Discover the Story Behind Michigan's Beloved Pasty in Mercedes Kelly's New Cookbook
Food lovers and history enthusiasts rejoice! Happiness In A Hand Pie: The Pasty Cookbook by Mercedes Kelly is now available. This book offers a delicious dive into the world of pasties, the iconic hand pies of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP). This cookbook blends mouthwatering recipes with compelling stories, celebrating the pasty’s cultural significance and community spirit.
Former Ann Arbor pastry shop owner and UP native Mercedes Kelly uses her love of this savory pastry to create a cookbook that is both useful and moving. From the flaky Butter and Lard Pastry to fillings like the traditional Beef Pasty or modern Portobello Mushroom Pasty, Kelly’s recipes cater to diverse tastes. Sweet options, like Blueberry Pasties, and complementary chutneys, such as Christina’s Cranberry Chutney, round out the offerings. Detailed instructions on pastry techniques, baking, and storage make the book accessible for beginners and seasoned cooks alike.
What sets Happiness In A Hand Pie apart is its rich storytelling. Kelly traces the pasty’s roots from Cornish miners in the 1800s to its enduring popularity in the UP’s mining towns. Her personal journey, from social work to entrepreneurship, adds warmth, while tales of miners’ lunch rituals and “knockers” (mine spirits) bring history to life. The book also highlights the pasty’s role in community events, with space for readers to preserve their own recipes, ensuring its legacy endures.
“This cookbook is my love letter to the pasty and the people who make it special,” Kelly shares. “It’s about food, family, and connection.” Enhanced by Tom H. Kelly’s evocative photography, the book is a visual and culinary delight.
Available at major retailers, Happiness In A Hand Pie is perfect for bakers, Michigan natives, and anyone curious about culinary heritage.
Order your copy on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B0F7GPGCM9/.
About the Author:
Mercedes Kelly, author of Happiness In A Hand Pie: The Pasty Cookbook, grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where the savory aroma and flaky crust of pasties sparked a lifelong passion. These hand pies, enjoyed at picnics, holidays, and family suppers, became nostalgic symbols of her childhood and connections with loved ones. A University of Michigan School of Social Work graduate, Kelly practiced social work for years before pursuing her dream of running a pasty business in Ann Arbor. By listening to customers’ stories of their mothers’ and grandmothers’ cherished recipes, she crafted her own flavorful pasties, promising to honor tradition while tempting taste buds. In her cookbook, Kelly shares these recipes and invites readers to record their own family favorites, preserving the pasty’s legacy.
Book Name: Happiness In A Hand Pie : The Pasty Cookbook
Author Name: Mercedes Kelly
ISBN Number: 978-1967963126
Paperback Version: Click Here
Kindle Version: Click Here
Hardcover Version: Click Here
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