One of my creative writing assignments was to write a poem with 88 lines about 44 things, something akin to the song, “88 Lines about 44 Women.” Knowing I have a few hundred cookbooks and food-related books, I wrote about those. It took forever (one of my first hints that being artistic is hard work). The meter’s not perfect, but, hey, I did say it was hard work. Sadly, I ended up dropping the class that semester shortly after submitting this poem. While I re-enrolled the following semester, I couldn’t submit work I’d done before, so I opted out of doing that particular assignment as I just didn’t want to do it again (one of the “holidays” from an assignment the instructor allowed us).
It’s a cheat for this post, I know, but I want to stay on track with my posting goal, and I’ve always liked this poem.
Milk Eggs Vodka starts if off
random lists of groceries
Next is Modern Garde Manger
making some charcuterie
Primal Cuts, a book on meat
US butchers all around
Rose’s Heavenly Cakes is next
abundant recipes abound
Also wrote The Cake Bible
that’s the book that brought her fame
Rose’s Melting Pot — hers, too!
recipes put all to shame
Gastronomique — what a book!
it’s so dense, but that’s the hook
Terrines, Pates, Galatines
part of series, The Good Cook
Pyromaniac’s Cookbook
best in flaming food and drink
Here’s The Book of Jewish Food
where unfound are sausage links
Gingerbread for All Seasons
cutesy houses in the pics
What to Drink with What to Eat
lots of food with lots of liq
Fine Filipino Food, a find
soy and garlic are a must
Mast’ring Art of French Cooking
Julia Child, who else to trust?
Becoming a Chef, a little guide
tells you more than how to cook
Rectors Naughty 90s book
not found in classes that I took
Cookbook Cake Mix Doctor‘s good
dress up cake mix all you should
How to Garnish (and with tools!)
implements make food look good
Rotisserie n’ BBQ
“Set it, forget it!” – Popeil says
Crock’ry Pot, such a lil’ tome
use a bag, make smaller mess
Chopsticks in the Land of Cott’n
Lives of Chinese grocers, Locke
Confectioner, on sug’r art
making fancy sugar rocks
Flavor Bible is a fave
help you use spices with ease
Fondue Cookery‘s so cool
bubbling pots of melted cheese
Food Styling is a neat-o book
make food look good on the shelf
Carry-Out Cuisine does help
you’ll be cooking for yourself
Closing the Food Gap is rife
many tales of food not seen
Way of Herbs does tell you how
to use all those myst’ry greens
Melt: The Art of Mac & Cheese
more than blue box mac to eat
Cakelove, how to bake scratch cakes
here you’ll find the crunchy feet
Blend It! purée fruit for drinks
also veggies – simple meals
Book of Tofu, protein soy
Not real tasty, hubby feels
Sauces – Classics the great four
Okay, wait; there are way more
Hello, Cupcake! – fancy treats
make your cupcakes really soar
Stocking Up III‘s good to have
Learn to can, preserve and dry
Mixing drinks you can soon learn
using the Bartender’s Guide
United Cakes a fave of mine
cakes to bake from ev’ry state
Hot & Spicy & Meatless
zingy dishes — all first rate
Salted — yes! It’s all just salt!
So dense, this manifesto
Mary Blair’s Hors d’Oeuvre Cookbook
Where there are bites with pesto
How to Grill — techniques abound
all to get the perfect char
All Cakes Considered, cakes galore
Recipes from NPR
I’m the sort who lives to eat
as expressed in Food & Fun
Mrs. Field’s cookbook is great
I Love Chocolate means I’m done
#kakainna #88LinesAbout44Cookbooks #socalval
Kakain na! 