This is so sweet - not sure how I missed it. Hope your heart and starter have fully healed, at least as much as one can from these inevitable heart wrenching losses which can feel bigger than the Atlantic. I made an amateur's mistake last night which I recovered from with a pro's attitude. In the final stages of recovery from a minor surgery, I neglected to remove the kitchen towel from under the scale. Of course I wound up with enough jumpstarter to open a bakery. It was ripe and bubbly and alive when I woke, like the warm spring morning blooms and sirens outside my Manhattan apartment. Question - do you think I can freeze the jumpstarter? My heart says yes - for unlike us mere mortals, the simple starter seems quite content after a long chill. The jumpstarter is just a more cultured cousin to the starter in my humble. I recently returned from Mexico where I had dreams of your frankenstarter, ever hopeful that I could keep on baking my daily bread without touching the industrial sized jar of instant yeast that lives in my freezer dreaming of being a cake or sandwich loaf upon my return to New York. It worked - after about a week of attentive, not insane, care and feeding. Thanks for all you do for our hearts and bellies.
My mother was close to death last year and we moved in with my parents to help care-give. She’s come along way since then but we are the ones who changed the most. We abandoned the renovation dream house we’d been working towards for years. We sold up and bought a city apartment mortgage-free because in this precarious financial times, we didn’t want to play that game anymore. In a month we fly out to Europe for 5 weeks’ travel.
While my mother pulled through this one, I’m only more aware of parental mortality.
The last photo of your mother’s hands is impressive; gnarly and strong, soft and ringed with beauty, aged and cherished because of your love of bread making and the memories of your Mother.
I also have memories of my mother and both of my grandmothers of bread making, which probably led to me to making sourdough. And yes, sometimes it gets left behind during times of unease+stress, but the mother starter seems to have its own memory and will come back with hints of the past. Can’t wait to see your first loaf.
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful personal memory and truibite !
Our mother would start earthly morning with her cabbage and short rib ( then considered a economical cut)vegetable soup for an early evening meal with crusty bread and no need for anything more. Ironically we girls each have Slightly different brothy recipes for her pots of savory goodness, as if it were made just for each one of us. I inherited the magnetite pot she always used.
I, too remember the wonderful smells as the soup warped it’s goods through out the house as the day progressed.
My mom died 3 months ago and I was asked who will make her Banana bread, her potato salad, her cheesecake and fried chicken? I almost wept. I said I will try , but please be kind when it's not the same. God, she was a fabulous cook and an even better mom. Salty, wise cracking, swore, baked and cooked beautifully. Then always made comments like you'll tell me if it's bad, it probably is hard to get down.
Memories for sure. I lost my Mum the second week of January 2020 unexpectantly and my husband & I moved into the homestead the week before lockdown. She always said, “Your Mum is your best friend, & I miss mine everyday“ . . . She was right, I miss her everyday.
This is so sweet - not sure how I missed it. Hope your heart and starter have fully healed, at least as much as one can from these inevitable heart wrenching losses which can feel bigger than the Atlantic. I made an amateur's mistake last night which I recovered from with a pro's attitude. In the final stages of recovery from a minor surgery, I neglected to remove the kitchen towel from under the scale. Of course I wound up with enough jumpstarter to open a bakery. It was ripe and bubbly and alive when I woke, like the warm spring morning blooms and sirens outside my Manhattan apartment. Question - do you think I can freeze the jumpstarter? My heart says yes - for unlike us mere mortals, the simple starter seems quite content after a long chill. The jumpstarter is just a more cultured cousin to the starter in my humble. I recently returned from Mexico where I had dreams of your frankenstarter, ever hopeful that I could keep on baking my daily bread without touching the industrial sized jar of instant yeast that lives in my freezer dreaming of being a cake or sandwich loaf upon my return to New York. It worked - after about a week of attentive, not insane, care and feeding. Thanks for all you do for our hearts and bellies.
Amazing. Such a rich piece. Thank you for sharing this. I’m working on a cookbook of my moms recipes now- and this really rings true for me.
This piece is so beautiful, it brings tears.
Thank you for this lovely piece!
What a lively recollection of moments, details, talent and loss.
My mother was close to death last year and we moved in with my parents to help care-give. She’s come along way since then but we are the ones who changed the most. We abandoned the renovation dream house we’d been working towards for years. We sold up and bought a city apartment mortgage-free because in this precarious financial times, we didn’t want to play that game anymore. In a month we fly out to Europe for 5 weeks’ travel.
While my mother pulled through this one, I’m only more aware of parental mortality.
This piece really got me right in the feels.
What a beautiful tribute Kerri. And that photo of her hands! Strong, sensitive, powerful. I see her in you.
The last photo of your mother’s hands is impressive; gnarly and strong, soft and ringed with beauty, aged and cherished because of your love of bread making and the memories of your Mother.
I also have memories of my mother and both of my grandmothers of bread making, which probably led to me to making sourdough. And yes, sometimes it gets left behind during times of unease+stress, but the mother starter seems to have its own memory and will come back with hints of the past. Can’t wait to see your first loaf.
Thank you one and all for this emotional outpouring. I'm speechless and grateful!
So beautiful. Thank you for posting.
Thank you for reposting. I'm actually not able to say more now, just thanks. And I miss my mom.
Lovely piece. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful personal memory and truibite !
Our mother would start earthly morning with her cabbage and short rib ( then considered a economical cut)vegetable soup for an early evening meal with crusty bread and no need for anything more. Ironically we girls each have Slightly different brothy recipes for her pots of savory goodness, as if it were made just for each one of us. I inherited the magnetite pot she always used.
I, too remember the wonderful smells as the soup warped it’s goods through out the house as the day progressed.
My mom died 3 months ago and I was asked who will make her Banana bread, her potato salad, her cheesecake and fried chicken? I almost wept. I said I will try , but please be kind when it's not the same. God, she was a fabulous cook and an even better mom. Salty, wise cracking, swore, baked and cooked beautifully. Then always made comments like you'll tell me if it's bad, it probably is hard to get down.
I miss her so so much.
I’m sorry for your loss. I’m glad you have such wonderful memories of your mom.
Memories for sure. I lost my Mum the second week of January 2020 unexpectantly and my husband & I moved into the homestead the week before lockdown. She always said, “Your Mum is your best friend, & I miss mine everyday“ . . . She was right, I miss her everyday.