Continuing my romantic and nostalgic tribute to Mother’s Cookies today with a sweet filled trip down memory lane to recreate my favorite types of Mother’s Cookies in my own kitchen. My floor is specked with rainbow sprinkles, my counters are a bit sticky with white icing, and my shoulders are a bit tight. As I mentioned in Part 1 of my Mother’s Cookies love story, I have a hard time letting things go. I was determined to try my hand at these iconic favorites. So, when my daughter went down for her nap today I got to work and brought them to life, in my own way.
Recipes & Tips
Continuing my love for winter citrus today with a lovely blood orange curd that I have made a couple times in the past two weeks. I love to enjoy lemon curd, but often struggle with how to eat it without stuffing myself with scones until the jar is empty. In my attempts to “slim down” my intake of this blood orange version, I have been drizzling a bit over sliced banana with a sprinkling of granola. Let me tell you, it’s my new obsession.
Cold, wet days often call for warm, comforting, rich food. However, when your mood needs a boost let your taste buds be invigorated by a burst of sweet, tangy citrus. As I mentioned in last week’s post about preserving lemons, I have always found the contrast between the darkness of winter and the bright citrus flavors that peak at this time of year a confusing paradox. So while I work to get over it and invite these flavors into my winter cooking and eating regime, I look to the below for inspiration.
It’s cold, grey, and barren outside. Yet as I walk the streets, I see bright pops of orange and yellow in yards all over the neighborhood. It has always been an interesting contradiction to me. The bright, color-filled, fresh flavors that we associate with warm summer days, actually peak in the depth and dark of winter. Magazines, blogs, and cookbooks abound with ideas on how to bring the sweet tartness of citrus to your winter dining room table. My family and I have been blessed with a Meyer Lemon tree in our yard. While I look forward to this time of year when I can pop outside anytime I need a lemon, I also know their arrival means I have work to do. While it is one thing to walk the aisle at the store and pick up a few tangerines, lemons, or blood oranges, what does one do when hundreds arrive and are at your disposal?
As I mentioned in my Part 1 Post about Idora Park, during my research I came across reference to the fact that Idora Park was well known for their “Crispy Sour Milk Waffles”. As you may be able to tell by now, I am a breakfast fan, and I am never one to turn down its sweet offerings like french toast, pancakes and waffles. So my curiosity was peaked.
Watch out everyone…your little super heros, witches, and ghosts are about to come home with loads of the sweet stuff this weekend. Come Monday morning, parents of other little super heroes, witches, and ghosts are going to be leaving bags of leftover candy on counters and tables at work. As you now know, I love candy, but my 39-year-old hips don’t need it.