Mar 02

Haiku 426.1

Posted: under Alison's Haiku, Daily Haiku.
Tags: , , , , March 2nd, 2010

by Alison

by Alison

we stop bickering

over the failed fritatta

when the storm arrives

Comments (0)

Feb 20

Haiku 416

Posted: under Alison's Haiku, Daily Haiku.
Tags: , , February 20th, 2010

by Alison

by Alison

my big fat tabby

perched in the sink licking up

soggy parmesan

Comments (2)

Jan 08

Haiku 373

Posted: under Daily Haiku, Kelly's Haiku.
Tags: , , , , January 8th, 2010

by Kelly

by Kelly

You are a good wife

I prod him to say after

my grocery store run

Comments (2)

Nov 16

Hotdish Haiku edited by Pat Dennis

Posted: under Reviews.
Tags: , , , , , , , , November 16th, 2009

by Kelly

by Kelly

Few things are more Minnesotan than hotdish.

In fact, those of us who call the state home often take a perverse pride in hotdish culture. We praise hotdishes and wax nostalgic for them.

There is no better proof of this, perhaps, than Hotdish Haiku, a tiny little book filled with teeny little poems about the humble hotdish (and some hotdish recipes).

A whole host of authors, each with a Minnesota tie, contributed haiku to this collection. And the book was even put out by a homespun publisher, based — of course — in Minnesota.

If you’re not from Minnesota (or the Upper Midwest), you might be wondering right about now exactly what a hotdish is. Let me fill you in — a hotdish is a casserole.

It’s an entire meal in one dish. Usually rice, pasta or potatoes makes up the bottom layer. The starch (for that’s what rice, pasta and potatoes are) is mixed with a can of cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup or cream of celery soup to add the moisture needed for it to cook.

Meat of nearly any kind comes next. I grew up with with hamburger hotdish, pork chop hotdish, chicken hotdish and turkey hotdish. Tuna hotdish is also popular.

The final layer could be comprised of any number of things. Shredded cheese is popular. So are tatter tots or bread crumbs or dry Lipton onion soup.

Generally speaking, hotdish isn’t something you’ll find people eating in the summer. It’s too dense and thick to be enjoyable when the humidity is high.

Instead, hotdish is something we break out once the leaves start to change. Come January, hotdishes hit an all-time peak in popularity. Hotdishes keep us warm and cozy (and cushioned with calories) once the temperature drops below zero. Hotdishes are also a staple of church potluck suppers.

So, now that we’re all on the same page about what a hotdish is, I feel I can move on to reviewing Hotdish Haiku.

According to the book’s introduction, hotdish and haiku share something in common.

When reading a haiku, for one brief moment, you stop and reflect on the nature of how the world works.

When digging into a hotdish, there is one brief moment, when the first bite reaches your mouth and the steamy aroma fills your nose and fogs your glasses, when you stop and sigh and reflect on the goodness at hand.

Both, claim the authors of Hotdish Haiku, encourage you to be in the moment.

As the winds have turned chilly here in Minnesota, I’ve noticed that I’ve been cooking up hotdishes in my kitchen. I’m averaging one a week right now and while Hubby usually claims to like them, I must admit that this Hotdish Haiku gave me pause:

Cans being opened

She always serves hotdish

Divorce will follow

– Pat Dennis

Hmmmm. Mayve I should cool it on the hotdish? But then again:

Ghost of old hotdish

Memories from a childhood

Glass dish with cover

–Sandra Thomas

Instead of putting a kabash on my current hotdish streak, I decided to start penning some Hotdish Haiku of my own. Here’s one I came up with after discussing the hotdish phenomenon with a friend over the phone:

Tater tot hotdish,

says my East Coast, Jewish friend,

What the f*** is that?

I’d love to hear some of your hotdish haiku! Let’s start a running list below!

Comments (5)

Nov 09

Haiku 313

Posted: under Daily Haiku, Kelly's Haiku.
Tags: , , , , , November 9th, 2009

by Kelly

by Kelly

onions, celery, broth

sustaining, satisfying

chicken noodle soup

Comments (5)

Oct 22

Haiku 295

Posted: under Daily Haiku, Kelly's Haiku.
Tags: , , , October 22nd, 2009

by Kelly

by Kelly

the weather’s turned cold

and I have turned to cooking

for warmth and comfort

Comments (3)

Oct 04

Haiku 277

Posted: under Daily Haiku, Kelly's Haiku.
Tags: , , , October 4th, 2009

by Kelly

by Kelly

fall from detox grace —

consumed entire bag of

dark chocolate almonds

Comments (3)

Oct 01

Haiku 274

Posted: under Alison's Haiku, Daily Haiku.
Tags: , , , October 1st, 2009

by Alison

by Alison

99¢ bread

at the Market Basket priced

better than Walmart

.

We are collecting haiku and we are looking for Haiku By You.

Today’s topic: The Economy

Add your haiku as a comment. Let’s see how many we can collect! Oh, and there’s no time limit. Today, tomorrow, next week. We’ll take ‘em!

Comments (15)

Sep 29

Haiku 272

Posted: under Alison's Haiku, Daily Haiku.
Tags: , , September 29th, 2009

by Alison

by Alison

warming our new home

so economically -

the scent of pear crisp

Comments (3)

Aug 31

Haiku 243

Posted: under Daily Haiku, Kelly's Haiku.
Tags: , , , August 31st, 2009

by Kelly

by Kelly

For you, Alison –

I know you dream of beauty

queens carved in butter

Comments (6)