Hello and thank you all for coming by BoFN for the Funny Names in Food Edition! Today we meet a lady who has a funny name and loads of culinary talent. She bakes up terrifically terrific pastries and has written multiple cookbooks, all of which sit on my shelf and are read repeatedly for her fantastic voice–a crazy combination of sass, spunk, snark, and smarts–as well as amazing recipes. What’s more, she appears on TV and her work is found in magazines everywhere. Who could she be?
I’d like to introduce you to the lovely Gesine Bullock-Prado. Sounds familiar, you say? You know you’ve heard at least part of that name before? Just so happens that German-born Bullock-Prado (whose mother, Helga D. Meyer, was a German opera singer) is younger sister to actress Sandra Bullock.
Care for a George Lopez sandwich? With Bullock sister bread of course.
Gesine co-founded Fortis Films with sister Sandra in 1995. As lawyer and VP, she helped produce cinema classics such as Armed and Fabulous, Miss Congeniality 2, and Gun Shy. Should you be a fan of Practical Magic or The George Lopez Show, you have Bullock-Prado to thank as she was behind their development. (What’s that? You’re thinking this sounds a bit like an amb post right now what with all the movies? Where’s the food? Sit tight, dear readers, we’re almost there.)
In 2004, Gesine quit Hollywood and along with husband, Raymond, left for rural Vermont to open a bakery. Her pastry shop, Gesine Confectionery, achieved national fame before she closed its doors in 2008 to focus on writing. Vermont’s loss is the world’s gain as My Life from Scratch: Confections of a Closet Master Baker, Sugar Baby, Pie It Forward, and Bake It Like You Mean It are delightfully fun reads.
Bullock-Prado is contributing food editor for Runner’s World Magazine, a most excellent fit as she’s a marathon runner, and her recipes appear in popular mags such as Ladies Home Journal, Shape, and People. Younger Bullock must sleep very little as she’s also been seen on fun and fab television such as Rachel Ray, Today, Chelsea Lately, and The Talk. Bullock-Prado has her own creative—if a bit spooky—website that links to her multiple blogs and also teaches at King Arthur Flour’s Baking Education Center, the Holy Grail of all things baking.
three cheers for the beautiful and talented Gesine Bullock-Prado who knows that pulling taffy is fun
While Sandra may get most of the publicity in the Bullock family, today we salute her younger sister for all she’s contributed to the world of sweets. Bullock-Prado can whip up a batch of authentically Parisian macarons, run a marathon, open a pastry shop, write cookbooks, appear on television, and serve on the faculty of a nationally renowned cooking school. All of this on top of previously having been a lawyer and vice-pres of a movie production company.
Thank you Gesine Bullock-Prado for following your passion for baking, without which the world could not enjoy your laugh-out-loud funny books and fabulous recipes for sweets such as Candy Corn, Meyer Lemon Pudding Pie, Chocolate Fleur de Sel Caramel Tart, and Zwetschgendastchi (Bavarian Plum Cake).
(Liz is a humble Minnesotan who sometimes forgets to attribute herself for her own posts, which is why I have to do it. She writes fun and foody things for food for fun and spends her spare time exchanging messages with famed cookbook author Crescent Dragonwagon. – Dave)
(Ed. Note: Yes, folks, Liz is a Minnesotan and so maybe more humble than some. (though I don’t think so) But Liz was also up late last night writing, etc, and it occurred to her at 2 a.m. when she finally crawled into bed that she had forgotten to link her BoFN post to her blog. Was going to correct that today, but forgot again. Ah well–you saved me the trouble and made me look even better. Thanks, Dave!)
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Oh, Liz. I should know better by now then to read your posts before I’ve had breakfast! The plan was to behave and have a protein bar; now of course I want Chocolate Fleur de Sel Caramel Tart, or at least something with sugar in it.
Loved this post! And Paulo and I thank you for the shout out 🙂
Thanks, amb. Thing is, you’re not going to get a Chocolate Fleur de Sel Caramel Tart this morning unless you happen to have one in your fridge or you have an amazing bakery on your way to work. I did see what looked to be a Divine golden bunny in your Easterween basket, though. Do tell: what DID you have for bfast this morn? 😉
You’re right, that’s not exactly quick and easy to throw together, is it? I think I’m going to start scouting out some bakeries to visit over the weekend! Field trip!
So far this morning, I’ve only had coffee and no actual food – the horror! I usually bring my own breakfast, but I opted to sleep this morning instead 🙂
PS there’s only half of the golden bunny left now, and he’s hiding in my freezer.
I admire you for still having half left!
Did I say half? I meant to say a quarter 🙂
p.s. on that comment: even as a food geek, I will always take more sleep over food. Good call on that one.
Easterween and fleur de sel. It’s like I’m learning a new language!
