A Sprinkling of Magical DustWritten by Arleen M. Kaptur
As Holidays approach, cooks everywhere have visions of "perfect" pumpkin pie or most "mouthwatering" beef roast or turkey sitting on a platter that has been used for generations. The tender crowning glory meal entree was also prepared in a roasting pan that "can do no wrong." It has, and it will make you proud no matter what you decide to make as main course. It's very same with baking. You may have twenty wooden spoons in a drawer but you inevitably reach for one particular wooden spoon when there is that every important task to do. Holiday baking, whether pies, cookies, or tortes, requires a special spoon, or pan that you know will turn an everyday dish into a Holiday entree. Is it coincidence or is there truly magical dust that takes over and assures most delicate pie crusts, wonderfully moist roasts and fowl, or assorted cookies that you could just die for? Of course, your skill or talent would never enter into picture. The fact that there is always a bit of extra effort because it is Holidays is certainly not a component. It will, now and always, be grandma's favorite turkey platter, that old, dented, but trustworthy pie plate, and that wonderful-to-hold in your hand wooden spoon that has been you through thick and thin. We all relish things that are comfortable to us, that represent success in bygone attempts at impressing relatives and friends. Childhood memories of perfect crusts, pies, coffeecakes, and meals will be in back of our minds each Holiday as we whip, blend, and stir. Definitely there is a lot to be said that cooks, and bakers, like artists and writers, need that nudge of trust and dependability in tools of their trade. A story is just a bit better because you sat in your lucky chair and wrote notes with pen that your son/daughter gave you one Christmas Eve long ago. Yes, it was sprinkled with some "angel" dust and yes, it has powers that, in your hand, will give you confidence and ability to create treasures once again.
| | Gifts of a Sand DollarWritten by Liz Hekimian-Williams
Gifts of a Sand DollarBy Liz Hekimian-Williams I guess this New York City girl is now a nature enthusiast to extreme! Our recent sand dollar experience proves it. Do you remember that famous story about a girl that throws a starfish back into sea one at a time along shoreline? When girl was told by an onlooker that what she was doing wouldn't matter much, she replied "it matters to that one" and threw another starfish back into sea. Well, I have a sand dollar story to share. The other day we happened upon a little island while boating and we couldn't believe how many live sand dollars were in water and on sand, green, fuzzy and thriving. They weren't white and dry like you buy them in a store. My kids were really interested in them and so were we adults, actually. Other kids were getting them out of water and hauling them home, showing them off to us, and even offering them to us. My family enjoyed holding them and looking at them, but then we'd each throw sand dollars back into water... to keep on living... and we left with only memories as souvenirs. Now I wasn't always like this. In fact, when I was a teen, my folks took me to Bahamas and we had some natives dive down and get us a couple of starfish that we brought back as souvenirs. Back then it seemed like most normal thing to want to do. I still remember shock on my kids' faces when they first would hear about my youthful vacation and starfish experience, though. They invariably asked why would I do that because didn't it kill starfish? Boy that made me feel lousy. Turns out they had a very good point. I've learned from life, from my kids, I don't know from where else exactly but now I feel same way as kids do. I wonder, why DID I want to do that? Oh well, past is done. But now, we CAN save sand dollars (and starfish) one at a time at least.
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