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Formations 10: Cookbook Love

“Intelligent people are always ready to learn, their ears are open for knowledge.” Proverbs 18:5

The Ideal Cookbook

Headnotes: A few years ago, I discovered the beauty of reading cookbooks. This is the spot where the author captivated my taste buds with a story. It might be a story filled with intrigue in which the author has spent years trying to replicate a favorite cake from a beloved grandmother. Maybe, the author didn’t like snickerdoodles in the past but discovered that blooming cinnamon in brown butter is the secret (I am still on the fence on snickerdoodles). It could be the story of an immigrant recalling a favorite dish from their country of origin and wanting to share it with the next generation. This story must be compelling to make me try the recipe despite the number of ingredients and steps. Finally, this piece should not be an afterthought, but well-written and intentional.

Ingredients:

  • real, whole ingredients
  • no box mixes, canned soups, or canned vegetables
  • unfamiliar spices explained
  • size clearly indicated in the list of ingredients (diced, sliced thin, etc.)
  • occasionally, a favorite brand if it is important
  • a list of some possible substitutes if ingredients are hard to find

Steps:

  1. It must be tested by several different people besides the author.
  2. It leaves no room for guessing what the step means.
  3. It should offer visual cues when needed, like pea-sized chunks when adding butter for dough, or crispy around the edges when baking.
  4. It should indicate how much it serves.
  5. It should tell us how to store it for leftovers and how to reheat if necessary.

Finally, I love pictures that accompany a recipe. I want pictures to add to the story being told. Maybe it includes a picture of grandma, or it is a picture of the author’s favorite serving dish. It could even be pictures of certain ingredients like Fenugreek, or how a passion fruit looks when opened. I also love pictures from the country of origin, a street in Spain or farmer’s market in California. I even love the occasional hand-illustrated cookbook.

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Formations 2: Daily Java

“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all in the lights in the heavens.” James 1:17 NLT

Every morning, I wake up to the glorious smell of freshly brewed coffee. I wipe the sleep from eyes, slowly stretch like a slumbering cat, and stumble out of bed. Thirty minutes later, I waltz down the stairs, greeting my husband but secretly looking over the railing to see if my cup of coffee has been made. Well over 90% of the time, he has picked out my favorite mug and made me a perfect cup with just the right amount of cream. I smile to myself, forever grateful for that warm beverage that makes my soul sing.

I love coffee in almost all its forms: from hand-selected beans for a pour over experience at Omega Coffee Collective (my favorite place in Chambersburg) to an ordinary cup of joe brewed at home. I love lattes with oat milk, cortados, cappuccinos, and cold brew. I love homemade syrup from the Fig Cardamom I found at Café Emis in Kennett Square to the more than occasional caramel latte at Dunkin’, with only half syrup. I love espresso flavored ice cream and find affogatos one of the most decadent desserts ever.

I identify with one of my favorite characters, Lorelai Gillmore, when she states, “I stop drinking coffee, I stop doing the standing and walking and the word-putting-into-sentence-doing.” It is part of my essence and maybe has even filtered into my pores, making me smell a little like coffee with notes of mango, white peach and florals (this is the Tanzania Citrus Nectar Blend that I plan to buy the next time I go to Omega).

My love for coffee extends to coffee merch and places: mugs, coffee makers, and coffee shops. I love how different coffee shops have different vibes; some are cozy and warm, some are sleek and modern, while others are fresh and open. I love the weight of a solid hand-crafted mug, and the candy cane stripes on my Holly Jolly mug. I love dreaming about what espresso machine I might own someday.

But what I love most about coffee is not its taste, or its caffeine properties, or the trendy coffee merch. I love the many heartfelt conversations I have had with family and friends over steaming mugs. I love the laughter, the memories, and the life shared in homes and coffee shops over a cup of coffee. And for that I am more than just grateful for coffee, I am indebted to God who created the coffee bean.