You sit on the shelf until I’m ready to pour in white or brown sugar, wheat flour now, trying to be healthier, eggs, baking soda or powder, depending… and dark chocolate morsels, milk chocolate, if I dare, oatmeal and walnuts or pecans, or molasses in autumn, sugar cookies dressed in holiday décor – my mouth waters.
You’re not the same mixer Mom used when she created magic with the same ingredients for our palates, and yet each time you’re hard at work, memories flow of Mom and me in the kitchen with dark wood cabinets, blending, rolling out, and baking, moments more meaningful now.
You need to know that her love shined through recipes in every taste – savory or sweet, irrelevant, our own personal chef whose dishes filled us up to heart’s content.
I know memories flow for my children of them and me in our kitchen with mahogany cabinets, blending, rolling out, and baking, creating their meaningful moments.
Funny thing is for years I wanted one of those fancy stand mixers, but counter space kept me from the purchase, and you know what? I don’t need one because I have you! You have created all the magic I need in deliciousness and memory.
Lauren Scott is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in Northern California with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry, a memoir in verse and prose, and her first children’s book. She has been a guest on several podcasts, and her writing is featured at Spillwords Press, Gobblers and Masticadores, and LatinosUsa. At Spillwords Press, she was awarded Publication of the Year (Poetic 2026), Author of the Month (May 2023), and Publication of the Month (June 2025, October 2024). Lauren’s work is included in several anthologies. She is currently working on her second children’s book and another collection of poetry. Her muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, and marveling at the mysteries of life.
I finished my final round of book reviews, finally feeling caught up! So, I’m excited to share them with you! Hopefully, one, two, or all three of these wonderful books will find themselves on your TBR that’s close to toppling over. 😊
Have you ever struggled with faith? In the midst of feeling blue, does the beauty still shine through? Do you long to get in the kitchen to create something fancy, especially during this holiday season?Look no further, and if you would like to visit the authors’ blogs, simply click on their names.
Finding My Father’s Faith by Wynne Leon is proof that civil conversation about beliefs can bring peace and understanding to the forefront which then reduces gaps in relationships. Leon expresses that she finds “peace, healing, and joy” by carving out moments for meditating, but her story is about finding common ground and respect with her father, Pastor Dick Leon. Her father exuded patience, understanding, and kindness, and wasn’t judgmental when he would listen to her views. These are qualities that any child, regardless of age, want parents to possess. Children want to be heard, and they need to know that their parents support them, even though they may not understand or agree.
Authenticity is found in every nugget of Leon’s memories about struggling with faith, such as in this statement, “I didn’t find the truth or comfort in the church that my dad did. I didn’t rebel hard against it, just found myself falling away from it in college.” Leon opens up about her divorce, realizing that although her marriage didn’t mirror her parents’ lasting partnership, when she embarks on one of her climbing adventures, “defeat can mean I had survived to climb again.”
My husband and I have backpacked, so I really enjoyed learning about Leon’s incredible mountain climbing experiences. The details she conveys with such clarity are jaw-dropping, but they’re also profound because the climb isn’t the end-all. It’s how Leon feels when she reaches the top of a mountain. “It feels like a Divine test…it’s a physical realization of the spiritual – everything is momentous, the view, the accomplishment, the exhilaration, and yet I can’t stay there because I’m tiny. I see the manifestation of my place in the universe, I’m small, my concerns are small, and this life is huge, far more than I can see or understand.”
Leon offers insight through her introspection, and the pages aren’t only a beautiful tribute to her father and a lens into their loving relationship, but they are an honest and compelling account of her journey to discovering faith. Highly recommended for you who have grappled with your faith, or who find comfort in immersing yourself into touching stories about family. If you read this soul-stirring book, you won’t feel alone as you do your own soul-searching.
