Longtime baker creates pie for annual benefit
A vacation in Michigan was the inspiration for Sarah Anderson's contribution to this year's annual Glen Ellyn Historical Society's bake sale.
“Last year we went to Michigan for the first time and stopped at a roadside fruit stand. We saw these pies, so we got one,” she said. Later that evening she and her husband were in different rooms eating slices of that pie.
“It was so good, we both jumped up and met in the middle room to exclaim over how good it was.”
Sarah has spent the past year attempting to recreate the bountiful berry pie bursting with strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. Now you have two opportunities to try her pie — either buy one at the Glen Ellyn Farmers Market, or try your hand at baking your own with the recipe Sarah shares today.
Sarah says she has been cooking since she was very small, recalling a batch of biscuits she made at age 6.
“Baking to me is very therapeutic. I bake anything: cookies, cakes, crisps … but I always try to give away at least half — otherwise we'd be huge,” she says.
Sarah grew up in Florida and was lured to Glen Ellyn when she and her husband, who has Wheaton roots, were looking for a family-oriented community.
“This is my adopted hometown — it's very Norman Rockwell,” said Sarah, a former corporate banker who left her job in order to stay home with her two children. One of the benefits of the area has been a large yard for a garden.
“I love gardening. I've been composting this year and I think it has made my vegetables go berserk.” Sarah enjoys being able to go out the door for fresh herbs and vegetables. “It's very rewarding and I've even been able to bring my husband over to the light side!”
Today Sarah also shares a favorite family dinner called “No-Peek” Chicken online at dailyherald.com/entlife/food and a favorite appetizer she breaks out for entertaining.
Entertaining may take the form of a birthday party with monkey-shaped cookies to match her son's party theme, or her monthly book/dinner club where she made Spicy Mango Shrimp to pair with the “The Piano Teacher,” a book set in Hong Kong.
She's currently compiling all of the book club recipes into a cookbook. Maybe her Four-Berry Pie will provide the happy ending.
Bake sale
Find the Glen Ellyn Historical Society's annual bake sale booth at the Glen Ellyn Farmers Market (Main street between Hillside and Duane streets). The booth operates from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 15 and Aug. 5 and 19. Show up early for the best selection.