67 Comments

"I considered adding Lipitor." Hahaha!

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I love that line.

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It was one of my favorites as well, joined by “The cake looked happy to see me.”

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It was a scary amount of butter and eggs.

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Same! 😆

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This was funny and tender and so relatable. Thank you for this homage to your mother, Happy Noël. ❤️

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I haven't enjoyed reading a recipe this much since, well, Julia Child.

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Thank you so much. You just made my day, month, and year!

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Love this. My grandmother was of Scottish and French descent, my mother's father was Danish. They met when grandma emigrated from Canada to work the kitchens that fed the summertime harvest crews in North Dakota, at my grandfather's parents' farm. She too was a seamstress during the winters for a high end shop in Fargo. I loved the family that stretched across farmlands that we used to gather with. This story so reminds me of the visits and the foods! It's a warm hug!

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My grandparents came through Winnipeg. My grandmother used to make fun of me for complaining about cold New York winters.

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Your mom is beautiful. Bravo to you for going to such lengths to make her happy.

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Thank you!

An endless quest…

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I understand. Would give anything if my sometimes-hard-to-please mom were still here. Miss her terribly. Makes me so grateful for other people’s moms.

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<3

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🤗

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My daughter suffers from hard to please mom syndrome. I don't do it on purpose! How many of us are so? Made me think how much we strive to create our perfect children even when they are all grown up.

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I think it’s kind of universal. I’m even a little nervous to read my mother the story. She is my greatest fan and sometimes my harshest critic, but it comes from love.

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Absolutely.

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True. I think this is an age old mother-daughter dynamic.

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I live in Montréal, where you can't cross a bakery without seeing various büches, from white chocolate to chestnut. Not even the most enthusiastic home baker makes a büche, because they are also on deck for the cookies, maybe a fruitcake, and a mousse or two. Yours is truly a labour of love, filled not only with ganache but kindness.

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Thank you! And I love Montreal.

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beautiful essay, fortunate family

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Wonderful! I’m too chicken to attempt a buche… well done! Also: thanks for the gift of a new way to describe how I like my coffee: strong enough that it walked out of the pot. Love it! Happy holidays!

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A superlative story.

I have bought a couple of those yule logs at local bakeries because there is no way in hell a slapdash, no-receipe, fully improvisational cook such as myself would even attempt such a feat. I will slog over beef Wellington with a perfect pastry crust, but then whip up Bird's custard to make de facto creme brulee and hide my shortcut with raspberry puree.

I love how much love and care you put into this and I especially appreciated the biographical details of your mom.

Thanks so much for taking the time to write this, and thank you Sari for sharing this marvelous essay with us.

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Thank you!

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I love how food connects us. Of course, it can also (humorously) reveal our differences. My mom, like yours, always found a way to politely expose the faults of my creation. "Next time" is the adult parlance for 'now listen to the tips I'm giving in case you try this recipe again.' 😅

But as you point out-- it's not just the food, but the *process* (research, travel for the right equipment & ingredients, the mistake-correction cycle, etc.) where this magic is created.

Good luck with this year's Bûche de Noel. I have a good feeling...

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Thank you!

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I just couldn't take my eyes off this essay. The Büche has always intrigued me and I always thought I'd attempt it...one day. And now I don't think I will! Reading the beautiful essay was enough for me and I wish you bonne chance in making it this year for your mother!

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Thank you Cindy! I am making another one tomorrow. This time I have gloves so no Lady Macbeth hands.

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Although...the Lady M hands did add a certain *intensity* to the whole experience. :)

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hah!

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What a wonderful essay! what fantastic women you come from. And wow, a buche de noel. My heart swells with this gorgeous piece.

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☺️

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I have great memories of helping (ish?) my father making bûche du Noël at Christmas. And I definitely prefer the meringue mushrooms!

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À brave woman to attempt a bûche! Wow. And a marvelous writer. You’ve made my morning.

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Love this. Btw I started re-watching Pride and Prejudice last night, thinking any period piece with British accents counts as a Christmas movie, right?

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Absolutely!

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Smiled all the way. Pure sweetness

I too have to watch Firth time and again

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