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. ;)
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
Omg, Jamie, we must talk! He was such a one-of-a-kind person, how wonderful that you did workshops with him. Definitely take a look at the link below about the interview Duane did when he said it, I’ll email it to you, too. Thank you for all YOU do, my friend! ❤️
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.
Thank you, Joan, it’s a really nice recipe and I also love the Silver Palate books — you’ve reminded me I want to talk about them in this newsletter at some point soon 😊
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.
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!
Kiki, thank you so much for your beautiful comment. I’m so grateful we have our kitchens to turn to during turbulence. I love that you’re listening to the Allmans and I agree about ‘Melissa’, absolutely gorgeous song! I definitely recommend this cake and let me know how it goes - I am getting used to my new oven and it definitely runs hot, too! Have a great weekend! 😊
Tough times we live in, don't we. For me, too, spending time in the kitchen is therapeutic. The more I cook, the easier it is to notice the little joys of the ordinary. As you said, an "exercise" in being present.
Beautifully written, as usual. Thank you Jolene 🙏🏼
Thank you so much, Sinù, it’s like meditation, but with cake at the end of the practice! 😉 Have a wonderful weekend and, again, thank you for your kind words. ☺️
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!
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. ;)
“But things moved forward regardless, not around the mess, but through it…”
So true, Mike, and thank you. Love the ingredients analogy, did you see Anne’s comment?
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.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth - And making a peach crisp listening to the Allman Brothers sounds like my kinda Saturday afternoon! 🍑 🎶
Please forgive the typo I made when writing your name. And all the other typos. I blame my phone.
No worries! Autocorrect is great till it’s not 😂
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
Omg, Jamie, we must talk! He was such a one-of-a-kind person, how wonderful that you did workshops with him. Definitely take a look at the link below about the interview Duane did when he said it, I’ll email it to you, too. Thank you for all YOU do, my friend! ❤️
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.
Thank you for reading and for your poignant comment about remaining obligated to joy, Randee. That brought me a happy tear, too. 🥲 ☺️
Well, this made me cry.
I hope there was a cleansing, happy- tear in there, Elizabeth 🥲
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.
Thank you, Joan, it’s a really nice recipe and I also love the Silver Palate books — you’ve reminded me I want to talk about them in this newsletter at some point soon 😊
Oh Jolene, this was so lovely. Full stop. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Sarah 😊
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.
“…things that say more about the mess they were in than their ability as a baker.” Thank you, Anne!
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!
Kiki, thank you so much for your beautiful comment. I’m so grateful we have our kitchens to turn to during turbulence. I love that you’re listening to the Allmans and I agree about ‘Melissa’, absolutely gorgeous song! I definitely recommend this cake and let me know how it goes - I am getting used to my new oven and it definitely runs hot, too! Have a great weekend! 😊
Tough times we live in, don't we. For me, too, spending time in the kitchen is therapeutic. The more I cook, the easier it is to notice the little joys of the ordinary. As you said, an "exercise" in being present.
Beautifully written, as usual. Thank you Jolene 🙏🏼
Thank you so much, Sinù, it’s like meditation, but with cake at the end of the practice! 😉 Have a wonderful weekend and, again, thank you for your kind words. ☺️
Happy weekend to you!!
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.
Pound cake for Peace! 🌎 thank you, Annette, I love the pound cake as the elusive-to-perfect roast chicken of baking 😉
Good to see you back after your break, Jolene. That pound cake sounds very achievable and looks delicious. I’ll give it a go.
Thank you so much, Wendy, let me know how it goes!!
(Reading via your Feb 2025 repost!)
Absolutely loved this Jolene, thank you!
Thank you ☺️❤️
Oh gosh, word after word of heart/mind/stomach commiseration and relability. <3
Thank you, Jess! ❤️
nah, thank youuuuuu : )
🤗
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!
Thanks, Ruth! I always appreciate hearing your thoughts 😊 We press on! 🧑🍳
Jolene, well said.
Beautiful.
THANK YOU!
Thank you and thank you for reading, Annie! 😊