“Gracious me, how suddenly youth has deserted me,” thought the aging hobbit.

Remembering his eager energy setting out on his leisurely path from his snug home at Bag End to the Hidden Valley of Imladris, he found the change startlingly swift. Was it not just a short time ago he had returned still hale and hearty from his journey to Laketown and the lonely Mountain to visit with old friends?

Of course, traveling in the company of Elves on their tall horses (not his favorite mode of transportation) had reduced the long and sometimes harrowing trail to a fraction of the time he had spent on foot traveling with a company of Dwarves.

However, in the last few weeks since his return to Rivendell, the discomfort of riding had been replaced by a deeper aching and reluctance of his joints to move freely, slowing him to short strolls about the grounds of the Last Homely House.

When Lindir, who had a marked fondness for the hobbit and knew well his love of good food, brought him a small round Elven cake, the downcast look he received for his kindness dismayed him.

“You are sad, my friend?” Lindir said softly.

“I am getting old, Lindir,” Bilbo stated. “Since leaving the Shire, my years seem to be catching up with me. Sometimes I wonder if maybe the air or food of the Shire kept me young.”

Hurriedly he continued, “Not that Elvish food is not tasty and abundant, mind you, though not as often as I would like; there is just something about food one prepares oneself from that which is grown in good ground of the Shire that I miss at times.”

Pausing then Bilbo sighed, not wishing to seem ungrateful for the Elven hospitality, but he yearned for the simple pleasure of entering one of his many pantries, selecting just the right ingredients and preparing those foods he loved best to share with his friends. The Elves tried to make foods for him that he preferred, but it simply lacked his special touch. Just thinking of his beautiful, fresh-baked seed cakes filled him with longing.

Again he sighed deeply.

Lindir spoke at last, “You are leaving us then?”

“Oh no, Lindir, I am beyond any more long trips. Just a little homesick, I guess,” Bilbo stated decidedly. “But I do miss the taste of the Shire in my meals.”

Puzzled Lindir queried, “The Shire has a flavor?”

At this Bilbo laughed heartily. “No, my friend, but the foods and spices do not taste the same in other lands. Had I the proper ingredients, I would treat you to a true hobbit feast.”

Lindir replied, “Most welcome you would be in the kitchens here. We knew not you desired their use.”

“Your offer is most kind, Lindir. I will think on it,” said Bilbo, “though now I shall rest awhile.”

The hobbit watched the tall, slender Elf depart, bemused to think that a little solid hobbit fare might well fill him out a bit. Then leaning back against the mighty tree he dozed.

Lindir meanwhile had taken the unspoken request to heart and sought out Gildor who, with the company traveling with him, was newly arrived from their wanderings.

“Gildor, mae govannen, mellon nín,” Lindir greeted his friend. “Do you stay long?”

Gildor replied, “Your greeting is a joy to my heart. We tarry yet a while.”

“The Shire is known to you?” asked Lindir.

“Aye. Does this concern the hobbit dwelling here?” Gildor answered.

Lindir smiled. “You know of my interest in the hobbit?”

Gildor retorted, “All Elvendom must know of your fondness for Bilbo! What is the cause of your inquiry?”

Lindir replied succinctly, “He pines for foods grown in the Shire. He wishes to prepare a ‘hobbit feast’.”

Gildor burst into laughter, but assured his friend that he would find hobbit flavors far different than those in Imladris.

“Let me know what Bilbo wishes and we shall see to bringing it to him,” Gildor responded.

When Lindir returned with the list, Gildor read it in surprise.

“He seems to want only a few items.” said Gildor.

Now it was Lindir who grinned.

“I asked that he make only one favorite food to share; he chose ‘Seed Cakes,” replied Lindir.

With that Gildor departed, finding three seasoned warriors to make the increasingly perilous trek to the Shire to obtain ‘hobbit fodder’. Quizzical looks notwithstanding, they departed the following day.

