Do you want to make a perfect pastry and pastry recipes?
If yes, then Mercedes Kelly’s Happiness In A Hand Pie: The Pasty Cookbook is a delightful book. It is a perfect blend of culinary craft, cultural history, and personal storytelling that elevates the humble pasty into a celebration of community and tradition. Rooted in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP) and the Cornish mining heritage, this cookbook is both a practical guide for home cooks and a nostalgic journey for anyone who cherishes food’s power to connect generations. With its accessible recipes, heartfelt anecdotes, and rich historical context, it’s a must-read for food lovers and history buffs alike.
Kelly, a former social worker turned pasty entrepreneur, brings authenticity and warmth to every page. Her childhood in the UP, where the pasty’s flaky crust and hearty fillings were a sensory delight, inspired her to share this iconic dish with the world. The book opens with a dedication to miners, pasty bakers, and lovers everywhere, setting the tone for its inclusive spirit.
Then there come the recipes. Each of the recipes in this book offers something for everyone. Traditionalists will love the Beef Pasty, reminiscent of Cornish originals, with its coarse ground beef, rutabaga, and flaky Butter and Lard Pastry. Adventurous cooks can explore modern twists like Shrimp and Garlic Pasties or sweet Cherry Pasties. Each recipe is clearly written, with precise measurements and tips (e.g., don’t poke holes to retain moisture). Kelly also includes chutney recipes, like Apple Chutney, to complement the pasties, adding a sweet-tangy dimension. Moreover, the book’s practical sections on equipment, pastry techniques, and storage (refrigerating, freezing, reheating) ensure success for novices and seasoned bakers alike.
What sets this cookbook apart is its celebration of community. Kelly acknowledges the Ann Arbor teens and adults who helped her business thrive, and she invites readers to record their own family recipes, making the book a keepsake. The pasty’s role in fundraisers and gatherings underscores its power to bring people together, a theme that resonates throughout. While some might wish for more photos to accompany the recipes, Tom H. Kelly’s photography captures the pasty’s golden allure, and the book’s clean layout keeps the focus on the content.
In the end, Happiness In A Hand Pie is more than a cookbook. It is a love letter to the UP, to family traditions, and to the joy of sharing food. Whether you’re a Michigan native, a baking enthusiast, or simply curious about culinary heritage, this book will inspire you to roll out some dough, crimp a pasty, and savor the happiness it brings.
So, bring out the pastry chef inside you. Order your copy on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7GPGCM9