The Blues and the Beautiful by Nicole Sara is her second poetry collection. I loved her first book so much that I knew I was in for another treat with this publication. In this compilation with a cover so calming, Sara shares her heart through beautiful thoughts that were penned in the last three years. She writes about many layers in life and nature such as “The Beauty in Broken” and an “Interview with a Rose.” Stunning, color photographs enhance the reader’s experience. As I read each verse, absorbing its beauty and message, it felt like taking a slow ride on a cloud, almost reaching the sky or touching my very own glimmering star. I felt like I was entering into a storybook of charm and whimsy.
Sara writes with such elegance, and her soft rhymes merrily dance on the pages. The poems in this lovely collection explore the beauty of life and nature not only when elation is at play, but also during the times of sorrow. Sunrises and sunsets have always been a huge part of my photo collection, so “Golden Song Sweeping Clean” touched my heart and soul:
Golden has to be the horizon… Golden as the sun rising clean, Golden With a silvery trimming, Bathing soft smiles through dream…
In “Reflections” Sara begins with a quote from Henry David Thoreau. He expresses that “A lake is a landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature” and since my husband and I have our favorite lake in the Sierra Mountains that we vacation at each year, this poem resonates…
mirrors and seasons, evenings and mornings spinning whispers together of summer through winter serene, and spring rippling over the weather…
Take time out for you and give yourself a beautiful gift of this poetry that will invite you into a world of charm and whimsy, steeling you away from any chaos desiring your attention. Cozy up with your copy while watching the sun rise or witnessing another glorious sunset. Highly recommended!
Something Fancy by Robbie Cheadleis a delightful book to enhance your holiday festivities. The cover alone made me smile, wanting to discover the delicacies within the pages. This book is everything artistic from delicious recipes to masterpiece creations, from Christmas Cakes to Gingerbread Houses. Cheadle’s photos, recipes, and memories evoked wonderful memories of my childhood, playing with paper dolls and paper mâché. I enjoyed her recollections with Granny Joan and other family members who introduced her to the magical world of art. They nourished her love for reading, then writing, and her mum taught her about baking. Now, the backstory is known! Cheadle has always been an experimenter, and the outcomes of her fondant and elaborate cakes prove that she reaches success. But she didn’t stop at baking; she dived into drawing and painting, and her work is exquisite.
Learning about the history of Christmas Cakes and the variety around the world is fascinating. It is fun to see Stollen included because German heritage runs in my family. My mom used to spend hours in the kitchen, baking her Christmas sugar cookies that I bake each holiday, along with creating Stollen for our holiday festivities. I felt nostalgic, remembering those kitchen moments and gatherings by the Christmas Tree – my parents who aren’t with us anymore, the chatter and laughter, the togetherness. Cheadle also includes her wonderful poetry among the mouthwatering recipes. After most of us indulge in food and drink during the holidays, this micro poem resonated:
As for cakes, the Jack Frost Cake is incredible! Cheadle shares interesting facts about the famous German Fairy Tale, Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm. She even inserts Covid into her art and poems. I’ve always been a baker just like my mom, but my patience level doesn’t stretch as high as Cheadle’s for the intricate recipes she follows. The color photos are amazing, and I found the conversion chart in the back to be very helpful. As a special feature of my review, I made the Lemon Shortbread in which I’m sharing before and after photos of this delicious recipe. I highly recommend this delightful collection of poetry and sweets, and if you ‘fancy’ mixing up ingredients to create your own masterpiece, skip the class, and read this book!
Robbie’s Lemon Shortbread
ready for the ovenout of the ovensprinkled with powdered sugarDon’t be shy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I hope you enjoyed my reviews and won’t leave here empty-handed. And did you happen to try the lemonshortbread? If so, let me know what you think! 😉 Thank you for visiting, and my last post before the holiday break will be on Tuesday. Until then, I wish you love, peace, and an abundance of happiness during this holiday season. ❤️🎄
The ultimate gift for dog lovers and pet parents in general. Click on the image to order your copy. Thank you!
