Recipes for Romance
Each chapter of my new book, The Sweet Life, features a little section I call “Recipes for Romance, which is exactly what it says. It could be a real recipe or a recipe for a date. Here’s the first one featured in the book. Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed!
No matter who does most of the cooking––you, him or your personal chef, Mr. Ronald McDonald–it’s important to learn how to make a couple of things your husband’s mother used to make for him (providing he liked her cooking). In the newlywed days, your cooking may be an adjustment for him. If he starts getting that deer in the headlight sort of look when he asks, “Ummm, what’s for supper?,” it’s time to make one of these tried-and-true treats. They’re comfortable and familiar, and will reassure him that he made the right decision marrying you. After his mother is gone, makin’ one of her recipes will be even more special, something that makes him feel loved and cared for.
My mother-in-law, Simone, used to make what we all call Mom’s Dessert, a refrigerator cake that is inexpensive and easy peasy. I don’t know if she got it off the box of graham crackers or what. It sounds kind of weird, but give it a try and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how dense and tasty it is.
Basically, all you need are graham crackers, whipping cream, Hershey’s Syrup, and sprinkles. First, you whip up the cream. Once it’s whipped good, add Hershey’s Syrup until it’s nice and chocolaty. Break the graham crackers in half, so they’re square. Take one and slather on the chocolate whipped cream. No need to be perfect with this, so it’s a fun dessert to make with kids or grandkids. Put it on a plate, and do the same to another cracker. Place it on top of first one. Keep going until you get a little stack, then turn it on it’s side to make a loaf. Keep layering the crackers and cream until it’s as long as you want. Then you can add another row beside the first to make a square or wider rectangle. When it’s as big as you want, frost the whole thing with more chocolate whipped cream. Cover it (use a Tupperware cake thingy or plastic wrap with toothpicks stuck into the cake to keep the wrap from touchin’ the top). Put the dessert in the fridge, and let it set overnight. The next day, make it pretty by adding sprinkles. I use multicolored ones, and I’ve found if you put ‘em on before the cake sets, they’ll run. Dig in. Yumbo!
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Recipes for Romance
Upcoming Book Events and Performances
June 2: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Hubbard Free Library, http://www.hubbardfree.org/ 6:00pm, Hallowell, ME
June 23: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Walker Memorial Library, http://www.walker.lib.me.us/, 6:00pm, Westbrook, ME
June 25: The Best of Ida, Celebration Barn Theater, http://www.celebrationbarn.com/ 8:00pm, South Paris, ME
August 4: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, http://www.acbrown.lib.me.us/ 7:00pm, China, ME
August 11: The View From He’ah Variety Show, http://actonenh.org/ 2:00 & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
August 30: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Rangeley Public Library, http://www.rangeleylibrary.com/default.asp?Key=1&Cat=1 6:00pm, Rangeley, ME