They say there’s one hundred words for snow
But I’m not privy to the language
That makes it so
And as magical as snow can be
One hundred words does seem in excess
So I wonder
On this winter’s solstice night
Why love, no less miraculous than snow
Has only one word to crown its glory
And honour its story.
Love is over-used perhaps
Sometimes untrue
But Love certainly rivals snow
It’s as magical
As dear
As sweet.
Adoration is not the same
Nor lust, infatuation, passion
They pale or are over the mark
Before or beyond the point. …
Poetry Sunday
When He Left
When he left
The poetry stopped
Just like that-
The words clammed up
The heart was a dammed and stopped
Sentiment (forget about love!)
Froze in the faucets
As if he was something
With merit and meaning
Instead of being
Just a common thing
In the grander scheme.
The heart was not amused
And so the muse fled
Presumably to land in a land
Where things retain their flow
And a change of heart
Doesn’t mean all and everything —
Tsch!
All that sweetness
Simply had to go —
Such a pity — the baby and the bath water
And all of that.
And still —
There are those mornings
And those moments
Where a wisp of smoke or a ghost breeze
Still echoes and strives
To be heard above the din
Of love long gone
Without a trace
And no goodbye.
Just when the world closed up
Shuttered and scared
My own centric world expanded
Odd, but true —
The default fear that always found a home in me
Just left —
Not that I put my head
In that dwindling foundation of sand
We pretend is solid
Nor did I shut off the usual suspects
Reminding me 24/7 to be fearful.
Nothing like that.
This thing called fear is a bully you know
And one I know well, having fought with him
All my days, until now.
Fear is be the ultimate fund-raiser Knocking door to door Pressing you to…
You Don’t Have to Heal to Find True Love *
* Plus the REAL Reason You Haven’t Found It Yet
I’ve read so many features on finding love I could (and probably should) write the book at this point. As a work-for-hire writer, I can be a tad mercenary but on doling out love advice, I think what I have to say is a public service announcement and therefore is freely given. My commentary is a personal one based on over six decades living on the planet. Here’s the thing about Love: Love doesn’t really care, even quality soul-mate love…
Pandemic Tango or Last Tango in Winter
Tango in winter keeps you warm. This portrayal of tango in the snow is by Irish artist Alan Hogan; you can find him here
There’s something extra special about pre-winter holiday tango, especially if you live in a frosty white and cold winter city like Montreal. In summer, Montreal is a sexy coquette: a bit Paris, a bit New York but indelibly herself. But in winter that delightful warmth is scarce; the December air is crystal and glints, casting a shimmery light against the darkness of the early sun-setting afternoons. But if you…
Sourdough Fried Chicken? Best thing since….sliced sourdough!
If you’re like me (a professional baker) or just a regular person (a new sourdough afficianado, thanks to Covid), you probably stare at that sourdough starter and wonder: is that all there is?
Three Free Awesome Rosh Hashanah Recipes! My Legendary Moist, Majestic Honey Cake — New Year’s is Sweeter with Honey!
These are some of my favorite recipes for the Jewish New Year. Nothing beats apple and honey so it’s my favs on those recipes. The Babka is also divine. It’s moist and fragrant — but it’ s not one of those gluey, sweet babkas. This is made for coffee and tea and you can also slice and toast it.
Honey Cake
People love or hate honey cake. I used to be in the latter group until I invented my own honey…
An Oreo Love Affair, Bake an Oreo Coffee Cake!
The Oreo cookie love affair continues, especially in a pandemic. According to this piece in the New York Times, we can’t get enough of this sweet snack.
I make many recipes that call for Oreos especially a landmark cheesecake that I used to cater to restaurants. It was my signature cheesecake. But nowadays I just as often make this Oreo Coffee Cake, a tall, golden moist coffeecake, with chopped up Oreo cookies as the ‘streusel” and more on top, finished with a stipling of vanilla fondant. This is a riveting cake…
If you’ve never had a fresh tomato tart, you are missing something. This is a taste experience that amalgamates pizza, quiche and a savory tart — it is utterly fantastic! Creating a quintessential tom ato tart was a feat and like so many classics, I had to do it myself to get it perfect! If you want to speed this up, swap in prepared butter-based puff pastry.
Butter Pastry
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 cup ice water, or more
Tomato Basil Tomato Topping ½ cup chopped…
*
This is also for people who are otherwise great bakers or cooks but new to sourdough.
I’m not going to wax lyrical about bread, sourdough, the beauty of baking or baking in pandemics or otherwise get verbose. I want you in the kitchen. I want you baking and doing, not reading ad nauseum. I don’t want you bogged down before you start.
Sourdough is not an easy place to start a bread baking adventure but it is trendy and I know if you’re reading this, you want in.
So here goes.
Sourdough uses yeast but it grabs wild yeast…
Marcy Goldman
Cookbook Author, Master Baker, Writer, contributer to Costco Connection, Washington Post, Huffington Post, PBS Next Avenue. Find me at betterbaking.com.