Yes, November has arrived, but I have a belated Halloween share, and last week was a whirlwind! 👻🎉😁
These are chocolate chip cookies I baked for the spooky occasion. So, let your spirits return to All Hallow’s Eve… if your nerves get jittery when the sun sinks behind hills and the wind begins to whistle and owls screech from high in looming trees and shadows follow you down the street...
cookies make the ghouls vanish when the sky turns black chocolate magic
But be on your guard since…
eyes watch intently when you indulge in first bite taste with true caution
crossed or not, they spy as you move around the house bewareof cuteness
On the other hand…
chocolate chips whisk worries away in the wind take one, two, or three!
Christmas time is not only a season of Love, Giving, and Hope, it is a season of remembering…our minds return to the days when loved ones who have passed celebrated with us. And when I came across this old photo of our children from 1997, I couldn’t help the feeling of warm and fuzzy in my heart.
A season of noble fir fragrance, festive decorationsthat bring joy…
and cozy evenings with a flickering fire or dancing candlelight.
A season of traditional baking while adding a new sinfully, delicious recipe…
Toffee Bars:
1 c. salted butter, 1/2 c. sugar, 2 c. flour, 1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts (optional), 1/2 c. toffee chips
Directions: soften butter and mix with sugar and flour. Add toffee chips and nuts. Pat into a 9×13 ungreased pan. Be sure edges are straight. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. While hot, use a pastry brush to spread the glaze on: 1 c. powdered sugar, 3 T. milk, 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Let cool and cut into squares. Enjoy!
And the king of the house (Copper) will not be forgotten, sporting his new holiday hoodie to keep warm in his older years, while he wonders what Santa will bring him this year…
many merry shapes frosted and sprinkled with love from my heart to yours
❤️ ❤️ ❤️
This is my last post for the year, and I’ll be on Christmas break as of tomorrow. So I wish you all a holiday season filled with lots of love and sweetness! Thank you for your wonderful visits to read my thoughts in verse and prose. See you in the New Year! 🎄🎉🎉🎉🎄
I posted this in 2018, so this is a revised version…
As summer bids farewell for another year, Autumn prepares for her entrance, and doesn’t she look lovely! With season changes, I’m often compelled to reorganize and do some fall cleaning. To begin with, I rearrange the furniture in our living room, something that has become an annual activity and a way of inviting new perspectives wherever we choose to sit. Who would think moving furniture around would be so gratifying?
Now we have the chance to watch the sunrise through the big window while sipping our tea or coffee. Or we have a better view of a roaring fire when winter drops in for an extended stay and hot chocolate is on its way, but perhaps, that glass of wine calls when the clock strikes five. Regardless of the beverage at hand, the sofa configuration is more fitting to sit closer to someone we love for a treasured, intimate conversation.
Whatever the benefit, this season change offers a newness, a revitalizing start as we near the ending of 2022. The coziness, the warm hues and spicy aromas. The kitchen curls its finger when outside temperatures drop and the evenings become darker earlier. I’m lured into the room where I mix up pumpkin bread, one of my holiday baking traditions that everyone loves. But last year, I found a pumpkin cookie recipe (image of cookies above) that is to die for! I’m including recipes for both in case your mouth is watering for their sweet and spicy deliciousness.
Pumpkin Bread (my mom’s recipe)
Preheat oven to 325° F and grease and flour a loaf pan. Mix together 1 1/2 sticks of butter (salted), 1 15 oz. can pumpkin, 2 cups white sugar. Add 2 eggs then dry ingredients: 2 c. flour, 1 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. baking powder, 1 t. cloves, 1 t. cinnamon, 1 t. nutmeg. Other options are to add 1/2 cup of raisins and/or nuts. Walnuts are good in this recipe. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for 65-75 minutes depending on your oven. Test with a toothpick. Cool on rack in pan for 10 minutes, then flip bread onto rack and cool completely. Enjoy! Pumpkin Cookies (I found online)
1 cup salted butter softened, 2 cups white sugar, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2 cups solid pack pumpkin, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 3/4 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
For the Glaze: 3 cups powdered sugar, 4-8 tablespoons milk
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars until well creamed. Beat in eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to the wet and stir until combined. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets. Bake for 13-14 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. Do not over bake. Let cool completely. To make the glaze, stir together the powdered sugar and enough milk to make a runny, but still spreadable consistency. Spread each cooled cookie with glaze. Enjoy!
