The Art of Baking

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The art of baking starts with having the right ingredients and follows with a knowledge that what you are doing is feeding the hungry with loving spoonfuls of goodness. My mom is baking again and the sweet aroma allows home to feel like home once more. The art of her baking is deliciously healing.

Everyone needs a helping hand no matter how small… my mother has many helping hands surrounding her.

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After several months of not baking… my mother picked up her wooden spoon. The atmosphere was softly quiet as if we were baking a souffle. The children knew, as only children do, that this was a first step for their beloved Vavie (Grandmother)………… Each one of them took their starring role- as if holding my mother's hand leading the way, making the steps easier for Vavie to follow. Grace-filled were their actions.

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The art of baking is flavored with a passion to share the bounty of your labor. The children have baked with my mother a million times before. They know her secret ingredient and give it back a hundredfold.

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With each turn of the wooden spoon, each lick of the beater, each stolen taste…. healing was being served.   

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The art of baking.

Photos: My Mother's loving spoonful…Homemade Chocolate chip cookies and fresh apricot pie.

Note: Yesterday many of you asked to see the final result of my glamour day. I had fingernail polish up to my elbows, really I did. Do you really want to have nightmares? Next time I will give you the pleasure of the fright.



Comments

70 responses to “The Art of Baking”

  1. Marie-Noรซlle

    The queen of baking surrounded by her little baking angels … divine !!!
    Now, if you add the nice smells from the kitchen … I can say: “I’m ready for THE fright !”

  2. This gorgeously photographed and richly meaningful writing is in itself a magnificent book, Corey.

  3. Wow, I think these are some of my favorite photos you’ve so generously shared. Food and love, the cookies look amazing. I never heard of apricot pie before but of course why wouldn’t there be apricot pie? Funny how one can crave something they didn’t know existed up till a few moments ago.

  4. It’s wonderful that your Mother is baking with the children again. She has to have the patience of a Saint!
    Such beautiful children and pictures! It’s hard to choose a favorite, but I think mine is the black and white of your Mom and the littlest girl. The contrasts are stunning!
    I too have never heard of apricot pie and now am craving some.

  5. What a wonderful thing to see – your Mother on the road to recovery. Children are the best cure I always think.
    Much love to you all
    Di
    xo

  6. Barbara Sydney Australia

    What time is tea???????????yum

  7. Such beautiful photos – I love the light in your Mum’s kitchen and all those gorgeous faces. I’m so glad she is baking again and has so much love around her.

  8. Yay!! Your mom is baking again. I was hoping she would soon. That to me is a sign that she is healing….even with her grandkids’ “help”.

  9. Wonderful photos, and good memories for the children!

  10. Julie Ann

    It would have been my mother’s birthday today Corey. I am just leaving to spend the day with my father. We have put a bench in their local park, the scene of so many happy childhood days for me. We shall walk and sit on the bench for a think. Beautiful pix, so glad your Mum has found a reason to bake. Little steps. Peace, Jx

  11. the art of baking is also the art of sharing , of loving ….of being together .
    I love these family’s moments .
    Marie Noelle is right : the queen and her angels.

  12. What beautiful news and beautiful images.
    I’ve kept a metal spoon my mum used for baking, particularly when she made cakes. She would let us lick the raw cake mixture from the spoon. Now this spoon was a bit buckled at the very edge, and you could feel the warped metal with your tongue.
    I think that combination of warped metal covered in sweetness will always mean home to me.

  13. My grandmother made the best apricot fried pies I’ve ever had and never used a recipe. I can’t tell you how much I miss those!

  14. Love oozes off the page. Who wouldn’t be comforted when surrounded by all those chubby hands, dimpled elbows, ruffles and curls? Top that off with a chocolate chip cookie and the world must indeed seem a better place.
    Darla

  15. Your photos and text, your heart and artistic eye visible in each one, are as healing as your mother’s baking.

  16. What a blessing to have so many to share those sweet moments with!

  17. You are truly blessed as is your Mom to be surrounded by so much love and young people to help you heal. Love Jeanne
    I love all that you share.
    Love Jeanne

  18. Your Mom’s secret ingredient is love, right?
    I can see it in every stir, lick and taste.
    It is working for you too!
    xo Susan

  19. What a lovely memory you all made! I am glad your mom felt she could help. A small step back towards everyday life….bless her heart.
    Don’t eat too many cookies!
    Terri

  20. How wonderful that your Mom is back baking.
    Time heals
    Alison

  21. Baking…the very best homemade “healing balm”.

  22. Such sweet stolen moments Corey. I am happy that your Mom has again found pleasure in baking with her Grandchildren.

  23. Chocolate chip cookies (the ultimate comfort food) + being surrounded by all those precious darlings = Love. You’ve captured some very special moments, thank you for sharing.

