Food is our undeniable shared passion. It is part of our memories, feelings and plans. It is intertwined with the mistakes and successes, the joy and the pain, the seasons and celebrations. It is the richness of life! In this book, you'll find over 100 pages of poems, memoirs and recipes. This anthology was created month-by-month during the year 2013. We posted our writings on our blog (tastyyear.wordpress.com) from authors in Colorado, Arizona, South Korea, Costa Rica and Canada.
The tidbits reflect the insights of each of the writers. We are an eclectic mix of family and friends, poets, novelists and playwrights, sculptors and adventurers, men and women, gay and straight, young and old, that are all part of the Open Book Writing Group.
Hungry? Try some of these for starters!
BIRTHDAY BASH
by Gerry Magnie
an 80th birthday, isn't that great!
certainly a time to celebrate
a suggestion from the rec center bunch
let's take gerry for a birthday lunch
cherry creek to be the destination
where to go? an investigation...
andre's, a little uppity
too much sugar and spice
elway's, sumptuous burgers
also a sumptuous price
cherry cricket, with its food so proud
a little too noisy for this old crowd
hops, a good choice, doesn't open till two
a bit late for this sleepy crew
in the mall, pizza places
hard to find parking spaces
latkes and crepes served at zaidy's
unique food for a group of ladies
how about savory pasta at macaroni grill?
their salads and hot bread give you a thrill
gerry, what is your pleasure?
is there a food you really do treasure?
well, there is a venue with open seating
always plenty of room for eating
on the corner of milwaukee and third
close to nature, maybe even a bird
all agreed to the location
making us feel like on vacation
your order will be very quick
onions, sauerkraut, take your pick
being with good friends
eating hot dogs in the sun
for this great grandma
nothing could be more fun
--
RICE PUDDING
by Michael P Thomas
Lolling in the hammock. There's barely a breeze, but we sway in its cradle. Rice pudding with raisins-we're half drunk and hungry and it's within reach. He feeds me; I eat. We thrill to be body to body, glad someone's finally putting something inside someone. That's the thing about this place: everything's got to be a secret. That'll mess everything up eventually, but we don't know that yet. It's still exciting. Every touch, every look still crackles with Us Against the World. Requited, our desire will quickly sour, but this night it's so sweet we swoon over each spoonful.
-- MUFFIN MEDITATION
by Sean Mahoney
for perfect muffins and meditation:
if i mix them too much
they'll turn out tough.
if i add too much stuff,
they'll turn to mush.
melted butter,
instead of oil.
paper cups,
instead of foil.
just stir them once and
leave them alone.
for 20 minutes.
(repeat process for meditation, omitting butter or oil. can be done while muffins bake)
--
SUGAR IS NOT LOVE
by Joan Gregerson
sugar is not love
it's just a crutch i lean on
when i am not strong
--
HEART-SHAPED CAKE PANS
by Carol Mahoney
only once each year
the special pans would appear
and produce a valentine delicacy
for the barbaric brood
and they all felt special!
but maybe without the ability - or interest
to see how it got there
for it was surely planned:
pale pink frosting
or shimmery white mountain peaks?
conversation hearts outlining the edge
or red hots polka-dotting all over the place?
decades later
one of the little brood
(now holding her own medicare card)
would wonder about that brusque baker
what kind of women buy heart-shaped pans?
