Ode to Isabel
Silky-soft palms, too smooth to hold onto much...
A dash of this, and this, and that...
flour
salt
baking powder
[warm] milk
olive oil
mix dry together
then
ever-so-slowly,
add warm to dry
stir and knead and let rest and knead and roll
thin
thin
thin
s t r e t c h e d flat like a record.
sizzle-sizzle in a big, round pan or a HOT
flat
griddle...
[Isabel style: shred your favorite cheddar grab your favorite butter]
or summer heirloom harvest
red, green, orange, purple ...
chop, chop, chop.
paper thin disks
sizzle
on dry heat
turn quick, over and over and over
and then keep warm; nearby.
ring the dinner bell.
eat up.
with zippy hot salsa!
zam!
what of flaky, freshly caught fish tacos?
or
one dollop
of
bright green
avocado (guacamole)
added on top...
black beans.
orangeyellowredPEPPERS!
zesty, juicy, heirloom ‘maters!
oh Isabel Najars, how the heaven on
Earth of who you
were to us, held closely
near your
apron strings,
feeding hungry kid-mouths
who played, and played and
never
stopped
playing...
oh Isabel.
we hold you in our hearts
close like a granny.
close like a sweet, sweetheart
of
our little girl hearts.
Photographs by Jenn Ryan
September 2016 | ElementsForAHealthierLife.com | 47