We all know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, where the Giant threatens to “grind your bones to make my bread”. And then there was the 1996 hit single “Hell” by the band “Squirrel Nut Zippers” (yes, that was their name; it was apparently the name of a popular candy bar in the 1920’s) in which the lyric quoted by Private Nikki Donner is sung.

I don’t know why but one day, out of nowhere, it struck me that there were two different references that I was aware of mentioning bones being ground into powder and used to make baked goods. While I found this odd, I also knew I had stumbled onto something irresistible for my cook character. The fact that I had already established her name as “Donner” just made it seem all the more appropriate– maybe it’s something in her genes, after all.

Still, she does bring up a valid point that is never addressed in the music or fairy tales: would the marrow be included? On the one hand it would provide a lot of protein; on the other hand, it risks making your baked goods kind if goopy.

Now there’s something to think about for the rest of the day.