The Mint Patch Monologue

Tag: recipes

  • Late Blueberries, cupcakes, and Frankenstein

    I’m settling into the pace of October, finally. Picture me- arms outstretched, flat on my back under the peach tree, leaves slowly trickling down through the 3pm sunlight, nothing to do but eat blueberries and savor the season. That’s an altered truth, I have lots to do. The grass is cold, a nice contrast to the hot, illuminating sun. The fireball in the sky is such a mystery, how fortunate we are on planet Earth for its warmth, its light, and its perfect distance. An afternoon spent thinking about the universe is enough to occupy a busy mind. I imagine floating in space and feeling weightless, held gently in peaceful wisdom among ancient stardust; sounds delightful when the common noise of life gets too loud. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love reminds us that silent stillness is the true religion. How could anyone hear that guiding voice over the chaos and chatter of daily life? Are you familiar with this voice? The one that whispers, “You’re alright, keep trying.” The one that steadies you. Sometimes I hear it when I’m weaving through the trees on a woods trail, sometimes it rings me like bell when I’m least expecting it, reminding me to listen more often. I finished off the whole pint of blueberries, staring high into the sky while daydreaming of Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons. Our own moon, Luna, seems like it might be a nice place to visit. She is always watching us, her patterns are curious, and when I see her silver face among the blue sky in the afternoon I think… well hello there. She says to me “don’t forget, we are all stardust, and you are on a planet speeding though outer space- no need to sweat the small things.” She certainly brings to mind the big picture, the miracle that we are alive, and suggests simple pleasures like eating all of the blueberries and sometimes chocolate cupcakes too!

    A birthday calls for a homemade treat, and this month our nephew celebrated his 23rd lap around the sun. There is no such thing as making the right amount of cupcakes, and Chris followed that rule this week, too many is just enough. The other rules: butter instead of oil, milk instead of water, and always add an extra egg. He is a wizard at satisfying a sweet tooth, never skimps, always adds a thoughtful touch and takes his time to make things special. After the first frost of the season I’ll make my first request for his homemade hot chocolate; if there were a contest for best hot chocolate I would enter him in, with all my money down.  According to Chris there is only one way to eat a cupcake, you must first rip the cake in two and move the bottom half to the top, creating a cupcake sandwich. Smooth. I, on the other hand, prefer to make the big-bite-face, to risk icing up the nose… to make that mess. The universe says “don’t take life too seriously.”
     

    Onto my book of the month, a clever choice (or so I thought) Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Another classic from the list, intended to enhance my ability to enjoy the long unfolding of an intricate story. I’m  3 quarters of the way through and nearly  heartbroken. What I thought would be a spooky thriller turned out to be one of the saddest tales I’ve ever known. Shame on that Frankenstein for letting his selfish experiment outweigh his humanity. I’m hoping for a justified ending; anyone caught this Halloween dressed in a green mask with neck bolts might just get a mouthful from me on the harshness of isolation and judgement, bless that monster’s heart.

    “The wounded deer dragging its fainting limbs to some untrod-den brake, there to gaze upon the arrow which had pierced it, and to die- was but a type of me.”

    Humanity comes to mind as I reflect on the situation in this novel. The monster spent such time alone, in silent stillness that even a beast brought to life from madness without nurturing, without meaningful and mutual connection, still felt empathy and even wept for others’ misfortunes. None of us should ever take for granted a friendly ear, a neighborly gesture, or a warm invitation for conversation. And if you are missing those in your own life, I am here for you through this grand advance called the internet. I hope these posts keep you company during your harsh times and your cold nights, I hope you get a cupcake soon too. I do read my messages often, and will delightfully respond to you. Until next time, thank you for reading!

    Don’t forget to drop a line, I DO love to chat!

    justicesarah67@yahoo.com

  • We should talk about Apples

    On my walk this morning I noticed a very sturdy tree, yielding plump and blushing apples. As the leaves have thinned, the fruit has a real  chance to show off in the golden sunlight of mid morning. I thought to myself, how tempting… just one! And then I wondered, do people even eat apples anymore? Of course they do or the grocery stores wouldn’t have displays of those perfectly uniform products all lined up and waiting to be sold by the pound. But my question is more… curious, as always. At what rate do people still plant apple trees, in comparison to a different time. A time when you’d get a phone call from the people up the road and they’d say “ we got a bucket of apples here for ya’ll”. Or better yet, they’d just bring them on over and if coffee wasn’t already on, it would be. Then you’d have a gift on your  hands and what would come first but pies, of course. Apple butter, apple sauce, dried rings, even homemade hooch. If nothing else then a sweet, crunchy snack to bridge your midday slump. What’s better than finishing an apple and chucking the core into the woods as hard as you can throw? Once upon a time school children presented the teacher with an apple and everything fell into place. One of the last times I ever sat with my great granny she had a bowl of little green apples in her lap, peeling them with an old paring knife, the handle and the blade held together with tape.

    That tree I saw was a portal to the past, I thought about Johnny Appleseed,  the mission he embarked on of growing trees from seed and his passion for conservation. I imagine Johnny found his way into our region along his way, I wondered if that tree was a descendant of his life’s work.

    I thought about neighborliness, community, someone to hold the ladder while you reached for the top. I’ve never looked towards an oak tree and wondered ..”who must have planted this tree”… but I did about that apple tree and every other apple tree I’ve ever seen.

    What inspires one to plant an apple tree? Perhaps having grandkids, or just for the sake of watching something bring forth food, something out of nothing. Maybe it’s because we want something to root for, to cheer on and to celebrate, or it might just be to hold hands with something nostalgic. Who had an apple tree in their yard from your past?

    In my yard there is a peach tree. I planted it 7 years ago and we have had nearly a dozen cobblers throughout it’s best producing years. People will warn of bees and other pests, or stepping into rotting fruit but it has been worth every nuisance. Nothing in my garden is more beautiful than rosy peaches in the hot July sun.   

    I needed a plan for Saturday anyways so in the spirit of the past’s portal, I baked an apple pie. I studied the label on a roll-out pie crust from the store and just couldn’t do myself that way, so I cut cold butter into flour and made a delightful mess for the sake of homemade crust. I peeled and cut granny smiths, and decided to find a recipe in an old community spiral cookbook. There is something special about a recipe donated for local fundraising and I’ve collected many of what I call “church cookbooks.” The one I chose was from right here in my own county, a series of recipes compiled by the Extension Homemakers of Boyd County from 1988. I was delighted to discover that the contributor of this Dutch Apple pie recipe was a lady I’ve come to know in the community, she is in her 80s now and I run into her from time to time at the neighborhood grocery store. I cannot wait to see her next, and to share with her this funny story of following her directions 37 years later.  I decided to add a lattice top, picture perfect.  
     

    In case you’re interest has been sparked- apple trees can be planted in late fall or early spring, and I can promise the first yield of fruit will be worth every effort.

    It’s hard to say how much apple tree planting is still alive, but I was happy to see this one. In a perfect world we’d have fruit trees in public parks, everyone would help to keep the trees healthy, and we’d have pie every night together.     

    I hope you get a piece of pie soon.

    Thank you for reading and as always drop me a line, I DO love to chat!

    justicesarah67@yahoo.com