October 26, 2005

Brownie recipe dates to 1600s

By
Herald staff writer

      When Patti DeAgostino suggested that Peg Simmons whip up a batch of her famous brownies for the Grand Traverse Pavilions Red Hot Generations Gala fund-raising auction, Simmons thought it was a terrible idea.
      "I said we won't even get $10 for them. But Patty was so excited about the idea I agreed to make them," said Simmons, a regular volunteer at the Pavilions.
      What Simmons didn't know was that DeAgostino, director of community relations for the Grand Traverse Pavilions, planned to start the bidding for her delectable treats at $95 -- one dollar for each year of Simmons age.
      DeAgostino's idea proved to be more successful that even she imagined. Simmons stole the show when she matter-of-factly delivered the history of her brownie recipe which she has been making for 25 years or more.
      "The recipe came to me through a friend. It had been in her family since the 1600s. It originated from Hannah Dustin, a colonial frontier legend," said Simmons, who admits that the ingredients used today probably bear little resemblance to what Dustin would have used.
      "The flour would not have been refined like what we use now and I'm sure they didn't have baker's chocolate, it would have been cocoa," Simmons said.
      Simmons not only gave the history of her much requested brownies, she also commented on the history of the Grand Traverse Pavilions and how lucky the community is to have such a place.
      "The one thing I stressed was the progress that has been made in county nursing homes. What I saw as a teen was very sad. No one in the audience was old enough to be able to compare that to what we have with the Pavilions, we are very lucky," Simmons said.
      "The dome was absolutely quiet when she was making her presentation. It was absolutely priceless," said DeAgostino, noting that something in what Simmons said struck a cord among bidders.
      After a spirited bidding war, a final bid of $500 from Dan and Peg Jonkhoff of Traverse City, won the coveted dessert. But that was not the end of the story. The bid was matched by Dennis and Kathy Lauterbach of Traverse City who agreed to split the pan with the Jonkhoff's for an additional $500.
      Simmons was delighted that her brownies were such a hit.
      "I told Dan Jonkhoff, who I have known for years, that he could have had a pan for free. Patti really proved me wrong. I couldn't be happier about it," Simmons said.