*******

 Roaming the woodlands in search of wild herbs, Frodo to his great surprise found himself confronted by an Elf. Overcoming his shock, Frodo made a deep bow, greeting him in Quenya. The smiling Elf answered in the Common Tongue and requested he keep the presence of an Elf in the Woods a secret. Frodo took the proffered sheet of paper and cried aloud as he recognized the writing of Bilbo. Upon perusing the contents he laughed quietly, telling the messenger that he would be back before dusk.

*******

 Lindir approached the napping hobbit, a parcel in one hand, a feather in the other. Bilbo slapped at the offending annoyance several times before at length coming out of sleep to find Lindir grinning hugely, a packet held out to him.

“What is this?” cried the hobbit, straightaway forgetting to be grumpy at his unwelcome awakening.

“You told me of the wonderful taste of ‘Seed Cakes’, flavored by the Shire. You may now make them for us,” suggested Lindir. “The ingredients are from your former pantries at Bag End.”

Bilbo opened the packet and sorted through the containers till he found the smallest ones. Carefully he lifted it to his nose to determine if, in fact, it was true. Beaming with joy he then sneezed loudly. The Elf looked askance at the reaction to which Bilbo offered it to Lindir. Upon sniffing the strange peppery-smelling spice he too sneezed. Before Lindir could question him further, the hobbit hustled off in the direction of the kitchens, not even remembering to thank his Elven friend.

The startled cooks supplied Bilbo with the necessary baking items and enthusiastically he proceeded to create his favorite second breakfast treat.

Later that afternoon, Bilbo went in search of Lindir, two beautifully browned seed cake loaves still warm from the oven, resting on a delicately carved wooden platter that he felt did justice to his handiwork.

“Ah, there you are, Lindir, I have found you at last. Come sit with me and tell me how you find my baking!” Bilbo stated eagerly, finding a convenient bench.

Lindir sniffed cautiously of the aroma rising from the golden-brown mounds and decided it might be safe to eat. Bilbo broke off a large hunk and handed it to the Elf. Nibbling at one edge, Lindir tested the flavor, breaking into merry laughter.

“Exceptional, my dear hobbit! You are full of surprises,” Lindir responded to the waiting Bilbo.

The hobbit beamed contentedly helping himself to an equally large portion.

“A most unforeseen flavor. What are these small seeds?” Lindir inquired.

“In the Shire we call them ‘carry-away’ as the seeds try to escape from their pods when gathered, making them difficult to harvest,”  Bilbo answered.

Gildor and the three Elven messengers joined them and were equally delighted with the fruits of their labor. Gildor inquired of Bilbo if Frodo also baked. Bilbo proudly announced that he taught his young cousin and heir all the secrets of Bag End baking and cooking.

“Well, my friends, when next we journey through the Halflings land we must remember to visit the young Frodo,” stated Gildor with a knowing smile. “the Shire may have many hidden virtues.”

“Bilbo, my friend, you will, I hope, share your recipe with our bakers that you may enjoy your favorite food more often,” Lindir asked.

To which Bilbo, with a mouth full of cake, merely nodded.

********

So the recipe was included in the Red Book on a separate sheet of fine paper written by Lindir, the Elf, in flowing Tengwar. Eventually it found its way through the long ages to this present day, where it is now called:

BAG END SEED CAKE

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 tablespoon caraway seeds,
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon orange flavoring or orange zest
1 7/8 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Blend butter and sugar until well creamed. Beat in eggs, one at a time.

Add buttermilk, seeds and spices, then blend. Gradually add flour and baking powder until well blended. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.

Bake 50-70 minutes or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

Buttermilk makes a moist cake. Excellent with cream cheese, jelly or jam.

Serves 12

Nutritional analysis per serving: 257 calories, 13 grams fat, 28 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams protein, 78 milligrams cholesterol, 162 milligrams sodium, 48 percent of calories from fat. - www.theonering.net