Baking for Love

Baking for Love

A Little Taste of Home

Today I didn’t measure. I didn’t worry. I just stuffed a bunch of love into baked goods.

It’s my father-in-law’s birthday today, and this afternoon we’ll go and we’ll celebrate his 84th birthday.

He was born in 1942.

In 1942, the world was right in the middle of World War II, the first full year of America at war after Pearl Harbor, with rationing, war bonds, victory gardens, and everybody gathered around the radio for news. Casablanca came out that year. Bing Crosby recorded “White Christmas.” And Al Capone, yes, my idol, oh as a kid I loved Al Capone, watched everything, he was still alive in 1942 when Mr. La Susa was born, living quietly in Florida after prison.

I remember him telling me stories about Al Capone, and I remember when Geraldo went into his hotel and broke down the cellar walls and there was nothing. Mr. La Susa was there providing historical information and to appraise any liquor, especially beer artifacts, that might have been found. But that was a bust. It was intriguing and very cool that Mr. La Susa was there for that story. Mr. La Susa was associate sports editor at the Tribune. He’s an author and expert.

It’s amazing how wonderful my honey’s family is. How they hold me tight and let me know, in little ways and in big ways, how much they love me.

You know that I haven’t had a lot of that, only because my family was so tiny. And I know family isn’t always who’s biologically related to you. Sometimes it’s just the people that choose you, and you choose them.

I have a best friend, her name’s Cheryl, and she is an angel on earth. That’s a different story. We’ll separate that from today.

Today is just about Mister La Susa’s birthday, and how special being a part of their family is to me.

Not just because of Jason — he’s great, yeah, I love him, and he’s really cute too, and he always makes me laugh — but as family, they see me. They see my heart. They see my intentions.

I already told you guys, people are afraid of me most of the time. But not these wonderful, beautiful souls.

And by the way, they love the rosemary bread, so I made him some bread, and some alternatively sweetened chocolate chip cookies, because they are all very careful about their sugar intake.

So I’m just really excited to be baking this morning for a true heartfelt reason, and truly to show my love.

Syri

La Susa’s Bakes ~N~ Sweets