Baklava and a Blog Aid Update
I’ve not been in the kitchen for the past two days – to cook, anyway (save for the four batches of Baklava Biscotti I made late last night to feed the Olympic torch-watching hordes early this morning) – and to spread hazelnut honey (ingredients: honey, hazelnuts) on toast to balance like a lid on my cups of coffee and tea while hammering away on the computer.
Speaking of baklava – you know when something a bit obscure comes along and then it shows up again and again in quick succession? That was baklava today. I made the biscotti, and after the show this morning had enough time to eat the stumpy ends in the photo before running off to a meeting that ran late, into another meeting that ran until 3:30. Halfway through that meeting, someone pulled out a box of baklava. And then sent the leftovers home with me, which meant I was trapped inside a car at rush hour with nothing but a half box of baklava and a coffee, and I don’t know about you but I ADORE baklava when it’s done right, and this was. It reminded me of a piece one of my very favourite writers wrote about baklava in a recent issue of Bon Appetit, and although it’s something it’s unlikely I would decide to make from scratch, I just might reconsider. On a day when there are people around to share.
So to sum: by dinnertime all I had eaten since 6 am was baklava in its various forms. Before that, toast thickly spread with ground nuts and honey. I think I’m good for the year.
Dinner was a ten-pound (I swear – although neither of us wanted to step on the scale with it) lasagna my sister brought over yesterday. The seven of us ate large servings of it for two days.
When she makes them, they are the largest, deepest lasagnas I’ve ever seen. She assembles them in a pan that looks more like a roaster, with handles, and calls it “masagna”. I’ll spare you the reason why. (Shall we just say it’s the Mama of all lasangas? Masagna?)
So – Blog Aid! It’s very exciting, the way it’s all coming together. It’s amazing how much has come together in under a week – recipes and photos are trickling in from almost 30 of my favourite bloggers and writers. Two designers are working on the layout and design – the cover is being crafted by a lovely artist I discovered on Etsy, and who has generously volunteered her time and talents to the cause. Doesn’t she have the cutest stuff ever?? She’s coming up with the book cover and click-to-buy PayPal button, which with any luck we’ll have coded and ready to go TOMORROW.
I’m talking to a very large printing company, who is eager to help – they in turn are speaking to their suppliers to see what can be worked out in terms of donating the printing. Which obviously would be a huge deal – ideally everything will be donated so that all of the proceeds can go where it’s most needed. I’m so proud and grateful to everyone for their generosity and enthusiasm and energy.
And oh, the recipes. They are wonderful. Favourites of the contributors, and some completely new, that haven’t even been posted on their blogs yet. It’s going to be a beautiful book.
And the meeting this afternoon, with the baklava? It was at the Calgary Co-op head office, and they agreed to sell the books at the checkout as well, for those who don’t want to order online (or who don’t frequent food blogs).
I’ll keep you posted as we get bits of artwork and news to share. Thanks again for cheering this project on, and fuelling the fire!
January 19 2010 11:09 pm | leftovers
Jan (Mixing Bowl Kids) on 20 Jan 2010 at 5:36 am #
Huge congrats on your very worthwhile project! I am sure it will be a delicious success and I can’t wait to have a copy myself.
bellini valli on 20 Jan 2010 at 6:16 am #
So glad to hear your BlogAid project is coming together so quickly Julie. Such an exciting venture with so many hands willing to help for relief in Haiti.
Kathy on 20 Jan 2010 at 8:04 am #
60 Minutes Video clip of Haiti, very heart wrenching:
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh74PTeYT3IKR8XWEr
LisaGee on 20 Jan 2010 at 9:11 am #
Go Julie! You are on FIRE! I can’t believe it’s coming together so quickly. Great work!
Sue (London, ON) on 20 Jan 2010 at 10:11 am #
Amazing Julie. I can’t believe what you get done in a week! An inspiration you are!
