Sugar & Spice
I belong to no less than 4 social networks, 8 online communities and recognize people by their avatars…but can I tell you the names of the Iranian family that lives next door to me? It wasn’t always this way. For a few years I lived amongst a vibrant gathering of artists in a live/work building and for a brief moment I understood the true meaning of ‘community’.
On the 7th Floor of the ARC (Artist Resource Center) I knew each neighbor by name, remembered their birthdays and enjoyed genuine, engaging conversation while riding the excruciatingly slow elevator. We had our own signals; if your door was closed you were busy creating or sleeping and preferred not to be disturbed.
But if your door was propped open just a crack the welcome mat was out and you were invited to stop in for a quick chat, or a lingering cup of tea and a heart to heart. We brainstormed about projects, discussed love lives, shared laughs (and some tears) and enjoyed more than a few impromptu potluck dinners.
Someone was always dropping by with a steaming bowl of soup from a huge batch they had simmering on the stove or the warm, buttery smell of popcorn would fill the hallway as we brought pillows and blankets and curled up on someone’s floor for a movie night.
Most importantly though was the sense that I belonged to a community; that if I disappeared not only would someone notice but I would be missed.
We may not have had porch parties like my parents generation but we forged a solid neighborhood in a cold, cement box by the train yard. We have all since moved away; starting families, opening studios and building new lives but those warm nostalgic feelings came flooding back when flipping through my recipe binder I came across the hand-made Christmas card with Rena’s Cardamom Cookie recipe typed inside.
The memory of fresh lemon zest mingling with spicy cardamom reminds me of warmth and friendship and community. It reminds me that no matter how many facebook messages I send or times I tweet at you the connection will never have as much impact as coming home to find a little package of freshly baked cookies with a hand-written note hanging on your front door.
Now if you’ll excuse me I am going to go whip up a batch and take some to my new neighbors.
Rena’s Cardamom Cookies
makes about 24 cookies
1 cup margarine (I use butter because I love all things made with butter)
1 cup brown sugar
zest of 2 lemons
1/8th cup ground golden flaxseed in
1/4 boiling water
2 tsp fresh ground cardamom
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
Cream margarine and sugar together
In a separate bowl mix flaxseed with boiling water
Add flax mixture, lemon zest, cardamom and vanilla to creamed margarine
Add in dry ingredients until thick dough forms
Scoop put into balls (approx 2 tbsp each)
Bake for 16min @ 350F
*Rena is currently working on her own Cookbook which I am very excited for and after you try this recipe I bet you will be too!
I will keep you posted on the release date and you can also find out more about Rena at her own website.
