If you’re using chocolate chips, be sure to read the bag

Grandmas are known for their ability to bake comforting, tasty treats for their loved ones. My husband’s grandmother was no different. She could make delicious confections without ever consulting a recipe. This was a good thing because she had gradually become totally blind.

Once, she made a big batch of chocolate chip cookies. When the sweet-smelling morsels finally emerged from the oven, everyone grabbed a soft, warm cookie and began to nosh. Instead of biting into a gooey chocolate treat, their teeth couldn’t bite through. It turns out, a bag of pinto beans feels similar to a bag of chocolate chips.

While we are all stuck at home, some of us are finding comfort in baking and cooking. If, unlike my husband’s grandmother, you are more comfortable consulting a recipe, you’ll find lots of them at The Library.

Go to www.ebonnerlibrary.org and search “cooking” in the catalog. On the left side column, scroll down and click on “Format” to limit your search to eResource, eBook, or eAudiobook, depending on your preference. You can also do this with a different search term such as “baking” or “recipes.” Challenge yourself to try something new with whatever you have in your pantry.

Speaking of challenges, here’s an idea. Tune into an episode of The Great British Baking Show on Hoopla from The Digital Library page on our website (tutorial available by clicking the green “Tutorials” tab on the right side of the homepage or inside The Digital Library). Challenge yourself to try to craft one of the recipes on the show. Better yet, put on a little friendly competition as a family. You can even do this with family or friends outside your living quarters using Zoom or another video conferencing tool.

The recent announcement that Idaho’s stay at home order has been extended to the end of April means there is plenty of time to try out some new recipes. Ingredient substitutions are OK, but if it calls for chocolate chips, make sure you read the bag carefully.