My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon
As all mothers know we don't really understand our own mothers until we are mothers ourselves. As children we think we are invincible, that nothing can harm us. Innocence is bliss and makes our childhood carefree and happy as it should be. Little do we know of the worry we cause our mothers as soon as we step out of the door. My mother did not work...let me rephrase...did not work outside the home... as was possible in the the '60's.
My earliest childhood memory was of sitting in a guards booth miles from my home and eating a Cadbury chocolate bar. Apparently I had wanted to go to school with my brother and followed him for at least a mile to where the crossing guard helped the kids cross the street. He recognized me and took me to where my dad worked at the time. I was 2 years old but we lived in a time when you knew your neighbours. My mother would have been frantic not knowing where I was. Or the time that my sister was found on the third story fire escape of a building in downtown Cambridge swinging like a monkey.
I grew up in a time when during the summer months we hopped on our bikes and were off on adventures with our friends. If we needed to go to the movies or to a friends house we walked. As long as we showed up by lunch or suppertime all was well with our little worlds and we would sit down to dinner with the entire family and relate our adventures for the day. Not until I was a mother myself did I realize what a huge sigh of relief it must have been for my mom to see us come walking through that door with tadpoles from the local pond or scrapes and bruises from building our tree fort in the woods. She would listen to our stories, give us a big hug, kiss away our tears, tuck us into bed and allow us to have wings to fly.
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If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I couldwalk forever in my garden.
~Attributed to Claudia Ghandi
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So in honour of tradition and mothers everywhere I am offering my moms recipe for these traditional tarts. For years my mom had only the memory of these tarts because my grandmother passed away when my mom was 11. Finally mom found the recipe through an aunt and has made them ever since, but, usually on special occasions. If you are of British background these will be very familiar to you!!
My daughter is taking me on a picnic and a hike in honour of the day. So ciao for now:D
**Ground Rice Tarts**
Jam
1/3 cup of butter
1/2 cup of rice flour
1/4 cup of ground almonds
1 egg beaten
Almond extract or vanilla
Blanched almonds (optional)
Place a small amount of jam in each pastry shell. Cream butter and sugar, add rice flour and ground almonds . Add beaten egg and a few drops of extract. Put a good spoonful of mixture in each tart shell on top of the jam. Bake at 375degrees for 35-40 minutes.
To my Mom.....
H - helpful
A - always there
P - protective
P - patient
Y - youthful
M - memory maker
O - original
T - tender
H - happy
E - excited
R - reliable
S - sacrificing
D - dedicated
A - angelic
Y - your best friend
You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author/owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.
You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author/owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.
Happy Mothers Day Val!!! What a lovely tribute to all mothers out there :)
ReplyDeleteI have tagged you Val please visit my site (i hope you don't mind) thanks.
http://rosiebakesapeaceofcake.blogspot.com/
Rosie x
Happy Mothers Day and enjoy your picnic!
ReplyDeleteI love that post Val...Happy Mother's Day to you!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day Val. What a lovely tribute both to your mother and to your daughter. Subconsciously yesterday I made a dessert my mother used to make and only today I realized why. Unfortunately I was working today and I came home just a while ago and it's late now to post about it. Congrats on the award from Rosie. Be ready to get one from me as well.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mothers Day To You Valli! What a wonderful post! Love the photos! I am sure you had a great day with your daughter!
ReplyDeleteA very beautiful tribute to you, your mom and your daughter. Happy Mother's Day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the stories.
What a great post Val. I hope you enjoyed your Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mothers' Day, Val! And thanks for such a lovely post :)
ReplyDeleteVal, other than the hairdo (from ago), you look the same and be thankful you have those youthful genes!
ReplyDeleteAgain, Happy Mother's Day...adopt me this time! lol
Happy Mother's Day Val! This is a lovely and poignant tribute. The acronym is perfect too!
ReplyDeleteLove the tarts..very easy.
Very sweet post. Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet post! Happy mothers day!
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how much I love these pictures. I love how classic they look. (Your mom)
ReplyDeleteI wish I lived in the 60's.
I think the tarts sound very tasty. I've never heard of them before.
Happy Mother's Day to you!
Missing my mom everyday, since she passed away last June. I'm not a mom, nor do I wish to be, but your thoughts struck more than a few harmonious chords with me.
ReplyDeleteGround rice tarts? Oh yes. Thank you.
Happy Mother's Day. What a lovely post!
ReplyDeleteaw, what a lovely post--it gave me goosebumps and the urge to call my mother (even though she's probably still asleep and i just spoke with her yesterday). Happy Mother's Day to you! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post Val! And great pictures too!! Happy Mothers Day to you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Valli, so heart warming. I don't have children of my own yet, but I can appreciate what you have to say!
ReplyDeleteHope your day was a blast!
What a beautiful post Val! Your mother is gorgeous, and you look just like her! I agree with Peter, you have great genes!!
ReplyDeleteI so thoroughly enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeletejust lovely!
Darling Val, you've moved me with your post!!! Sooooooo precious♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteI bet, you've been and you are a wonderful mother!!!
I see myself reflected in many of your views here. Guess all of us, mothers, do!
Thanks for such a beautiful post! By the way you too look great, no matter the hair style :D
Beautiful post!
ReplyDelete