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Wow, such an amazing story! Once upon a time, I remember writing a post about admiring people who have many many talents, are unapologetically themselves, and never forget their roots despite being totally awesome in every way. I should have also added PEOPLE WHO MAKE TONS OF COOKBOOKS WITH PUNS IN THE TITLE to that list!
Liz, is it okay if I infringe on your territory and say “wow, I always learn things from these posts… thank you for expanding my horizons”?
Amb, can we make “pulling a Liz” a thing?
Pull a Liz (verb): being too polite to *swoon*, but nonetheless expressing gratitude at someone expanding your horizon and sharing knowledge of something they care passionately about, in that distinctly Minnesotan way.
“Wow, I totally pulled a Liz after reading today’s post about Gesine Bullock-Prado. What an amazingly awesome lady who also writes cookbooks with pun-filled titles!”
Holy cr@p (er, I mean holy bananas), Dave. I laughed so hard I cried (extremely unMinnesotan of me, I know) when I read your comments. Funny and I thank you for and blush at the compliments. Love that we’re educating each other so well. Have learned about sports (tomato cans 🙂 ), tv/movies/celebrity, Bunny and gang, old-time baseball players. Oh what a universe this is.
I would be honored to have such a phrase named after me!
You know it, baby! “Pulling a Liz” is now officially a thing. Also, to add to the definition:
Liz (adjective): adds more kinds of awesome; the opposite of “Britta”.
“If I can figure out a way to mention Gesine Bullock-Prado in the next edition of Wordful Wednesday, I will have totally Liz’d my post!”
Britta? Don’t know, but will assume it’s a good thing so thanks! Would be honored to have GB-P appear in a future WW 😉
Included G’s Chelsea appearance in a link somewhere in this mess of comments if you want to see her in action.
Britta is a character on Community. A lovely thirty-something former anarchist punk who is returning to school and has a reputation for ruining everything, especially when she is trying to help. The rest of the Community gang says “you totally pulled a Britta” or “you Britta’d that” when someone ruins something even if they were trying to help. So your verb being the opposite of Britta-ing is a good thing!
Gesine is pretty cool, isn’t she? Her appearance on Chelsea Lately was just last week, so I’d bet we hear more about her going forward. If you have a moment, here’s the Chelsea clip. Loved GB-P even more after watching as she deals with Chelsea with much grace (and tolerance). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_4FdfOcebE
Liz-what a great read. I may go into a sugar coma thinking about that taffy.
Haha, I totally understand. The funny thing is that a lot of people have nostalgic memories about taffy, but I think I may be one of the few who has nostalgic memories for Taffy Nivert, since she was the first person I ever profiled for this blog (and for a long time, was the source of about 50% of our hits).
full circle with the taffy–love it!
Thanks, Fannie! How goes the rewrites?
“Sass, spunk, snark, and smarts”, the four S’s of awesomeness. I did not know that about Sandra Bullock’s sister but that’s a great profile. She’s got gumption. I love gumption.
yes indeed, gumption rocks. That’s a good word for her for sure. In her first book she mentioned not liking people a lot, so she has a bit of an edge. Glad if you enjoyed. BTW, my mother-in-law needs a HBook so will order again soon. (You didn’t think I’d respond to you without a mention of the HB, did you? haha)
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What a great write-up and introduction to Sandra Bullock’s sister. Sandra is an all-time favorite of mine, so I’m not surprised that talent continues within her family, very sweet. 🙂 I’ll check out her website and her books, as well. Thanks again!
Such a cool article you wrote for Gesine. She has accomplished much! Thank you for such a fun and yummy post, Liz. ❤️
Ooh, I have always admired Sandra for being quite amazing after her husband chose a floozy instead of her. Yuck, Jesse! Yay, Sandra! She’s a great Mommy, too.
You are so kind to go back and read this really old post 🙂 Appreciate you checking it out. Haven’t heard much about Sandra as of late, except wasn’t there a stalker thing? Dunno. But from reading her sister’s books (one was highly autobiographical), could get a sense of her childhood. Their mother was different from other moms because she wasn’t born in America and so the girls felt like the odd ones out a lot of the time. And then they both went on to become amazing and even famous 🙂 Pretty cool! Appreciate your visit very much.
I’m so appreciative of your seeing this comment and today is my best blogging day, Liz. I am adjusting to a new work schedule at the auto parts warehouse. . .
I am grateful for your letting me know about their mother, since I haven’t looked the girls up on Wiki.
I liked how Sandra could be quirky and awkward in that movie about chasing a reporter (“All about Steve” and then fierce and able to hold her stance about adopting the football player, “The Blind Spot” winning an Academy Award. She is now crusading for people to stop using adopted child as a description. Children are simply the parents’ children once adopted. I agree! 💞
I am hopeless in trying to keep up so I am posting less and visiting more.
Take care, Liz. 💐