Hi. I’m Isabel, I cook and scribble. I make a lot of food and do a lot of writing, and Bread & Courage is what I have to show for it. It started as a simple food blog called TASTE but evolved into something more—a place where I express my love of food, community and the environment. Thanks for spending some time here—and be in touch!
I love fall. I haven’t had a lot of time to cook for myself, but I immensely enjoy eating things other people make, especially if those things involve apples. Also, I love cider donuts. I’ve even found a recipe to try, someday…when I graduate from law school, start my career, have children and watch them […]
It’s fall, so I rush around a lot. I’m getting used to not having time to linger over lunch. I have to bring it with me most days, and eat it while I read about hearsay or the Fourth Amendment. Despite the rigors of daily life, Sundays are sanctified by a roasted chicken. Christopher and […]
I’m in St. Louis today, wishing I could stay here for three weeks. My mama-in-law is ready for Thanksgiving: there are lots of little china pilgrims and turkeys and American Indians sitting quietly together on windowsills and bookshelves. It’s almost enough to gloss over the bloody battles and trails of tears. I try not to […]
I really miss local apples. I got spoiled as a kid—we grew up within walking distance of an apple farm, and in October came the McIntosh. First pulled from the low hanging branches of their little, scraggly trees; then dropped into baskets; then stuffed into pockets, into mouths. Some of them made it to the […]
About midway through my last post and this one, I grew up a little bit. I grew up a lot, actually, more than I ever have in a single day. Who would have thought that putting on a dress, taking a short walk, and eating a piece of cake could be so significant? It seems […]
Oh, melancholy mealtime. Inevitably, one moment of every eating experience makes me sad, and it' s called THE END. I never want to stop. I spend the hours from sleep to waking dreaming about getting my teeth into breakfast. I prepare it with glee—even if it' s just a slice of toast and a cup […]
Nothing makes my heart ache like fall. It is the most beautiful time of year if only because the passage of time becomes so suddenly apparent and so seemingly spurred. The cool weather makes my blood rush a bit, but before I know it the afternoon light takes that tell tale gold hue and evening […]
These super-healthy muffins are made with apple sauce, dried currants and pine nuts, though you could fill the batter with whatever dried fruit and nut combo suits your fancy. Instead of using sugar to sweeten up the batter, I opted for unsweetened applesauce. I made these with Spelt flour, though wheat flour would do just […]