  24. constance lefevre forehand

    the children are beautiful. GOD BLESS your loving mother and you.

  25. So much love, so much bliss, and beautiful healing. Blessings to all of you.

  26. That’s terrific. Let the healing begin. Your photos of the baking session are wonderful. This is a scene that is played out around the world, even in the remotest corners. Honduran women turning dough with their hands and baking in an outdoor oven.
    I am baking today also. The last attempt at baking a pound cake in my fancy pan was an unmitigated disaster. Perhaps today I’ll have better luck. Thanks for letting us share the baking session. Such beautiful results.
    – Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

  27. What lovely, lovely photos you posted…
    Glad to see your Mother is baking again. Small steps each day…she will get stronger and stronger. I am sending you a package in the mail today for you and her.
    Joy
    xo

  28. What beautiful children! There’s nothing like the energy and innocence of children to assure us the continuation of life.

  29. It’s wonderful that your Mom has begun to bake again! Who could resist with all those willing hands around to help! The cookies and pie look delicious!
    xo,
    Lynda

  30. Just fabulous knowing your mom is stirring the wooden spoon again with the assistance of so many angels! Your pictures and words bring comfort and make me want to head for the kitchen – with my resident angel, my Jasmin, here most days now that school is out for Summer. We plan to make fresh berry smoothies today – a healthy way to beat the heat!
    Happiness shines in your mom’s kitchen – wonderful news, Corey.

  31. Beautiful Post! Wow…

  32. Deborah P

    What wonderful news! When you posted about the garden bed purchase and then all the pictures of the grandchildren, I hoped that baking wouldn’t be far behind. Another step on the path of healing.

  33. How lucky your mom is to have her beautiful grandchildren around to help her (in many ways). My mom used to make fried apricot pies – have you ever had one? They were delicious!!!

  34. That’s wonderful. I think children are the best medicine for grief. They are so joyful. I’m glad your mom has them (and you) nearby and that she has the gift of baking to give them.
    All of the things in the background of your photos look like her house is full of perfect farmhouse/grandmother’s house things. What a wonderful grandma/Vavie to have!

  35. Corey,
    I am thrilled that your family is finding comfort in the familiar. Your photos are stunning and tell a story within themselves. My favorite is the one of your mother’s hands stirring the dough, it stirred my heart to see her pouring love into her family through the small act of making cookies. Still praying for your and your family.

  36. Definitely a step forward for your mother. I remember so many photos posted from summers past when the children “helped” in the kitchen.

  37. Hi Corey:
    The photos of your nieces with smudges of flour on their cheeks is the mark of a true baker in training!!!
    Heart warming : )
    Peace
    carole

  38. georgie

    YES!! How wonderful to see your Mom baking once again in that beautiful kitchen. Bet the cookies and pie were eaten immediately by the happy children and grandchildren. I loved “helping” my Mom and Favorite Aunty when they were in their kitchens.

  39. Hi Corey,
    It’s so nice to see and hear that your mom is baking again. I’m sure all of the little helpers are working their magic.
    Rosemary

  40. Elaine L.

    The healing presence of children. Just the medicine your mom needs.
    ~elaine~

  41. Lovely photos, but those cookies are making me hungry!

  42. This is the sweetest post I have ever seen:) OUCH I think I have a toothache! I’m so glad your mama is getting her baking groove back on* it’s a welcome site for all I’m sure…not to mention oh how good it is in the tummy* sending love as you both wander down this new path….those bakers helpers sure are little dolls!
    berriehead

  43. Massilianana

    What a lovely time , baking with kids ! The resulting cookies look very tempting but my fave is the fesh apricot pie . This means so much that your mum started baking again . I am happy for her and you and your family.Take care.

