Desperate Distractions: For My Grandpa

Every year for the past four years I have neglected my impending school work to go to my Grandpa's and help him bake banket. (If you don't know, banket is a bar with almond filling in the middle.) As long as I can remember, he has baked banket every winter; he normally bakes over 100 bars a year. During my time at college, he was my desperate distraction during the last weeks of the fall semesters. Baking with him was my escape from the busyness and my place of peace. I think he is one of the reasons I love baking so much; however, now that I am in Hungary, I was not able to join him this year -- a difficult fact for me to cope with. Because of this, I decided that I couldn't let him down. The show must go on.

If I couldn't bake banket with him, I could at least bake banket on my own as a way to remember the last four winters with him. (He has not passed away; I assure you.) So I did just that. Luckily, and I am ever thankful for their assistance, the Baker parents were coming to visit their daughter Arielle, who is on the Calvin semester, and they were willing to bring almond paste from the states. I know of no item similar to it here; if there is a similar item close to it, it is beyond expensive.

When I got the almond paste, I went to work. After some learning curves and small kitchen mishaps, I was successful. I made 8 bars (8 more to go) and cut them in half and gave them to my colleagues. It was a big hit. It was something they haven't had, even though, all of them love almond flavored baked goods.

Below is a series of banket pictures from beginning to end. I will tell you that my flat (and the Ippel's flat) is to small to make banket, but it doesn't matter. If I am here next year, I will make it work again all for my Grandpa.