (your pound cake looks scrumptious!) that distracts us for a while, but sadly the world comes rushing back the moment the cake goes in the oven. Perhaps that’s why I’m always flipping through my cookbooks (and blogs!) looking for my next bake! Thanks for another great post!
Jolene, well said.
Beautiful.
THANK YOU!
Joleen! This is such a wonderful post. I needed to be connected with Gilbert's poem and I appreciate the links which I will save to read. And Eat A Peach summons me back to a time and place thar I visit every time I play it. The Allman' Bothers were big for us too. I'm going to play the album today while I make a peach crisp.
Oh, Jolene! This was such a wonderful newsletter, and exactly what I needed today. Thank you!
I especially appreciated the history of pound cake and the quote about eating a peach for peace (in fact, I wonder if I might use this quote in one of my upcoming creativity newsletters?) and finally, I loved hearing Elizabeth Gilbert's take on Jack Gilbert's poem. I knew Jack and was in poetry workshops with him. He was so gifted and so very kind. Thank you for all you do, dear friend. Love, Jamie
Great all-round story, but I was particularly interested in the music bit as I'm gathering music-related memories from friends, acquaintances and completely unknown people. One of these days I'd love to pick your brain about yours.
I love the quote about remaining obligated to joy and will always remember it. And, at this moment, I am listening to the Allman Brothers. Your post brought on the happy tears.
Lovely, Jolene. And that pound cake looks deeelicious. Haven't made one for decades but I used to use the Silver Palate recipe. Their first and second book are still my go to for baking.
Jolene, this is wonderful. I’ve been trying to think of a way to express my feelings about food and cooking framed in the current state of our world, and you’ve done a beautiful job of expressing my own sentiments. The Elizabeth Gilbert quote you shared about finding the middle ground between realism and optimism definitely speaks to me.
On a lighter note, I love the story about the name of The Allman Brothers Band’s album (Melissa is such a great song and now I’m listening to the entire thing). And I’m a huge T.S. Eliot fan; a book of his collected poems is sitting on a shelf beside me right now!
And that pound cake! 🤩 Thanks for the tip about checking the cake earlier than what the recipe calls for; our oven runs hot and I find that I often have to do the same!
Thank you for this today. You nailed it!
Spending time in the kitchen lifts me, too. I will make the pound cake very soon!💕