JulieVR on 20 Jan 2010 at 10:20 am #
Thanks so much for being such a great cheering section. But it’s not about me! It’s a group effort,. But it’s not even about all of us. I just watched the video Kathy posted above, and to use a word I keep hearing over and over (and for good reason) – it’s heartbreaking.
Erica B. on 20 Jan 2010 at 12:04 pm #
Wow what progress in such a short time! Bravo to all involved & to you for getting the ball rolling!
Beverley M on 20 Jan 2010 at 1:48 pm #
Looking forward to the unveiling!
Alicen on 20 Jan 2010 at 1:56 pm #
I’m looking forward to the button so I can click and get my very own copy! I work for a company that has agreed to match employee donations, and then the Canadian Government is going to match those donations, so by donating $25 to the Red Cross, I am actually getting the ball rolling on $100! Pretty cool huh!
And then when I get my cookbook, I’ll be making another double donation! Yahoo! It’s like a really great sale, only benefitting people who truly need it!
Barb on 20 Jan 2010 at 2:49 pm #
WooHoo! Don’t you love it when a plan comes together?!
Laurie on 20 Jan 2010 at 3:37 pm #
Love the pictures of the big lasagna. When I was the parent of 5 teenage boys I used to make a lasagna in my biggest roasting pan (the one that held a 15 kilo turkey plus vegetables) Goodness knows how much it weighed, but it had nine layers in it. My kids called it megasagna – your sister’s masagna reminded me of that.
Congratulations on doing so much so quickly on blog-aid, Julie. Well done. I can’t wait to get my own copies, knowing every one contributes to people who desperately need it.
Tina on 20 Jan 2010 at 4:25 pm #
Cheers to you et al on a great project that is coming together so quickly. Maybe your sister could put her masanga recipe in – it looks great : )
If you need any nutrition input of the RD kind along the way with this project – drop me a line…
Joanne on 20 Jan 2010 at 4:50 pm #
Hey Julie, let me know if you’ll need any help wrapping/mailing/delivering copies of the book to people who order online–or will you be getting the CBC “Do Crew” involved?
lovetocook on 20 Jan 2010 at 7:57 pm #
Baklava- what magic. I’ve made it from the Time Life recipe and it’s not difficult once you get over your fear of phyllo – and butter! Truly worth it. Looking forward to the cook book. (“If you want something done, ask a busy person”)
KC on 20 Jan 2010 at 8:39 pm #
I was munching on Baklava from Sunterra when I read your blog yesterday…coincidence?!?!
Amber on 20 Jan 2010 at 10:47 pm #
Looking forward to buying my copy of the Blog Aid cookbook:) I already own all your other ones…at least I think I have all of them!
Your baklava morning reminded me I had some Pumpkin Honey left in my cupboard so I made a cheap and easy version – rice cakes with a little margarine, lots of honey and some raw walnuts sprinkled on top. Yum. I’m still pretty new to cooking so anything that doesn’t require a stove works well for me!
Feeding the Saints (A. C. Parker) on 21 Jan 2010 at 9:33 am #
Congrats on the momentum for Blog Aid. Can’t wait to see it. It sounds like you may not need any more recipes (though I’d happily give one), but again I’ll just toss out that I’m willing… also to donate copyediting/proofreading services if you need them (that’s how I pay my bills: have been an editor for 15 years). My food blog is linked here with the comment, but also, by way of introduction, there’s my editorial site: http://www.acparker.com/ Let me know if there’s a way I can help.
Karen on 21 Jan 2010 at 12:30 pm #
Looking forward to the Blog Aid recipes. And, as an FYI for those in Calgary…Julie mentioned Giusseppe’s a few entries ago. I went yesterday for lunch. OHMYGOODNESS it has very good pizza!
Cheryl on 21 Jan 2010 at 10:37 pm #
Oh that honey! I have a jar of it in my office for special days. Can’t wait Blog Aid all come together.
Laurie on 22 Jan 2010 at 12:27 am #
The olympic torch arrives back in BC today!!