baked with love

why do we call them Christmas cookies anyway?
such festive cut-outs are gone before the holiday

take half cup soft butter…the true dairy cow deal
mix with one cup sugar and two eggs, also real
bit of vanilla, two tablespoons cream taste best
mix soda, salt, two heaping cups flour with rest
put dough overnight in fridge, covered to chill
preheat oven; roll and cut dough, the pan to fill
stars, angels, canes, bells and tree shapes
watch closely till done, let cool and decorate

bakes best on a day with soft snow falling fine…
sprinkle each cookie with dear grandchild in mind

________________________

I’d take a photo but they’re all gone…eaten when we opened stockings for St. Nicholas Day! Grace hosts dVerse for final poems of 2023. The theme is recipe poems 🙂

pannekoeken!

Remember home’s kitchen where cheery (if gaudy) yellow & green wallpaper, Mom’s gentle love, and Dad’s loud laughter surrounded our family eating at table booth by patio window.  Every Saturday morning, my Dutch-American mother served us Swedish pancakes (like crepes) stacked with butter and syrup, or rolled up with brown sugar inside or, occasionally, topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.  My best childhood friend, Joyce, would come overnight on Friday to savor the next day’s breakfast.  We’d smell fried sweetness upon awakening and hurry downstairs to kitchen in our pajamas.  Between delectable bites, we would giggle over private jokes and tease my younger brother.  Now I make these favorite pancakes for my hungry boys on Saturday mornings, and they quickly eat to see who gets the last one!  Mom’s recipe (“tweaked” over the years):  3 3/4 cups milk, 4 eggs, 2 1/2 cups white flour, 4 tsp. sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla (cousin Ben’s addition), 1 tsp. salt and 4 TBS. cooking oil.  Heat round electric skillet to 350, spray hot pan, pour thin batter, turn once and serve warm, with love.
 

lick maple syrup

morning after sleepover

snow falling outside

 


Bjorn hosting haibun prompt where dVerse poets share special recipes…

romancing the cook

 
The recipe for romance begins in the kitchen, it’s true. Wink while pouring a hot cup of coffee, stir in a little sugar ‘n cream. Share secret stash of smooth dark chocolate and a lingering kiss. Place in love’s grasp a wildflower bouquet, picked fresh in anticipation. Cook breakfast omelet (for supper) together; nibble an earlobe while bacon sizzles. Slip arm around waist as artisan bread toasts to crusty perfection. Turn lights low, sit side by side, hold hands to pray a blessing. Pass the seasonings and sprinkle meal lightly with laughter.
 

hungry for dessert

oh my sweet potato pie

recipe for love

 


Joining dVerse poets for haibun Monday with a romantic theme!

Sevenling (rainbow recipe)

Having fun with a new poetic form, sevenling, introduced by De at dVerse!

 

rainbow recipe begins with basic

ingredients of primary colors:

real red, mellow yellow, too blue.

 

measure equal parts;  blend with

fresh rainwater until secondary hues

appear: ore orange, preen green, riot violet.

 

Oh, may i please borrow a smidgeon of simple indigo?

 


This one for cousin Ben, jewelry designer at Simple Indigo 🙂