Normally at this time I would have counters deep in gingerbread cookies, caramel crumb squares and jam-filed suvaroffs. Maybe by next week, but this week, I have been burning the midnight cooking oil, finishing up edits on go-round #2 on my cookbook manuscript. I had a screech-owl of a late night/early morning yesterday as I prepared to send it back to my editor, who I am pleased to say is not only smart and thoughtful, but is named Marissa.
As I crawled into bed around 3:30 am, my head rather spinning with thoughts of inch to centimeter conversions and who I’d forgotten to mention in the acknowledgements, then lurched out of bed around 7:30 am to prep for class that day….let’s just say I have a new appreciation for my college students during finals.
Next week we finish photographing all the recipes. My photographer is Amy Roth, who just finished doing Al Roker’s cookbook and is a truly amazing photographer, with an ability and eye second-to-none. Also, she makes a ferocious gumbo.
Oh, and, on top of it all, tomorrow we open our hearts to…
It’s been a few months since Bosco, the dog I thought would be our one and only—who could compare?—died, but we realized there was a vast gaping hole in our hearts for something canine and fluffy (with all due respect to our cats). And with shelters full of pups in need of homes and love…well…you know how it goes.
That said, I feel I’ve let you down at this most wonderful time of the cookie year, so as a thank-you, I will going to extend all my paid subscribers subscriptions by two months, and offer a deep discount on subscription rates for new paid subscribers. It does make a good holiday gift….the cookbook that keeps on giving.
And while I cannot offer you any new recipes just yet, I can give you links to some past wonders. This substack will be celebrating it’s 4th anniversary later this month, so I do promise something new…and more than just puppy pics.
Some baking suggestions for this week:
Crate train from the day you get her/him. Start potty training with treats immediately and be consistent with both. Lots and lots of praise. Harness or good collar. Lots of age appropriate chews - we use benebone. No toys with stuffing so he won’t eat them as the stuffing is not digestible.
M, congratulations on the addition to your family! I have no suggestions except don't name him after your dear father (as we did), because it will make your widowed mother uncomfortable when you must tell your pup to sit, roll over, shake hands, and perform other dog-related commands. xo