Pfeffernusse, Anyone?

 A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas...

Here's a plate of my homemade Christmas cookies

with two snowy white pfeffernusse in front.

A NEW RECIPE

 

I flip through a cookbook

and select, as I sometimes do

a recipe I’ve never tried before—

a cookie, full of aromatic spices

cinnamon, nutmeg, clove

even a pinch of pepper

 

I stir some dark, robust molasses

and the spices into flour

butter and sugar

then roll teaspoonsful

of the thick brown batter into balls

line them neatly in rows

on cookie sheets

and slip them in the oven

 

Gradually the kitchen

fills with an old, familiar fragrance

I can’t immediately identify

In a few minutes I remove a pan

from the oven, wait for the cookies to cool

then roll each one in powdered sugar

as the recipe indicates

 

One taste

transports me to childhood—

This is pfeffernusse!

that classic Christmas cookie

that spicy little gem I hated

the cookies that turned to rocks

clunkers at the bottom of the cookie jar

 

These were the cookies Mom offered

when there was no other sweet in the house

the ones that bobbed in her coffee cup

dripping as she ate them with a spoon

 

Today, all those mingled spices

the dash of black pepper

are pleasingly hot upon my tongue

the sweet sugar coating

the pungent aroma

are positive proof

 

the taste buds of my youth

have definitely

grown-up

 

Maude Carolan Pych

Here's a Christmas Gift idea...

"Behold the Lamb...poetically!"

by Maude Carolan Pych

is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, etc.

Website: www.maudecarolanpych.net

Email: maudecpych@gmail.com

 

It's Cookie Baking Time...

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

When I was a child

my mother's best friend, Viola Fullard

would appear at our door, before Christmas

with a bakery box of the most exquisite

home-made cookies.

I always hoped she wouldn't forget us...

She never did!

Photo credit: pixelsandcrumbs.com

A NEW RECIPE

I flip through a cookbook

and select, as I sometimes do

a recipe I’ve never tried before—

a cookie, full of aromatic spices

cinnamon, nutmeg, clove

even a pinch of pepper

I stir some dark, robust molasses

and the spices into flour

butter and sugar

then roll teaspoonsful

of the thick brown batter into balls

line them neatly in rows

on cookie sheets

and slip them in the oven

Gradually the kitchen

fills with an old, familiar fragrance

I can’t immediately identify

In a few minutes, I remove a pan

from the oven, wait for the cookies to cool

then roll each one in powdered sugar

as the recipe indicates

One taste

transports me to childhood—

This is pfeffernusse!

that classic Christmas cookie

that spicy little gem I hated

the cookies that turned to rocks

clunkers at the bottom of the cookie jar

These were the cookies Mom offered

when there was no other sweet in the house

the ones that bobbed in her coffee cup

dripping as she ate them with a spoon

Today, all those mingled spices

the dash of black pepper

are pleasingly hot upon my tongue

the sweet sugar coating

the pungent aroma

are positive proof

the taste buds of my youth

have definitely

grown up

Maude Carolan Pych

We’ve Been Invited Back

to read holiday poetry at

The Ant Bookstore & Café

Saturday, December 15, at 7 p.m.

Sr. Jane Abeln, SMIC

Pastor EJ Emerson

Maude Carolan Pych

Barbara Williams-Hubbard

COME JOIN US

for a festive evening

of poetry, music & homemade Christmas cookies!

Admission is free

Thinking About Christmas Cookies...

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Photo credit: humblecrumble.com

A NEW RECIPE

I flip through a cookbook

and select, as I sometimes do

a recipe I’ve never tried before—

a cookie, full of aromatic spices

cinnamon, nutmeg, clove

even a pinch of pepper

I stir some dark, robust molasses

and the spices into flour

butter and sugar

then roll teaspoonsful

of the thick brown batter into balls

line them neatly in rows

on cookie sheets

and slip them in the oven

Gradually the kitchen

fills with an old, familiar fragrance

I can’t immediately identify

In a few minutes, I remove a pan

from the oven, wait for the cookies to cool

then roll each one in powdered sugar

as the recipe indicates

One taste

transports me to childhood—

This is pfeffernusse!

that classic Christmas cookie

that spicy little gem I hated

the cookies that turned to rocks

clunkers at the bottom of the cookie jar

These were the cookies Mom offered

when there was no other sweet in the house

the ones that bobbed in her coffee cup

dripping as she ate them with a spoon

Today, all those mingled spices

the dash of black pepper

are pleasingly hot upon my tongue

the sweet sugar coating

the pungent aroma

are positive proof

the taste buds of my youth                                    

have definitely

grown up

Maude Carolan Pych

It's Time to Bake Christmas Cookies!