So you see, this simple switch is like clicking on the refresh button on life. Even a small change can add a pinch of extra spice to this time of year. An older photo of Copper, our regal lab. 🧡
May this season of Autumn bring a refreshing newness to your life, as well. ❤️
It’s been so long since rain touched down in our region that we’ve forgotten what it sounds like when it falls in droves or when those raindrops touch the roof. But yesterday, we were reminded once again, and the sound was lovely. No wind, no storm, no messiness. Raindrops fell lightly and consistently, all day long, just the soft pitter patter soothing the flora. The blades of grass and blooms with their friendly faces that wish to brighten our days sighed with relief. They were immersed in droplets of hope, and so were we. This precipitation was a welcomed surprise just before Easter.
Today is Good Friday in the Christian religion: a day of commemorating Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Thus, a day of grief, penance, and for some, a day of fasting. Then Easter follows on Sunday, a holiday for celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. On this day, I wish you an abundance of peace and comfort.
For Easter, I decided to do some baking, so I pulled the recipe card out of my recipe box for my mom’s sugar cut out cookies. I have wonderful memories of baking with her when I was a young girl. I continued that tradition with my daughter and son, but now that they live on their own, I bake solo. In the past, I’ve used Cross cookie cutters for Easter, but this time I bought some that are fun for both spring and Easter.
My faithful red hand mixer has treated me well, so no need for a giant mixer in my kitchen. Butter, white sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and baking powder waited for their cue. Once the cookies were baked, I mixed up creamy buttercream frosting: more butter, powdered sugar, a little milk, and vanilla, and voila! So good! When the cookies were cool, I frosted them then I added colored sprinkles for decoration. Some bakers paint their cookies, but I like to sprinkle. And here’s what my kitchen looked like:
Bunnies, flowers, butterflies, and chicks! What more do we need, except, Love, Love, Love?! Oh, and do you see those white carrots with the green tops or fronds, as they are called? Well, I forgot orange sprinkles, so they turned into white carrots. Yes, white carrots do exist and they’re called, Arracacha, an Andean root vegetable. My son said that the carrot cookies look like feet. I didn’t see that then, but I can see it now. 🙂
I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead. And if you celebrate Easter, I wish you warmth for a wonderful day, and joy and rejuvenation this new season of spring brings.
I opened the oven door with my young children peeking around me and we all laughed! Instead of the meringue cascading in still perfection, cracks engulfed every inch as though an earthquake rumbled over the top. Through giggles, we yelled, “The Earthquake cake!” A Blitz Torte. It was my dad’s favorite, stemming from past generations of his German heritage.
The memories! There was Mom, standing in the kitchen of dark wood cabinets, hand mixer purring as she blended the magical ingredients for dad’s birthday each year. Mixing up this feather-light textured cake was no simple culinary experience; separating egg yolks from their counterparts, the egg whites, was a step mastered with practice over time. The meringue topping had to be whipped to precision like an image of still cascading waves in the ocean. Having only attempted this recipe once with the result resembling the earth riddled in quakes, Mom and Dad cracked up when they saw the cracked-up cake! Hilarious to the eyes, but the slight almond crunch of the meringue and creamy texture of the custard filling decadently pleased our palates.
And then one day I tasted carrot cake – the mixture of spicy cinnamon, tangy crushed pineapple, shredded carrots, and crunchy walnuts immediately deemed this cake my utmost favorite. Add the smooth, delectable cream cheese frosting (that I could eat by the spoonful) and you have life’s essentials on a plate! And it’s advantageous that carrot cake counts as a vegetable in my kitchen.
