Teatowels are king,
rectangles silently serving
even while a dishwasher hums.
They hastily protect my fingers
when the oven door's hot;
they save Grandpa's shirt
from the occasional drop
and wipe down a bench
when unexpected visitors hit.
They're useful as gifts and
I love receiving mine.
They tell stories on linen
of cities and castles divine.
They blaze abroad flags,
insert Gingerbread recipes
making funds for Starship
to heal our sick kids. That
linen dries best, some $2 shop
ones are rather small and
inferior quality cloth.
They hang there in the kitchen
whatever their type, day after
day being thrown about,
wrapping up scones to take
for a morning tea, an apron
tucked in trouser elastic or
flung over the shoulder
pretending to be Master Chef!
This simplest of kitchen tools
can guide you by a London Tube map
or be hung out to dry by a neighbour
as an SOS. In short, this rectangle
of useful material must have had
a woman inventor - surely famous?
Wish that name were mine!
Starship Gingerbread Friends
with thanks to Ruby Seeto for recipe and for
raising funds for Starship Children's Hospital.
40g butter
half a cup of honey
third a cup of brown sugar
one tablespoon lemon juice
one tsp ground cinnamon
one and a half tsp ground ginger
half a tsp each of ground cloves, nutmeg, allspice
and baking soda
2 cups of flour
Preheat oven 170c
Melt butter in saucepan and add everything except flour and baking powder.
Mix togehter and gently heat to soften honey if needed.
Shift in flour and baking soda and gradually mix to form a dough.
Wrap in cling film and refrigerate 30mins until firm.
On a lightly floured surface roll dough 5mm thick.
Cut ginerbread men shapes with a cookie cutter.
Place on a tray and bake til lightly brown. About 5 - 10mins depending on size.
Allow to cool then ice and decorate with your favourite icing.
Enjoy!
To buy a teatowel go to www.wallacecotton.com
I gather there's a few left to be bought to raise funds for Starship Children's Hospital.
Thank you!
