bread and breakfast recipes

martha calderaro’s special delivery

~ jama ~ 61 Comments

#7 in the Poetry Potluck Series, celebrating National Poetry Month 2012.

Hey, Poetry Friends – You’ve got mail!

I’m pretty sure there’s nothing children’s writer Martha Calderaro would rather do for Poetry Month than visit your neighborhood to drop a freshly penned poem in each and every mailbox. Imagine finding a love sonnet, a bawdy limerick, an inspirational verse, a clever bit of wordplay or calming lyric nestled among the bills and bank statements!

Since this isn’t physically possible, lovely Martha is doing the next best thing: she’s written a poem especially for the Potluck,  a humorous flight of fancy that doubles as a tribute to a vanishing breed of messengers.

Daisy, Martha’s Muse: “Pat me. You know you want to.”

She’s also brought along her adorable six-month-old Newfoundland pup, Daisy, who was there when inspiration struck for today’s poem. It sounds like in Martha’s neighborhood, dogs wax poetic rather than chase after the mailman. We’re doubly glad Martha’s here today, cause her special delivery also includes a yummy recipe straight from the Muffin Man. ☺

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helen frost: oatmeal bread for the ages

~ jama ~ 56 Comments

#4 in the Poetry Potluck Series, celebrating National Poetry Month 2012.

Helen in San Antonio, TX

It only happens once in a great while. You read something that totally takes the top of your head off and leaves you breathless with its brilliance.

This was my experience when I read Helen Frost’s latest novel-in-verse, Hidden (FSG, 2011), which along with her other award winning books (Crossing Stones, Keesha’s House, Diamond Willow), sets the gold standard for excellence in this genre.  I wholly agree with Anita Silvey, who said in her Hidden review at The Children’s Book-a-Day Almanac: “For my taste, Helen Frost has emerged as our greatest living craftsperson of verse novels.” Helen’s books have received many prestigious awards, including a Printz Honor and four Lee Bennett Hopkins Awards or honors for Children’s Poetry, the most recent of which is a 2012 Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor for Hidden.

I’m beyond thrilled that Helen agreed to join us for the Potluck this year. She’s sharing a previously unpublished poem where oatmeal bread saves the day, along with the recipe and wonderful photos representing four generations in her family who have baked the bread. Could there be a more delicious legacy?

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friday feast: tea and bread pudding for jane

~ jama ~ 18 Comments

“At 9 o’clock she made breakfast — that was her part of the household work —  The tea and sugar stores were under her charge.” ~ Caroline Austen (My Aunt Jane Austen: A Memoir)

It’s December 16th! A most noteworthy date to be sure.

In 1773, an impassioned group of colonists held a certain Tea Party in Boston Harbor, and just two years later, on this very same December day, Jane Austen was born at Steventon Rectory.

Why not celebrate Jane’s birthday with a fine cup of tea and a treat? The Alphabet Soup kitchen helpers are serving English Breakfast Tea by the English Teddy Bear Company. Please help yourself to a steamy cup while reading Jane’s poem.

The Jane Austen Centre calls this 11-stanza verse, “sprightly.” Indeed, it reveals her keen wit and charming powers of persuasion. It was written a few years before she moved to Chawton House with her mother, sister Cassandra and dear friend Martha Lloyd, who later married Jane’s brother Frank. Seems Jane was trying to find a way to have Martha come and visit her.

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autumn apple love: a recipe and a poem

~ jama ~ 24 Comments

We’ve been enjoying some absolutely gorgeous Autumn weather here in Virginia. The alphabet soup kitchen helpers and I are especially excited about all the different apples available at the farm market.

About 25 varieties are grown here — I commonly see Rome, Winesap, York, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious. I miss the apple tree we had at our old house; I think they were Staymans. Made many an apple pie and crisp with them. Whenever I think about that tree, I also miss our neighbors. During the Spring when it was full of blossoms, dreamy-eyed Derrick would wander over to the tree just to take in the scent, and of course it was always lovely to have a fragrant carpet of petals on the grass.

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friday feast: beaucoup biscuits

~ jama ~ 34 Comments

“Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits.” ~ Carl Sandburg

via musicpb

Well, butter my buns and call me a biscuit!

Go on, grab one (a biscuit, not my buns, silly). You’re perfectly entitled — Autumn is officially here and September is National Biscuit Month. Not that I need any excuse to indulge my biscuit love. You know what I’m talking about. When they’re warm from the oven, you ever so gently break one apart and that little column of steam rises. Oh, tender, flaky bliss: a pat of butter on each half, melt, melt, maybe a drizzle of honey or a lick or two of jam. With each heavenly bite, the South rises again and again.

via mistersmed

I freely admit to never having successfully made biscuits from scratch. Yes, I’ve consumed my fair share of ‘whomp’ biscuits (Dough Boy goodness in a can), but I’ve always felt genuine-for-real homemade biscuits should be left to the experts. Most often, they are kind, huggable grandmas wearing faded flowery aprons who never measure ingredients but their biscuits turn out perfectly every time. Anyone have a Southern grandma I can borrow?  Continue reading →