Secret drawers were a must-have growing up in my mother’s house, and I passed the tradition on to our children, who filled theirs with every memento and tidbit of those fast years. Looking back, isn’t it those very secrets that define our individuality? Cooking is no different. Any cook willing to play a bit will stumble onto something uniquely theirs and quite often keep this ingredient a secret.
Category Archives: Food
It’s Sugar Time!
In late March–early April, Spring remains subtle in northern Vermont. Snow still covers the higher ground, while in the valley only the smallest of flowers break through the hard frozen earth. Sunny days might drive the temperature into the 40’s but nighttime sends it back below freezing. This pattern makes most of us stir crazy, but for the maple sugar maker this is a formula for success. Steam rising from sugar shacks once the boiling begins becomes the sign that Spring has indeed arrived and the sugar makers have no control over these fast and furious few weeks; once the nighttime stays too warm the sap slows and eventually stops. This labor intensive process can occupy a whole extended family and their neighbors, all coming together to gather the gallons of sap, boil it down and bottle the syrup.
Comfort: Part 3
If you have been following my blog over the past two weeks, you must have known I would get around to this topic eventually– Yes, Comfort: Part 3 is FOOD! I am fairly certain that just about everyone would have a different response if asked which food provides comfort to them, but I hope to find common ground… For instance, close your eyes and imagine a creemee from your local stand on a warm July evening, or a steaming cup of cocoa on a pre-Christmas afternoon, or a bowl of fresh picked strawberries late spring, all of these would bring comfort and a bit of joy, right?
But for the sake of choosing one food, I’ve narrowed comfort down to one recipe for one sweet treat, bound to bring a grinning smile and delicious satisfaction after each little nibble: follow the simple directions below to produce a party-size chocolate bar!
Nine Cent Girl 