friday feast: the educated cookie

~ jama

Happy (burp) Holidays!

Do you think it’s possible to have too many cookies?

You see, for the past 3 weeks, I’ve been swimming in them.

 

Don’t misunderstand. I’ve been happier than clam cookies — dropping, rolling, sugaring, pressing, slicing, and yes, even inhaling them. By all accounts, I haven’t suffered any side effects, except for one teeny tiny thing.

Remember last week, when Sara Lewis Holmes came by with her Oatmeal Coconut Crisps? I admit I felt a little twinge then. She’s a doozy of a poet, apparently. Still, my behavior remained relatively normal.

Until — the lovely Kelly Fineman brought her Lumberjacks.

You know, there really is no way anyone can remain unaffected by Kelly’s presence. How many of you feel instantly smarter, more cultured, more refined, egads —  more apt to don a bonnet, after reading one of Kelly’s fabulous blog posts? Are you often reminded of how beautiful, versatile and exacting the English language really is, and do you feel inspired to read more, learn more, write more?

I thought so.

Now, having said all that, why didn’t anybody warn me? I made the mistake of eating some of Kelly’s Lumberjacks straight up. That’s right — no milk, no tea, no cider. Within minutes, I was waxing poetic. I began to breathe in dactyls.  Everything, even my eyebrows, wanted to rhyme.

So, with advance and profuse apologies, I present my first (and last) acrostic poem. In the spirit of the season, I beg your good will, and if you dare to try Kelly’s Lumberjacks, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?
(for Kelly Fineman, the original Smart Cookie)

K elly took Jane to the cookie soiree,

E legant iambs gleamed on her tray.

L o, and behold —

L umberjack Lou fancied Jane,

Y earned for a kiss, that gingery swain.

F ie on thee, Woodman! Kelly cried in disgust.

I nch your way back to your forest of dust!

N o man is worthy of Jane’s witty crumb;

E at pride with your doggerel and lace it with rum.

M arry me, plaid-clad Jack, I’m high-born and well read,

A usten and Wordsworth are my daily bread.

N o matter the time, I’m bound to digress —

R adio waves in my brain rob me of rest.

O n top of these

C ookies

K elly’s sweetness is plain.

S ing thee her praises for she writes of Jane!

For those who crave poesy, intellectual stimulation, and weather reports of yore, these molasses cookies will sate your literary hunger. 

KELLY’S LUMBERJACKS
(makes 7 dozen)

 

1 cup sugar
1 cup shortening (I use butter; can use margarine or Crisco)
1 cup molasses
2 eggs
4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger

Cream sugar and shortening. Add molasses and eggs, then the dry ingredients. Chill at least 2 hours. Have a small dish of sugar at hand (regular sugar, not colored or powdered or anything fancy). Dip fingers in sugar, pinch off a ball of cookie dough and roll. Place on ungreased tray and bake at 350 degrees F. “Underdone” at 12-15 minutes.

Note: Best enjoyed with a cup of tea. Wearing an empire-waisted gown, a bonnet, (and a spencer if it’s chilly), will enhance flavor. Feel free to ingest with abandon, as minimal undergarments are required with your costume.


Today’s Poetry Friday Roundup is at AmoXicalli.

We’d love to see you at the Cookie Party! Post your favorite recipe on your blog, then leave the link in the comments, or email your recipe to:  readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot com).

27 thoughts on “friday feast: the educated cookie”

  1. TadMack says:
    The combination of the Jane picture, the cookie recipe and the acrostic gave me a huge giggle. She IS an educated cookie, isn’t she? Thanks for sharing the fun — and the recipe! I posted yesterday about my parnip cookies and probably scared a few people, but these actually sound edible!!

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  4. She is indeed, one smart cookie…and you said it better than I ever could! I was grinning the whole way through your acrostic. Your LAST acrostic? I think NOT.

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  6. What a perfectly fitting tribute to Kelly, who, yes, makes me feel smarter when I read her blog. And what an impressive poem you wrote there.
    Happy holidays, Jama!
    Jules, 7-Imp

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  17. So poetic, so festive, so funny. I haven’t even gotten out the butter and sugar and I’m happy. Thank you, and thank Kelly. I did make the Bob-Dylan-tribute thumbprint cookies, which were fabulous, but now want to try Kelly’s recipe, with cream cheese (and her good advice not to add too much jam — I learned that, though can there ever be too much cherry jam? Still, maybe neater to keep it to the middle.
    Jama, thanks for making our month a happier one!!!

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  18. Glad you liked the Dylan thumbprints! Let me know how Kelly’s cream cheese ones turn out. (I’m afraid to try them; I may be compelled to write an epic)!
    And thanks so much for coming to the party all month long!! Have a beautiful holiday!

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  19. An acrostic that rhymes! WOW! And another great cookie recipe! If only I wasn’t avalanched by cookie gifts from fellow teachers and students, I’d make some Lumberjacks right now!
    Mary Lee
    A Year of Reading

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  21. Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit!
    Holy crap! I didn’t see this until today. Man, the one Poetry Friday that I don’t make the round of all entries turns out to be the one with my cookies and a really sweet (and hysterically funny) acrostic in my honor.
    Huge, belated smooches, Jama. And many thanks.

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  24. Wow!
    I only stumbled on this today because I mostly skim the recipe entries. (blush)
    What fun! You are an amazing writer, Jama. I’m so glad you were awarded a Shameless Lion. Your blog is a treat–in more ways than one!

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