Okay, so what's the good news? Well, it's only 60 days until the farmers market opens up. And in those 60 days, we will experience all of the wonderful harbingers of spring. Even a pandemic can't stop me from being hopeful and excited.

Also, lots of folks are managing to get vaccinated. I get my second shot next Tuesday and today the entire staff got a link to get in line as essential workers. We have decided that we will not open up the front until the staff has, as the British say, gotten their jabs.

Things at the Bakery are going very well. We have the most combined talent ever, and we are getting more and more experience. We still haven’t sorted out the effects of COVID on our current business and on plans for the future, but the volume has increased enough that we need to hire some folks before we burn everyone out. Over the years, I have set a terrible example working overly long hours and we are going to change that. In particular, I am going to change - even at my age (or, I might admit, because of my age). Hold me to it.

I love Spring baked goods and we have some wonderful ones. Josephine’s Anise Bread is a particular favorite of mine. The recipe came to us from an employee's grandmother, Josephina Pietrobono. It is braided with a beautiful almost mahogany crust. The interior of the bread, which we baker people call the crumb, is golden and delicate. The secret to that delicacy is that there is some wine in the formula. If you pop a slice in the toaster, the two sides become slightly crisp. All you need to do is add some butter, settle into your favorite chair, and contemplate all of its loveliness: the color, the mouthfeel of tender/crisp meltingness, the aroma of anise and butter, the slightly sweet, eggy, anise-y taste, the contrast of the taste of the crust and the taste of the crumb. Ah but beauty is fleeting, so get up and go do the dishes!

We also have hot cross buns, galettes, Irish soda bread, and soon, bunnies!

I'll feature those items in my next email

I am still going to market every Saturday from 8 am to noon in spite of the weather. We are outside underneath the portico of the bingo building which is across the street from the Summer market.

Take good care of each other,
Judy

Pre-Spring and COVID