Spring Rains

"Poetry is a record of the best and happiest moments for the happiest of minds."

by Percy Bysshe Shelly 

Recent Spring rains awakened these flowers from their slumber. 

In Time of Silver Rain

by Langston Hughes

In time of silver rain 

The earth

Puts forth new life again,

Green grasses grow

And flowers lift their heads,

And all over the plain

The wonder spreads

Of life,

Of life,

Of life!

In time of silver rain

The butterflies

Lift silken wings

To catch a rainbow cry,

And trees put forth

New leaves to sing

In joy beneath the sky

As down the roadway

Passing boys and girls

Go singing, too,

In time of silver rain

When spring

And Life 

Are new. 

For those who have wondered why poets write their poems, Hughes offered this answer:"If you put your thoughts in rhyme, they stay in folk's heads a longer time."

Cornmeal and Rosemary Cake with Balsamic Syrup

Cook’s note: The unusual combination of ingredients caught my attention in this recipe. It was “billed” as a recipe that went well with a cup of tea or a glass of dessert wine. Since I have been writing about tea party food thought it a good time to try it. My uncertainty about a drizzle of Balsamic syrup and the rosemary spice in a cake was soon forgotten as I savored my first bite. It all complimented each other. My chief taste tester (who isn’t much into gourmet type recipes) even gave this one a “thumbs up.”
recipe from Giada de Laurentiis posted on Foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:

• ½ cup fine yellow cornmeal
• ½ cup cake flour
• 1-1/2 tsp. rosemary (recipe called 1 TB fresh minced Rosemary but I did not have it)
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ½ cup softened butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1-1/4 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 4 large egg yolks
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup light sour cream

Balsamic Syrup

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup balsamic vinegar (use a good kind)

Bring ingredients to a boil and then simmer about 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved

Syrup thickens if let cool too long-might have to reheat on low when serving it as a drizzle over cake

Directions:

• Preheat oven 350
• Spray with Pam a round cake pan (8or 9inch)
• In a medium bowl whisk cornmeal, cake flour, rosemary, baking powder and salt-set aside
• In another bowl beat vanilla and butter; slowly add confectioner’s sugar then beat at medium speed till light and fluffy
• Add egg yolks and eggs one at a time beating well after each addition
• Add sour cream and mix well
• On low speed add dry ingredients and mix just till incorporated
• Pour into prepared pan and use a spatula to smooth surface
• Bake 28-30 minutes
• Cool
• To serve dust cake with confectioner’s sugar and a drizzle of syrup