cooking – shannon p. laws

Poem: Measured

Measured by Shannon Laws The one cup of measure mountained with flour mother pulls a butter knife from the silverware drawer taps it on the edge of the kitchen counter two times Pushing the jagged peak away onto the counter covered in wax paper she scrapes the knife’s flat back across the cupContinueContinue reading “Poem: Measured”

Poem: Metaphor Motel

Metaphor Motel by Shannon Laws To break your dry spell Select a stranger well-formed absent of rust Consider the servings and portions of the meal Ready the pan, prime the pump Rest. Repeat. Visit the mill together Break down the wheat ‘til flour dusts the air Mix with matted hair, various dibbles, andContinueContinue reading “Poem: Metaphor Motel”

Cast Iron

While sitting around the Thanksgiving table at my brother’s house this year, I thought about this blog post from 2010. Seeing these two pans on the counter, well seasoned and ready for action, was like greeting an old family member.”Cast Iron” is one of my favorite stories, hope you enjoy it. Hope you hadContinueContinue reading “Cast Iron”

It’s Time for Ham

OK, true story:One holiday four generations of family are all gathered together in the youngest daughter’s new home for a rare time together. This is her first time hosting a family dinner. Her mom is helping her with the ham. The daughter plops the large ham into its pan and asks the mom, “OK whatContinueContinue reading “It’s Time for Ham”

Holiday Ham

Happy Thanksgiving all! Thanksgiving is all about the traditional turkey dinner, but this year we are serving up ham. This is the third posting of the “Mom’s Holiday Ham” story. Hard to believe my “Madrona Grove” blog has been up so long! For that I am thankful.Whether your ham is smoked, honey glazed, bone-in, and/or spiral cut- ContinueContinue reading “Holiday Ham”