~Cozy Customs~

Favorites recipes, family traditions, holiday or vacation fun!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

A Favorite Memory from Author Marianne Evans!

Author Marianne Evans
In the Baking of the Bread

Is there a more beautiful aroma than that of baking bread? For me, when wisps of onion-zested steam carry through the kitchen, I know I’m home—not just in a logistical sense, but in an emotional sense that stems straight from the heart.

I follow in the footsteps of my grandmother and my mother. I bake onion bread. Upon removal from the oven, those golden brown loaves laid out on a cooling rack fill the atmosphere with a promise of nourishment. But that's the end result. Let's take a look at the bigger picture...the process.

Creating bread is hard work. It also requires patience. The kneading, the rising, none of it can be rushed. Perhaps that's why baking bread has always been such a treasured tradition in my family - especially for me, my mom, and the woman who began it all, my grandmother. Conversations are shared while finger-pushes and palm-presses stretch and form the dough. We laugh, sigh, rejoice and sometimes even cry as we wait for the bread to rise, or bake. She did the same with her mom. I’ve done the same with my son and my daughter.

Old family stories are shared time and time again. ‘Remember when grandma used to make six loaves from one batch?’ ‘Remember the first time we let Dan’s wife in on the recipe and had her help us bake it?’ ‘Remember shipping a loaf to the kids when they lived in Virginia?’

Many of the same remarks come to pass with each session: ‘Be sure to give the second rise enough time.’ ‘Be sure the yeast, sugar and warm water have been given enough time to activate.’ And then there’s my favorite: ‘Get in there and work the dough! Don’t be afraid to get your fingers gooey!’

Family moments are shared across generations, over a recipe that’s family owned, protected and beloved. I savor the continuity of the bread-making process just as much as I love that taste of the freshly toasted, hand-made treat. It’s the passing on of tradition – not just when you make the bread, but when you share your heart, and life, with those you love.

And the time spent? It’s so worth it – on a number of levels.
PURCHASE LINKS:

BLURB:
From This Day Forward
Christian Music agent Kellen Rossiter has everything he ever wanted: A-list clients from coast to coast, a loving wife who honors and respects him, and a faith life that’s never wavered—until now.

Juliet Rossiter has the perfect life: a rewarding schedule serving the underprivileged, a husband who loves her as Christ loved the church, and a blessed future as a mother—at least that's what she thinks.

For Better or Worse
But what happens when their rock-solid marriage begins to crumble under the weight of an unexpected and powerful temptation? How does love survive when its foundation is shaken?

'Til Death Do Us Part
When human frailty and the allure of sin deal a harsh blow to their relationship, it will take more than love to mend the shattered trust and heartbreak. It will take a lifetime of devotion. 

7 comments:

  1. This was definitely one of my favorite stories from 2012!

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  2. Donna, thanks for the VERY high words of praise! I'm honored!! Hugs and blessings - so glad you stopped by. Isn't Mary's blog awesome?

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  3. For us, it's cinnamon rolls. I perfected a recipe that is a must at every family gathering. I tried to teach my mom how to do it, but for her, like pie crust made from scratch is for me, she just never got the hang of it. It was easier just to let me do it.

    Now, especially at Thanksgiving, my daughter, grand daughters-in-law, and my grand daughter all help. I want them to pass the taste of home down to their kids and tell them stories about about me.

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  4. Oh, Sharon - YUMMM!!! I love cinnamon rolls - and I chuckled at your cooking story. Isn't it funny how two people can take the exact same kitchen task and come up with completely different results?? :-) Thanks for the visit, and blessings to you!!

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  5. OK here is my downfall, cinnamon rolls.... I just had 4 teeth pulled and they sound so good.... Pray for healing quick !
    Linda Finn

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  6. Linda, I pray for fast healing and a fresh-baked batch of cinnamon rolls to celebrate!! Blessings, and thanks for stopping by and sharing!!

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    Replies
    1. So glad to have Marianne on my blog! Thanks for sharing a great story!!!

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