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Photo credit: capegazette.com

COOKIES & POEMS

So many Christmas traditions abound—

Old ones get lost and then new ones are found.

Some get omitted, but there are a few

things we love doing and simply must do.

For instance, I write a poem every year—

a real Christmas poem that draws Jesus near;

a poem that lauds Him, Star of the Season,

for He’s this holiday’s only true reason.

The poem’s perfect paper, I search far to find,

arrange words artistically as I’ve in mind,

select address labels with the same theme,

choose envelopes, stamps that go with the scheme.

The pen and the ink are chosen with care.

To use best penmanship, I have a flair!

I write out hundreds with joy and much zest

and sometimes include a few words to bless.

Bob applies the stamps and labels and seals;

a trip to the post office completes the deal.

When they’re mailed, I start thinking cookies—

Trust me, with baking, I am no rookie!

We select recipes; gather the tins,

make sure there’s flour and sugar in bins,

stock up on butter and chocolate and nuts,

molasses and spices and trims lots and lots!

I block off a few days in my datebook,

roll up my sleeves; open up the cookbook.

Chocolate chippers, and shortbread soooo buttery,

sweet sugar cookies, anise biscotti,

Mspicy pfeffernusse and wee pecan jewels,

drop cookies, rolled cookies, some cut with tools.

Bob stirs the batters; they’re thick as can be

and he’s the chief taster, take it from me!

Each cookie and poem is fashioned with love—

LOVE is what Christmastime is made up of.

God’s gift of LOVE came with the Savior’s birth

and there’s no other gift of greater worth!

These simple gifts…some cookies, a poem,

for Christmas, to you, from our humble home.

Maude Carolan Pych

***ANNOUNCEMENT***

Mark your calendar: The next poetry event will take place Saturday, December 17th, 7 p.m., at the ANT Bookstore & Cafe, 345 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ. I will be joined by two poet/friends, Pastor EJ Emerson and Sister Jane Abeln, SMIC. Holiday music will be provided by Victoria Warne, Peter DiBella, Rikki Woods and Lidya Diaz. An open mic period will follow. Come, enjoy the festivities and the Christmas cookies, too! James Gwyn and Victoria Warne host this popular event on the third Saturday evening of each month.

***A Christmas Book Recommendation***

My friend, Susan Panzica has written a wonderful Christmas story for children that is destined to become a classic. It is titled, "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and is written in a winsome rhyme style. The book is filled with delightful colorful illustrations that will generate smiles as the true story of Mary, Joseph and their baby, Jesus, is told. 

The book is on sale now for $7.88 at Amazon. Click on the following link to go directly there: Amazon

Getting Ready to Bake Cookies...

A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Photo credit: humblecrumble.com

A NEW RECIPE

I flip through a cookbook

and select, as I sometimes do

a recipe I’ve never tried before—

a cookie, full of aromatic spices

cinnamon, nutmeg, clove

even a pinch of pepper

I stir some dark, robust molasses

and the spices into flour

butter and sugar

then roll teaspoonsful

of the thick brown batter into balls

line them neatly in rows

on cookie sheets

and slip them in the oven

Gradually the kitchen

fills with an old, familiar fragrance

I can’t immediately identify

In a few minutes, I remove a pan

from the oven, wait for the cookies to cool

then roll each one in powdered sugar

as the recipe indicates

One taste

transports me to childhood—

This is pfeffernusse!

that classic Christmas cookie

that spicy little gem I hated

the cookies that turned to rocks

clunkers at the bottom of the cookie jar

These were the cookies Mom offered

when there was no other sweet in the house

the ones that bobbed in her coffee cup

dripping as she ate them with a spoon

Today, all those mingled spices

the dash of black pepper

are pleasingly hot upon my tongue

the sweet sugar coating

the pungent aroma

are positive proof

the taste buds of my youth

have definitely

grown up

Maude Carolan Pych

***ANNOUNCEMENT***

I'm excited to announce that I'll be reading some of my Christmas poetry at two events in December. If you are available, I hope you'll attend.

The first is the Holiday Reading, Thursday, December 1st, 7 p.m., at Montclair Public Library Auditorium, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, NJ. Other featured poets are Susan Lembo Balik, R. Bremner, D.M. Dutcher, Frank Niccoletti, Elizabeth Marchitti, Ken Ronkowitz and Bob Rosenbloom. An open reading will follow. This event is hosted by Laura Boss and Maria Mazziotti Gillan.

