Bittersweet

Don's Mom, Bonnie, died at the end of August after a brief illness. It was quick and unexpected. The peace she came to, after enduring incredible pain, was a blessing. It is difficult to write about something like this on a blog but many of the experiences we had because of this event were beautiful and bittersweet...and made around food. Cooking, in a time of grief, can be an amazingly healing experience. Maren came home to say good by to her Grandmother. We spent one day with relatives, sharing feelings and stories of Bonnie, and the next day was spent at home with our thoughts, tears and prayers, as we moved through the day. Maren and I went to the Farmer's Market to fetch provisions for our dinner that night. It felt good to have a purpose and a direction. We found fresh sweet corn, tomatoes (yes, it's true, there are some available) yukon gold potatoes, romano beans (mine are just flowering), and beautiful, blushing peaches. Maren came with a couple of recipes in mind that she found on http://smittenkitchen.com/; a Tomato Corn Pie and a Creme Fraiche Peach Pie...it was to be an evening of pie and felt exactly right...comfort food. We split the duties and shared the rolling of the doughs, assembling our pies in a dance around the kitchen (our kitchen is not large). The biscuit -like crust for the Tomato Corn Pie was delicious (Zach said he can really get into this biscuit crust idea...anything to do with a biscuit is a good idea!) and the all butter pastry crust for the peach pie was flaky with just a little "tooth".






Some of the photos were taken the next day as we were so hungry and so tantalized by the aroma of baked biscuits that we tucked right in to those pies. We shared a meal together, sitting around the table, swapping stories of Bonnie, laughing, tearing up and feeling the comfort one finds in being with your loved ones, enjoying a meal prepared as a celebration of family and the healing power of cooking with those you love! Thank you, Bonnie, for all the richness and love you provided our family for over 33 years!