Her bread shiny, soft, airy like an angel’s wings. Her tortillas piled high as the sun gleamed and danced upon them. -Diana Vega Gill
You may have used the term bread meaning money. So when I say “Let’s make some bread” I certainly don’t mean go out and make some money, but then again a penny saved is a penny earned- another good old’ phrase I learned from my parents. But well, who’s counting. If you are I can tell you five pounds of bread flour costing less than a few dollars might go far depending. But then it was never about the money for me more about the joys of baking…
Maybe that is how Jack felt in the story “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Jack knew it was more about the journey. “I fear nothing when I am in the right / Whoever pushes me around will find me full of fight.”
My journey takes me as far back sitting on a box to reach the table where I would watch my Grandmother bake. Magical things use to come out of her oven making their way to my small mouth. As she scolded “Not too much butter!” I was amazed even til this day the production she would produce on any given morning. This woman never seemed to grow weary. Her bread was shiny, soft, airy like an angel’s wings. Her tortillas piled high as the sun gleamed and danced upon them. Did not seem fair that her labor would all be gone before the sun met the evening moon. 
When she passed away I tried as hard as I could to match her skill. She told me once, “Your baking will only be matched by your skill to love.” Huh, words of wisdom to a six-year-old. Only now can I appreciate her talent and the admiration she put into everything she did. All my years in culinary school can never match what she taught me. A good book is better than going to the movies, a labor of love is better than store brought..
Today…I am still learning and baking in the kitchen to perfect Grandmother’s bread! After all, we never grow too old to learn! So bake with your kids! Let them make a mess! Don’t fret when things don’t come out as planned. Besides, you are making memories or maybe the next great baker
In the end you might ask, “Why compare my Grandmother to Jack?” This little woman is no taller than 5′ feet. It might have been like Jack my Grandmother was not afraid to fight giants. Even if for a moment she thought she’d fail she always gave it her best!
Happy Cookin,
Chef Diana
“In Memory Of My Grandmother” (Stories From The Book “Mi Abuelita, Mi Corazón, El Aliento”) – By Diana Vega Gill
– 
Pastry Chickie's Blog 