  44. Ellen Cassilly

    Lovely baking Vavie and her angel helpers. So happy to see the healing starting. The only thing that I missed was seeing the recipes at the bottom of the blog.
    Love Ellen

  45. These photos are priceless and beautiful. I’m so glad that your mom is baking again.
    Baby steps…

  46. I think it is wonderful and a blessing to see your mom baking. I sure wish I could have a taste of those cookies. They look really yummy.
    blessings and love

  47. I’ve never met a cookie I didn’t like; chocolate chip cookies are my very favorite.
    It’s good your Mother is baking again and that the kids are helping. What a wonderful time you must have all had.

  48. gretchen

    Ah! Yes, the healing is beginning… and not just for your dear mother- I can see that you are healing too; a gentle golden warmth has returned to your photographs and they radiate with the love you show for your family. And you know what? Your father is in everyone of these precious photos and he will continue to show himself to you through this love. I am reminded of the old Beatles song: “Here comes the sun…here comes the sun….. it’s all right” !!
    hugs, gretchen

  49. Corey, thanks so much for sharing. Getting back into a routine again, doing familiar and well-loved chores and tasks… they really help to ease the heartbreak. It took me a long time to get off my duff after daddy passed away… but it was in the little things that came my way every day that helped me.
    I am glad your mom is baking again… ๐Ÿ™‚
    xo

  50. Since reading your blog is like reading different chapters of a wonderful story, I wonder if there are any updates on the matchmaking?

  51. So many helping hands, not just helping your mum with the baking, but also with the slow process of healing… beautiful beautiful shots, as ever!!

  52. Beautiful photos of your nieces, Corey. So glad you are all healing in God’s grace and time.~~Dee

  53. While I would say the lighting in the pictures is magical, I really think it was more than the lighting that made it so…
    Cookies to go with my coffe…..I’ll have 5. LOL

  54. i can almost smell the sweet aroma by looking at your great photos. glad that your mother is baking again! ๐Ÿ™‚ i check your blog everyday, thank you for sharing the beautiful images/stories with us. ๐Ÿ™‚

  55. What an adorable blog and post! Such a fun activity, and I bet your mom loved it too! ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks for sharing such fun!

  56. What an adorable blog and post! Such a fun activity, and I bet your mom loved it too! ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks for sharing such fun!

  57. Those pictures are amazing Corey. You are such a talented photographer. It’s wonderful that your mom is in the kitchen again. Creating and doing what we love is such a wonderful healing balm.

  58. Some of my most precious memories are those times spent in the kitchen with my Grandmother baking, and talking, and sampling little secret bites.
    What priceless photos you have captured. And I can almost taste that apricot pie (which is my favorite type of pie and one that my Grandmother always makes for me).

  59. These pictures are beautiful, Corey.
    ๐Ÿ™‚

  60. Gee, I am hungry for some cookies!

  61. How wonderful! Your mother seems absolutely lovely and your nieces are just too adorable!

  62. ‘Oh Corey I love the baby girl photos. These cookies are healing my heart too, please thank your mom for her bravery. heart love to each of you xoxox

  63. What! Only boys get those gorgeous eyelashes (except L, of course . . .).

  64. Oh how I love these pictures! You captured such a fabulous moment. And fresh apricot pie? OH YUM!

  65. Beautiful photos, Corey – I can almost smell the pie and cookies – mmm!
    I can only imagine how delicious they must taste, given how beautiful they look – your mother is a culinary artist — so glad to hear she’s feeling up to pursuing her art a little, again~xox

  66. adorable post, adorable children – the perfect anecdote to grief! there they are, the Future ๐Ÿ™‚

  67. … once upon a time…
    there was a large bright country kitchen.
    it’s windows looked out over a magical garden so lovely decorated by a sweet vavie. one day all her grandchildren gathered together for their annual baking event. wooden spoons and measure cups passed through the little busy hands one by one while flour, eggs and the flavour of vavie’s many secret ingredients were mixed together. soon the aroma of fresh baked cookies and apricot pie filled the air… vavie’s secrets for healing!

  68. wonderful photos Corey, of a wonderful moment. Those little ones must bring so much joy to your Mom.
    xo Lidy

  69. Oh my gosh, Corey, these photograph are GORGEOUS! Really, if I were these girls’ parents, I would LOVE to have copies of these photographs to hang on the wall. There is a real feeling of love and happiness in these images. I swear, your photography just gets better and better! ๐Ÿ™‚

  70. How sweet! Beautiful pictures. An amazing day to treasure.

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