February
29, 2012
Sweets for the Soul
by Barbara Pope
If you’re looking to enjoy an
evening that offers the excitement of eating out with the intimacy of
staying in, you may want to sample Barrhaven’s latest Baha’i devotional
– a devotional that starts with dessert. Holly Robertson describes a
prayer circle at her home as an opportunity to reconnect; “It’s a
chance for people to slow down the pace of their lives in a world
that’s going so fast.”
Since opening a bakery thirty years ago in Fall River, Nova Scotia, Holly
has shared her passion for creating sweets with her
community. After moving to Ottawa and working for Bronson
Bakery, she specialized in baking custom pastries for local shops,
restaurants, and hotels. Now that she’s retired, her faith community
and neighbours still benefit from her skills. It is this enthusiasm for
food and her love for socializing that fuels her monthly get-togethers.
A typical evening at her baking devotional begins in the kitchen where
visitors are introduced to the ingredients and equipment they’ll be
using. After reviewing the recipe, guests take turns at tasks;
measuring, stirring, and decorating. The steps of baking as well as
food presentation are taught and allergies or health concerns are
easily accommodated, by offering substitute ingredients that are dairy
or gluten free. One woman who attends regularly says she comes for the
fun in the kitchen. “It’s an opportunity to get to know people in a way
you usually don’t. The atmosphere is so laid back.”
As desserts bake and the oven warms the home, prayers begin to warm
peoples’ hearts. Guests gather in the living room to say prayers on
various themes, such as healing prayers for those who may be
experiencing a difficult time in their life. Once the timer rings,
coffee and tea are served while people enjoy sampling the dessert they
helped to bake. Some of the recipes Holly’s already introduced have
been black forest cake, cream puffs, and chocolate éclairs, with the
most popular being crème brûlée. Next on the menu is cinnamon torte!
Just as imitation vanilla is no substitute for the real, Holly believes
that nothing substitutes connecting in person with one another.
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