For My Friend Sher

# 52 - 2008

As you may know we lost a wonderful friend in Sher just one week ago.

Sher and I had been reading each other’s blog for perhaps a year and then last year we serendipitously baked the same bread for the second annual World Bread Day (which I missed this year). The comments flew back and forth in what developed as the most friendly one up man game I’ve ever engaged in. She finally conceded when I made this

Toad in a Hole

After that our friendship bloomed and flourished. Sher was a good inspiration when I started thinking about a kitchen table bread baking group. Those thoughts became the Bread Baking Babes. Sher’s answer was yes in a flash if we can keep the group fitting around the kitchen table and Glenna can join us.

I am so glad the Sher’s turn at the recipe choice came up and we did the Poilane Miche! Oh the bread was good but it was talking to Sher on the phone that was so terrific. I would love to have met Sher in person but phone conversations at least gave me the extra depth of the enthusiasm that came through in her voice on the phone! We talked about the mysteries of yeast and bread, how much we were both enthralled with how such simple ingredients of yeast, flour and water could have such dramatic results, how fascinating our discoveries with the wet doughs had been, how bizarre some of the differences in flours seemed to be and generally all the strange things foodies with a bread bend can talk about.

You haven’t had to read What Did You Eat? for very long before you realize that meatballs were Sher’s all time very favorite. She made them often and with incredible variety. And as with all her photos, they always looked fantastic and made me wish I could get such drama and depth in mine.

I am now in the Northwest. Our youngest son got married on Friday. We stayed with my sister-in-law 30 miles into the woods and no internet.

I am unable to cook from Sher’s blog while we’re on the road for the next few weeks but I know I will when I’m home again. I know Sher will be in my thoughts with each loaf I knead now.

And I know I will miss her latest stories of her new little kitten Laura and all the squirrels she would have rescued. I have never enjoyed any animal photos more than Sher’s and her captions and stories about Upsie seem to have no equal for me.

You can find will find a lovely tribute from Glenna, a super good friend of Sher’s, and many other across the web at Glenna’s website: AFridgeFullOfFood.

My heart and thoughts go out to all who will miss her. I certainly will.

Meat balls and bread will be my welcome home meal.

Thank You for baking and sharing so many good times with us Sher.

Peace.

Life, Bread and Meatballs

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Squirrels, breads, kittens and cats all knead

meat balls.