It was the day of my bridal shower. I walked into my maid of honor’s home, instantly inhaling the spicy scent. Carrot cake! She knew me too well, and her mother created the best recipe. Our moms and all the girls were in dessert heaven with each bite of that delicious piece of art. And so, the top of my 5-layer wedding cake was carrot – it had to be that way for my special day. Fortunately, my husband was a fan, too!
My two teenagers on a spring March day pulled on their carrot-shredding gloves and presented to me their creation while belting out, “Happy birthday to you...” With its two uneven layers, it wasn’t pretty, but it brought on the biggest smile. Their efforts earned them an A+, and when I treated myself to that first bite, I tasted spicy, creamy excellence. With their love and thoughtfulness stirred into the process, satisfaction was redefined!
I often delve into the carrot shredding and cream cheese whisking myself, watching my family revel in each forkful of the sinfully delicious dessert. This recipe has become a treasure in my collection evoking these precious memories. Whether it’s a Blitz Torte bringing to life images of my parents who have since left our physical world or a Carrot Cake from wedding and birthday celebrations, the stroll down memory lane becomes more poignant with each new bite.
Lauren Scott (c) 2021
Header: My birthday carrot cake this year that a wonderful friend made for me. 🧡🧡
Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner? It seems unreal because of the virus – how our everyday living has changed. Even though it’s hard to fathom that the year is coming to a close, my trusty calendar says it is, so I thought it would be a good time to post this Christmas tale from last year.
In excitement we wriggle from head to toe anticipating our daughter and fiancé’s visit from Nashville. The newly-engaged couple flies out early December to beat the holiday airport chaos. Thanksgiving dishes barely sparkle when we push and pull our Noble Fir through the front door. I want the house to be dressed in holiday attire for when they arrive. But the day after Thanksgiving is early to buy a tree, so the pickings are slim and the cost is a heart-stopper. Yet, there in the living room by the window stands the evergreen, reflecting in the paned glass.
My husband takes charge of putting up the outside decorations – hanging the Christmas flag, stringing the lights on the house, and sprinkling big ornaments on our shrubbery. My son and I begin indoor decorating by winding the lights among the branches on the tree. As we hand the wiry bunch to each other, around and around, they blink awake like eyes opening brightly. But then suddenly, they go out like sleepy eyes closing. When we tested them earlier, they lit up just fine, so their slumbering is surely a mystery. Feeling frustrated, we fuss with the tiny bulbs, and eventually, they blink “Merry Christmas” again. (Problem solved or so we think.) Then come the ornaments – many made by our children’s’ little hands: photos of them skirted in gold stars or in the arms of pink angels. The clothespin reindeer look excited to join Santa on Christmas Eve, and the homemade sequin ornaments from my husband’s grandma transports him back to the sixties. His grandma was stern but kindhearted, and when she cooked each Sunday for the following week, there was enough food to feed everyone in the county. Then my fingers feel around in the box for another ornament, latching onto the white puffy heart engraved with Dad’s birth and death date. It’s like hanging memories one by one, triggering teardrops or raising smiles. When the tree stands fully adorned, it truly looks Noble.
Copper’s on full alert for a Christmas treat!
Outside for onlookers, the house lights blink a winter white with a splash of red, gold, green, and silver hanging among the greenery, but more Christmas spirit arrives with our Nashville kids. They gave us a beautiful wreath which hangs on the front door and completes the decorating. In the evenings, we gather around the table, catching up on life and sharing delicious food. They share their wedding plans and we hear their excitement to search for a special place to exchange vows. And we bake! Having my daughter home to help mix up some sweetness conjures up delightful baking memories.
