Month: June 2021

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Grandmother’s Pantry X & Y

ellenparkerwrites

I opened the door to grandmother’s pantry and stilled my hand.

“Grandmother, I’m looking for an X food today.”

“Child, I’m special and keep a well stocked pantry. However, only eXtra special grandmothers keep a jar of Xylose. I suggest you move along to Y.”

“Thank you.” I moved a few things around and found the Yeast. I could make a large variety of baked goods. I wonder if any of them contain Yogurt?

Yams. Are they different from sweet potatoes? This Northern girl can’t tell the difference. But she likes them baked.

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Grandmother’s Pantry – W

ellenparkerwrites

I walked over to Grandmother’s pantry and opened the door. “W, W, W,” I muttered.

What to eat with W? You say the letter and all I think is Water. That’s fine for a beverage, but my stomach wants food.

Watermelon season? Oh, nice and sweet. Eat and wash your face at the same time. (Everyone was happier when the children, and some adults, ate watermelon outside.)

Whitefish is delicious. Welsh Rarebit is often mistaken for something else entirely. Worcestershire Sauce adds flavor but only experts can pronounce it quickly and correctly three times in a row. Wine — perhaps to finish off after the Water glass is empty.

Walnuts add texture and flavor to many baked goods. Not bad as a snack, either.

These are English Walnuts — the ones you find in mixed nuts near the winter holidays.

Black Walnuts have a different, very nice, flavor — and a much more difficult shell.

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Happy Birthday!!!

ellenparkerwrites

Book Birthday = the age, in years, since a book has been available for sale.

Comfort Zone is One!

Live with Gusto — and Soar. Or crash and burn.

When opportunity intersects her path — will Janet choose Comfort or Gusto?

Meet Janet and Rich — empty nesters who didn’t know what they needed until they found it.

Kindle readers can find it here: https://amzn.to/338z1K1

Read on a Nook? No problem. Find it here: https://bit.ly/3bXU97a

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Grandmother’s Pantry – U & V

ellenparkerwrites

Near the end of the alphabet this project is getting more difficult.

Ugli fruit, when you find it, is a type of citrus. One of grandmother’s cookbooks describes how to eat sea Urchin — I think I’ll pass.

Veal and Venison supply a nice main course for the letter “V”. Vegetables and Vitamins are broad words rather than specific. Of course, we can top it all off with Vodka. (Necessary with the Urchin?)

Remember to add the Vanilla to your Upside Down Cake!

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Grandmother’s Pantry – T

ellenparkerwrites

Tell me True. What’s for lunch?

Grandmother opened the back door and pointed to the garden. “Bring me a “T” food.”

Pausing at the edge of the tended earth, I thought for a moment. I don’t especially like Turnips. We don’t have a Tangerine Tree. We buy Turmeric at the store, in the spice aisle. Turkeys are banned from the garden. Tea doesn’t grow in this climate.

Then I spied them — standing so tall with red, ripe fruit.

I got one — I found part of lunch.

Tuna and Tomato. May I have mine on Toast?

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Grandmother’s Pantry – S

ellenparkerwrites

I opened the pantry door and gazed at Sugar, Salt, and Sage. Did grandmother have a recipe which used all three?

She found me sitting and thinking.

“You have a choice for our Seafood Supper. Do you want Salmon or Shrimp? We start with Salad and will end with Sherbet.

Together we examined the cookbooks. I had to admit, grandmother planned a fine meal. However, when it came time to take a photo…

Sausages, plump and flavorful. My ancestors often paired them with Sauerkraut – except at breakfast.

Have you eaten an “S” food today?

Considering the number of foods in which you find either sugar or salt or both, my guess is “yes”.

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Grandmother’s Pantry – Q

ellenparkerwrites

What’s for supper? I tossed the question to a dozing grandmother as I strode to the pantry.

“Nothing.” She replied from her rocker.

“Are you sure?”

“Check the book.”

I pulled her favorite cookbook from the shelf and turned to the index. Oh, my! The “Q” portion of the index was short. What’s a person to do? Time was too short to prepare a Quiche. Not a Quince in the house.

Mumble, mumble. Got it!

I prepared a new-to-me grain –Quinoa.

Following directions (almost) I cooked it similar to rice and enjoyed the texture.

Hint from the dairy farmer’s daughter: Better with Butter.

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Grandmother’s Pantry – P

ellenparkerwrites

Grandmother! Grandmother! Let me fix supper!

We’ve arrived at one of my favorite food letters. Here’s the menu:

Begin with a Pear salad. Follow with Pulled Pork served with Potatoes sprinkled with Parsley. We’ll drink Peach Punch and polish it off with Pecan Pie.

Too much? You want to get lighter? Oh…..finger food.

Sing a snacking song with me. Peanuts, and Popcorn…

If you live in the Upper Midwest — add Pop.