The second event will take place Saturday, December 17th, 7 p.m., at the ANT Bookstore & Cafe, 345 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ. I will be joined by two poet/friends, Pastor EJ Emerson and Sister Jane Abeln, SMIC. Holiday music will be provided by Victoria Warne, Peter DiBella, Rikki Woods and Lidya Diaz. An open mic period will follow. Come, enjoy the festive atmosphere and Christmas cookies, too! James Gwyn and Victoria Warne host this monthly evening of poetry and music.

Day #16 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas

Photo Credit: flickriver.com

PFEFFERNEUSE MEMORIES

Spice rocks

covered in snowy sugar

rolled around the bottom

of the ceramic cookie crock

till Mommy finished them;

dunkers in her coffee cup

except for the time

I told Mommy

I’d invited classmates

for a party

and she told me

it wasn’t my birthday

there’d be no party

and the classmates

arrived anyway

Her only offering:

those spicy clunkers

in the bottom

of the crock

As a young mother

experimenting

with new recipes

at Christmastime,

I stirred thick batter

darkened by molasses

cinnamon, nutmeg

clove and pepper dash

Couldn’t quite pinpoint

the old familiar fragrance

wafting in the air

Pinched a bit of dough

rolled it between my palms

placed it on the shiny

aluminum sheet, then

again, again and again

in three neat rows

of smooth brown domes

one inch apart.

I baked them

removed them to racks

dusted them

with confectioner’s sugar

and while still warm

picked one up to sample…

and laughed heartily.

Now I was the mom

at work in my kitchen

baking for my children

the very same cookie

I consistently spurned—

Will these rich, fragrant

pfefferneuse

(made by my hands)

clink in the crock

like the stale clunkers

of my youth

and wait only to be dunked

in my coffee cup

when the crocuses

push their heads up

through the snow?

Maude Carolan Pych

*I think I’ll add a few pfefferneuse to the cookie platter at the holiday event coming to the Ant Bookstore & Café in Clifton, NJ, this Saturday at 7 p.m. I will be the featured poet with a variety of Christmas poems to share. There will also be holiday music and treats and a festive atmosphere. Come, join the fun! It’s free!

The Ant is located at 345 Clifton Avenue.

Gifts of Love--Cookies & Poems

Day #10 of A-Poem-a-Day until Christmas

This is how Bob & I show our love at Christmas...

A plate of our homemade Christmas cookies

COOKIES & POEMS

So many Christmas traditions abound—h

Old ones get lost and then new ones are found.

Some get omitted, but there are a few

things we love doing and simply must do.

For instance, I write a poem every year—

a real Christmas poem that draws Jesus near;

a poem that lauds Him, Star of the Season,

for He’s this holiday’s only true reason.

The poem’s perfect paper, I search far to find,

arrange words artistically as I’ve in mind,

select address labels with the same theme,

choose envelopes, stamps that go with the scheme.

The pen and the ink are chosen with care.

To use best penmanship, I have a flair!

I write out hundreds with joy and much zest

and sometimes include a few words to bless.

Bob applies the stamps and labels and seals;

his trip to the post office completes the deal.

When they’re mailed, I start thinking cookies—

Trust me, with baking, I am no rookie!

We select recipes; gather the tins,

make sure there’s flour and sugar in bins,

stock up on butter and chocolate and nuts,

molasses and spices and trims lots and lots!

I block off a few days in my datebook,

roll up my sleeves; open up the cookbook.

Chocolate chippers, and shortbread soooo buttery,

sweet sugar cookies, anise biscotti,

spicy pfeffernuesse and wee pecan jewels,

drop cookies, rolled cookies, some cut with tools.

Bob stirs the batters; they’re thick as can be

and he’s the chief taster, take it from me!

Each cookie and poem is fashioned with love—

LOVE is what Christmastime is made up of.

God’s gift of LOVE came with the Savior’s birth

and there’s no other gift of greater worth!

These simple gifts…some cookies, a poem,

for Christmas, to you, from our humble home.

Maude Carolan Pych

INVITATION:

I will be the featured poet again this Christmas at a

Holiday Poetry & Music Event

at the Ant Bookstore & Cafe

345 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ

Saturday, December 19, 7 p.m.

Poetry--Music--Cookies--Free!

Come! Join the celebration!!!