I want to freeze time – for it alone is an illusion: drifting by like the slow drip of honey, yet, flying by like a hummingbird seeking nectar. With a blink of an eye, our visit with them has ended and it’s time for goodbye-hugs which are never easy; bittersweet tears fall like liberated water over a broken dam. Too soon my cell phone pings, telling me they’re boarding their plane. Once their feet safely touch Tennessee ground, I push the restart button in my routine. Phone calls, Facetime, and text messages don’t replace their presence but will suffice until their next trip.
Our focus is back to the Noble Fir and we notice it doesn’t appear to be thirsty. This evergreen that cost an arm and a leg is beginning to dry up faster than a drop of water on a sun-kissed sidewalk. Then to our surprise, the bottom lights go out! A couple of days later with one tilt of our heads, we spot the lights on top of the tree are out! Frustration seeps into our veins for a second, then trickles of laughter follow, and because we’re too busy to shop for new lights, our tree remains topless and bottomless where festive colors once shimmered! We join Charlie Brown and call it our Peanut’s tree – a little forlorn to our eyes but beautiful just the same. The angel our daughter made years ago, though only a toilet paper roll with lacey craftsmanship, sits in a place of honor on top of the tree. Replacing this dear angel is out of the question, so we look to her for hope that the tree lasts until the big day!
Moving on from our tree-light calamity, it’s time to bake again. I find my mother-in-law’s gingerbread recipe, preheat the oven, then press the button on my faithful hand mixer. When all ingredients are blended, I dip a spoon into the sweet-spicy batter. I have to make sure it’s fine for others to eat. Of course, I do. I was about to put the pan in the oven, opening the door, when I realize 350-degree heat did not whoosh out at me in the face. I call my husband over and we do some button-pressing, hoping our magic touches will perk up the oven. No luck, but no need to panic fully because the burners work, so not a total loss. The gingerbread stays overnight in the fridge, but I’m unsure as to how refrigeration will affect the batter. I call on a friend for help and use her oven the next day. When the timer beeps, the bread looks done, except for the molten-looking center – mushy, but honestly, gooey and delectable.
Two weeks pass since the oven’s demise, and no repairman is available until December 30th. It sounds like the death of many appliances! At least the oven functioned when my daughter and I needed it to for our upcoming cookie exchange. Four dozen buttercream-frosted sugar cookies were displayed on glass platters: stars, Christmas trees, gingerbread men, and angels all bejeweled in red and green sprinkles. Now, as Christmas draws closer by the minute, I feel off-kilter because I’m unable to bake.
While the oven sits waiting to be repaired, the alternator in one of our cars dies! First the lights, then the oven, now the car! But wait, there’s more…our big TV is next on this chain of events! What a kerfuffle this holiday season has been with things going kaput! I won’t ask, because if I do, we’ll wonder what’s next! I didn’t ask!
Because of the unexpected and unfortunate events, our shopping sprees have barely begun. But we’ll still find merchandise sitting on the shelves, contrary to popular belief that Black Friday is the only day to shop for Christmas. And each time I walk past our unique Christmas tree, I am reminded of the quote, paraphrasing, of course, “It’s not about the beginning or destination; it’s about the journey.” Well, the tree’s middle glows with Christmas enthusiasm and so does our journey through this holiday season in spite of the blips.
These hiccups caused us to pause, but they’re not the end of the world. Baking later could develop into a new tradition. Our tree will remain noble until Christmas Day, or at least we hope it will. Those temperamental lights will be tossed when the tree comes down. The car is on its wheels again. So, regardless of these glitches, the blessings stand tall: precious family time, safe travels for our Nashville kids, and gifts beneath the tree acting as an evergreen anchor. Saving the best for last – our family’s good health. What more can we ask for besides new lights for our tree next year!
I hope this account of my family’s last Christmas brought smiles and maybe even a few giggles. And I have a strong hunch, this holiday season will look a little different. But if good health abounds, that’s what matters most. And Cheers to hoping 2021 is much brighterfor all!
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author & Poet 