Mary Bilyeu: "You Should Only Be Happy"
My first entry is called “You Should Only Be Happy” for several reasons. To begin with, cooking and baking are sources of great joy for me, and I love to feed people and “happify” them (to use a favorite word from the Oxford English Dictionary) with all sorts of homemade goodies.
Secondly, the phrase relates somewhat to food, as it is taken from a Biblical verse -- Deuteronomy 16:15 -- relating to the Jewish festival of Sukkot, which has agricultural origins and encourages people to share meals with guests. And thirdly, it is a tribute to a very dear friend who recently traveled to Israel and brought back the beautiful hand-painted stone (pictured) bearing this phrase in Hebrew; it was given to me with genuine wishes for happiness in my life … I am so honored and deeply touched. Therefore, it seemed only fitting for all these reasons to subscribe to this philosophy and to employ the phrase for my blog, as I try to spread joy throughout Ann Arbor with the sharing of my passion for food.
With an 18-year-old son, Jeremy, and his fellow perpetually-ravenous band-mates and buddies to feed ("90 Miles From Vegas" -- playing at the Blind Pig on July 28!); a wide variety of secular and religious events to celebrate; contests to create new recipes for (I’ve won or placed in more than 50 cooking competitions); friends, family members and co-workers with varying degrees of health, religious and pickiness concerns to respect; and Farmers Market goodies to devour -- not to mention spontaneous whims and cravings to satisfy -- one never quite knows what will be happening in my kitchen. One of my very best friends will tell you (with utter objectivity!) that whatever I create will be the delight of all -- that is always my hope. So, please follow along! I hope you’ll be inspired to eat, drink and be merry. May you only be happy here ….
Comments
Mary Bilyeu
Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 9:39 a.m.
Hi, Nan! I'm hoping that my recipes are interesting enough to entice you back into the kitchen after those 40 years of cooking -- I want to catch you before you give up! I strive to share nothing so overwhelmingly complicated that it scares anyone off, and nothing so simplistic (open bag of Doritos, dump can of refried beans on top, sprinkle with pre-shredded cheese) that there's no fun, either. Cooking should be a joy!!!
NeverdoneNan
Tue, Jul 28, 2009 : 7:51 a.m.
So? Are you offering recipes to the "tired of cooking for 40 years" crowd? I live out in the sticks between Dexter and Chelsea at Neverdone Farm with chickens and goats. We don't eat our layers and the goats are pets, however, I've lotsa veggies to eat up and plenty of herbs. I'm a new blogger so you may have recipes I don't know how to find. I'm not sure any of us can ONLY be happy but hey, what a great goal. I'm willing to give it a go. NeverdoneNan
Mary Bilyeu
Fri, Jul 17, 2009 : 6:53 p.m.
I make a really lovely Sour Cherry Sorbet... and since I'll be spending my Friday night pitting Balaton cherries that I bought at the Farmers' Market on Wednesday morning, maybe I'll make a batch and take its picture for you! While I adore both chocolate and vanilla ice creams, there is more to life than just those two basics....
Johnny Nordic
Fri, Jul 17, 2009 : 6:46 p.m.
Hello, Mary! I saw your Rhubarb Chicken on another page, but wanted to respond to your previous comment. I think that the Chicken sounds like it would be amazing, so I will try it and let you know how it turns out. And about food you could write about... My mother has an ice-cream maker and only makes vanilla and chocolate, so I was wondering what other kinds of flavors you could use and could you even make SORBET??? Post it and i will try it! Your number one fan---Johnny Nordic
Mary Bilyeu
Fri, Jul 17, 2009 : 12:59 p.m.
Thank you so much for the lovely compliment, Johnny! What sorts of foods do you like to cook or eat -- anything in particular you'd like to have me write about???
Johnny Nordic
Fri, Jul 17, 2009 : 12:35 p.m.
I think this is going to be a great blog!