The Essence of Giving: December Poetry

Here we are again, another monthly poetry group post and this time I'm furious. Furious, I tell you.

If you've followed this blog for any length of time, you know that I've asked my boys to write me a guest post many times. Especially College Boy. He's amazingly thoughtful and articulate, truly passionate about certain subjects that interest him, I would love to share his point of view. But it hasn't happened. Well, I wrote one for them, a joke which, sadly, no one got. It's tough to have my sense of humor. {{sigh}}. 

Anyway, when College Boy came down to the kitchen last week, saw me looking at this blank page and asked what I was doing, I told him I was trying to write a poem using the theme "Giving." "Oh, I could do that," he said. My face lit up. I mean really, my face lit up. "You could?" I asked. "Sure," he said.

And he did. He stood in my kitchen and out of his mouth, in rap form, came an amazing piece of prose. I kept saying "type this out, don't just stand here, get this down." 

Did he?

No.

I've asked him a number of times to recreate it, but he says he doesn't remember. 

So you're stuck with me again this month. 

Sorry.

The Essence of Giving

 Mesmerized
by the dancing fire
the warmth,
colorful displays.
Thoughts wander.

December
packed stores,
long lines,
longer bills. 
To show we care.

Gifts
large and small,
meaningful,
and obligatory.
What for whom?

Food
prepared together,
you chop,
I'll stir.
Group effort.

 Holiday Leftovers Wontons

Family
'round the table,
talking at once,
laughing in unison.
The essence of giving
thrives.

Before you go, click on these links to more poetry by some of my friends: 

Diane of On the Border shares Giving, Wrapped. 

Lydia of Cluttered Genius shares Giving . . . and more giving. 

Dawn of Spatulas on Parade shares Tis the Season For Giving.

Holiday Leftovers Wontons

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1/4 cup cooked leftover mashed potato, room temperature
1/2 cup cooked leftover stuffing, room temperature
3/4 cup cooked turkey, chopped, room temperature
2 TBSP cranraisins
1 cup oil
12 wonton wrappers

OPT: cranberry sauce for serving.

Directions:
*Mix together the mashed potato, stuffing, turkey and cranraisins.
*Place some water in a bowl.
*Lay out half of the wonton wrappers. Place a TBSP of the turkey mixture into the center of each wrapper.
*Dip your finger into the water bowl and wet all edges of the wonton. Fold the wonton into a triangle and press all the sides to completely seal the filling inside. Cover with a damp towel.
*Repeat with the rest of the wontons.
*Heat the oil over medium high heat in a large skillet until hot. As it heats, put a tiny piece of stuffing into the pan, when it sizzles it's ready.
*Place half of the wontons into the hot oil. Cook for about 2 minutes until the bottom is brown and the wontons are floating. Carefully turn and cook the other side for 1 minute. *Remove to paper towel to drain. 
*Repeat with the rest of the wontons.
*Opt: Serve with cranberry sauce.