Keeping Up Cookbook, Melissa Peck and a Give-A-Way

A while ago a friend of mine looked at the row of cookbooks in my kitchen with some surprise and exclaimed, “Do you really use all of those books?” I informed her that not only did I use those books, but also I had an entire bookcase in another room full of additional cookbooks and magazines that I felt too important to give away or discard. I just love a good cookbook that inspires me to make a wonderful dish where all the bugs are worked out for me. One such book is now 10 years old and was put out by the Make A Wish Foundation of Utah. I’ve used Favorites for salads, main dishes and desserts. It's the cookbook where the scone recipe comes from.

This year the book's author, Grace Ivory Rock introduced a new recipe book, and I fell in love with it before I even opened its pages. Why? Keeping Up Cookbook, the cover and inside flaps artwork are done by Melissa Peck a fresh, wonderful Utah artist whose work can be found in galleries across the United States from Park City, Utah to Greenwich, Connecticut. I’ve been in love with her work for several years, have a small painting of hers that I treasure and now I can have one of her sweet pictures sitting on my counter beaming back at me whenever I get the hankering to sit this delicious book up on my stand.

Melissa lives in my neighborhood and I’ve had the opportunity to get to know her and her darling family. I’ve learned much about life from Melissa as she cares for her daughters, paints beautiful and whimsical figures of women and children and is friends with seemingly the entire world. She says of herself

“I live in a beautiful world and if the viewer has the eyes to see my work as it is intended it can function as a window into my soul. Many of my paintings are a personal reflection of my process and me as I move forward from the understanding of a girl into the wisdom of a woman. “

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Cooking with her children is part of their regular routine. I asked if they had any favorites yet from the new book and two quickly came to the top: Sparkling Punch and Sherry Cake.

Melissa has offered to sign a copy of this new book Keeping Up Cookbook as a give-a-way to my readers. Take a minute to check Melissa's sight or tell me what your favorite cookbook is- or both for twice the chance for the signed copy of this cookbook.

The Great American Bake Sale & Decadent Choclate Pecan Brownie Bites

Being a part of a National Food Blogging event this past Saturday was energizing. I loved how it made me feel knowing that in pockets all across America tables were filled with delicious homemade treats baked with one purpose set out by Share Our Strength, we were soliciting funds to help hungry children. And that is what we did. What an awesome group to be a part of, thanks to Gaby, from What’s Gaby Cooking, for organizing the national effort and Maria from Two Peas and Their Pod locally in Salt Lake.

The bonus was visiting with the kind people that stopped to purchase the goods and rubbing shoulders with my fellow Utah food bloggers who only have grown higher in my esteem. Doing good for others is a great way to lift your own spirits, try it sometime if you haven’t done it recently. I wish that we had all been together for a picture on Saturday, but the only thing that stands together is our treats!

Here is the recipe for one of the brownies I made, Chocolate Pecan Brownie Bites. The recipe has evolved from one given to me several years ago, later found in a local cookbook and now tweaked by me. They are tasty morsels of goodness packed into a few bites just waiting to burst into your mouth.

Maybe you might think about making them for your next bake sale?

Great American Bake Sale & My Roots in Giving

My grandparents were dairy farmers who lived along Highway 89 in Spanish Fork, Utah. During the depression years they had a constant stream of out of work, down on their luck men and boys that stopped by their back door asking for an odd job that they could do for a meal. Grandpa and Grandma's policy was to never turn them away, regardless of whether there was a job to do. As long as there was food on their table, there was food to share.

Maybe that is where the roots begin for me to try and share with those in need. This Saturday, we all can make a difference, at local events being held nationally for the GREAT AMERICAN BAKE SALE TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER.

Here are the details in my neck of the woods:

• Where: Foothill Village, in front of Dan's Market
• When: Saturday, April 17th
• Time: 10 am to 2 pm
• What: Baked goods from the very best local food bloggers in the Salt Lake Area
• Where can I go to find out who these bloggers are? check out Frieda's blog Lovin' From the Oven to see who will be making all the tasty treats. I'll be bringing some to die for brownies. First come, first served!

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Tiff of Food Finery and I participated last year and the most rewarding part was knowing that we were making a difference. It’s easy to feel that way, just stop by a bake sale on Saturday and purchase or donate some money to this worthy cause. For more information about where the funds are spent, go to Great American Bake Sale Funds at Work.

How do you give back?

Success: Lorken's Great American Bake Sale

What a beautiful day, 77 degrees and over cast with the sun coming out to shine on us just enough to remind us how grateful we were not to get rain. Could you have a better day for an outdoor bake sale? Many thanks to all the shoppers who stopped to check out our baked goods that were made especially for the Great American Bake Sale where all the proceeds go to help children in our local Salt Lake area. Together with many other local groups across America we can and will make a differance. There is a need for this kind of help in Utah, for more information about hunger in Utah go here.

It wasn't your average bake sale sort of experiece go'in on today. The items were extraordinarily deliciously good. I'm putting in a few pictures for those of you who couldn't make it to the event.

So round up a bunch of friends and have a bake sale of your own at the office, church or school and see how good it feels!

The Great American Bake Sale SATURDAY MAY 23

You know how some people in this world are doers and some are talkers? Well let me tell you about a great lady who is a doer. The owner of Lorken Food Finery has organized a BAKE SALE this coming Saturday, MAY 23 from 11:30 to 2 in the afternoon where all the proceeds go to help children in the local Salt Lake area who simply do not have enough to eat. There will be NINE different bakers who will be bringing their wares to donate to the cause and each of us are hoping a generous public will stop by GARDNER VILLAGE and purchase one of these delicious morsels and contribue to this worthy cause.

According to a story run in Deseret News on May 9th of this year, 1 in 7 Utah kids ages 5 and under go with out adiquate food, consistantly. I found this number to be alarming. Most of us know and understand how important nutrition is to a growing body. Utah has too much wealth going on to have this happening here. I challenge each of us to step up and do something about hunger in Utah. If you would like to get information about how you can hold your own bake sale go here.

I will be selling my vanilla lemon curd cupcakes, chocolate filled cupcakes, and hot cinnamon rolls and there are a plethra of other wonderful baked goods that will be there to enjoy. Come and sample a little sweet to make life a little sweeter for someone less fortunate!