Today is Poetic Thursday hosted by our pals Teddy and Angel Sammy
Here is today's inspiration
Don't Stir the Pot
Ode To *Annie Ma
aka my *maternal Grandmother.
Becky the first Grandchild could not say Gr, thus Grandma was Annie Ma
*********************
She raise seven children
Lots of mouths to feed she was an excellent cook.
But no time to teach, they could just look.
I'm told back then she ran her kitchen like a first Sargent.
As the grandchildren arrived, she had more time.
My cousin, Carol and I stayed with her after school
Annie Ma's kitchen, her rules.
Her most requested meal was
homemade chicken pastry aka dumplings.
It was a work of art
Making the dough and rolling it
She cut it in to long pieces.
She would hang the pieces over her arm as she walked to the stove.
Each piece carefully placed into simmering pot of chicken stock.
Once they were all in, they cooked slowly.
NO STIRRING she said.
She turned down the heat to the pot.
She needed to leave the kitchen.
She instructed us to watch the pot
BUT
DO NOT STIR it will break the dough.
DO NOT STIR it will break the dough.
Carol was older and 'knew it all'... she decided she was going to STIR
Every single piece of dough was broken in bits and pieces.
My Mind's Eye remembers the look on Annie Ma's face. It was just like the lady in the today's photo.
I TOLD YOU NOT TO STIR
***********************
Side note:
There was always a rolling pin near by. I don't recall that she
shook it at Carol but she probably wanted to bop her on the head.
Below is Annie Ma and Papa (her husband)
Probably taken in the 1930's.
Papa passed away in the early 1940's.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteSmiling here... a lovely tale of memory arising from the prompt! YAM xx
oooh we bet a lot of peeps know such a lady too ... well done!!!
ReplyDeleteAnnie Ma sounds like a truly formidable lady!
ReplyDeleteA great poem of wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo and the name fits her! What a beautiful photo. And the story has me laughing out loud because that would have been me stirring the pot because they said don't Stir It. Love love the story
ReplyDeletethere is a Carol in every family
ReplyDeleteThere hasn't been a post about Annie Ma in quite a while. Perfect post because her dumplings sound like Jerry's Mom's chicken and noodles. Especially if she rolled them out. I have Barb's recipe and we have rolled out a bunch of noodles and dropped them in a pot filled with chicken breasts... we can't do dark meat chicken! Barb was pretty adamant about not messing with the noodles too. Thanks for the memories this morning!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun memory the picture conjured up for you. We bet Anni Ma never left the kitchen in you and your cousins charge again. BOL!
ReplyDeleteBetter listen to Annie Ma. She doesn't look like she's messing around!
ReplyDeleteHugs to Angel Madi ~ Grandma was quite the woman ~ fun photo and story ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
That was a fun story. I am sure they tasted good even if broken. XO
ReplyDeleteOh C, what a beautiful(and giggle worthy) memory!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Beth
Not only a wonderful poem but a super fun and precious memory too! Love it!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Pam
My Grandma always had a rollingpin close by too. That was a fun one!
ReplyDeleteI love your poem. It is an amazing tribute
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulishious poem! Annie Ma was a terrific Grand Mother! And I love poems that evoke such memories! Keep being Awesome! Barb
ReplyDelete