From Bird Bakery owner’s cookie jar
For Valentine’s, add ‘more love’ to her recipe
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with something sweet?
San Antonio’s Bird Bakery owner Elizabeth Chambers has shared the recipe for her famous Sugarbird cookies, and they’re a breeze to bake for the sweetheart in your life. And while we had her on the phone, Chambers was more than happy to dish on love, food and family — including her Valentine’s Day plans with her husband, Hollywood hunk Armie Hammer.
Q: What makes Valentines Day baking different from any other day of the year?
A: I think its done with more love. And as opposed to other holidays where you’re cooking or baking for a group of people like Thanksgiving or Christmas, it’s usually done for just one person.
Valentine’s Day is a time to really put your heart into your food for people you love, and that doesn’t have to be a spouse or partner. It can be a good friend, a teacher, a sister.
Q: Will you and Armie be cooking for each other this Valentines Day?
A: We’ll be in London for work, so we won’t be cooking for each other per se, but we do cook for each other every day. We’re going to our favorite restaurant of all time, and we’re seeing our favorite chef of all time, and she’s cooking for us, Ruth Rogers at River Café.
Q: I’ve seen your Instagram photos, and you’re incredibly fit. You can’t possibly actually eat these cookies, can you?
A: I do! First of all, I don’t eat as much normal food as I should. I’d rather eat a cookie for breakfast than a plate of scrambled eggs. And when you’re running around — last week I was in five cities in four days, and between managing both locations with almost 100 employees and chasing two kids — that definitely helps burn the cookies.
Q: What kind of gifts do you like to receive for Valentine’s Day?
A: I would rather receive food and drink or something meaningful. I’m not a jewelry person. To me, the best gift would be cards from my children. Nothing is better than children art.
With my husband, our time together is honestly the most valued thing. The time together spent enjoying an amazing meal is both of our idea of the best, most ideal experience.
Q: Finally, for you, what is it specifically about food that communicates love?
A: Love is comfortable, it’s nostalgic. Love is what you know. And to me, that is what the journey of food is.
Food is the language of love, and if somebody is not really into food, I’m like, “I think something is really missing in your life. We need to evaluate this.”
Sharing family recipes and sharing things that are important to you and doing it together, there’s something really beautiful about preparing a meal together then sharing it with each other. We all know food tastes better when somebody makes it for you with love, so making something together and enjoying it, that’s the ultimate experience.