In preparation for the holidays we were talking desserts and my husband offered to take care of that part of the meal this year. Of course everyone has their favorite so everything from Lemon Chiffon Pie to Angel food Cake to Cherry's Jubilee was suggested. Hubby wanted to know why desserts always have such "feminine" names. How about some "manly" desserts?
We started asking around and found a few. Like Mincemeat Pie—what the heck is it anyway? In its original form it did contain meats like beef liver. Mmmm. Yummy... Nowadays most recipes leave off the meat and call for various dried fruits like raisins, currants, cherries and apricots plus spices like cinnamon and some kind of alcohol. Okay, that sounds kind of tasty, if you like dried fruit. He wasn't up for that.
How about Dirt Cups? Chocolate pudding and crushed chocolate cookies…and Gummy Worms. Mmmm. Don't think we want to serve that to Grandma after Christmas dinner.
We found lots of Halloween inspired desserts with manly names. Goblin Toes or Spider Muffins anyone? Thanks but I don't think "icky" is the theme we're going for at Christmas this year.
So what are some other manly desserts that would be appropriate for the upcoming holiday season? Something a manly guy would proudly confess to concocting. Rocky Road ice cream sounds kind of manly and it comes in a carton—what could be easier? But hubby wants to actually prepare something. Of course there's our traditional family dessert: Boiled Cookies. (Hey, I saw that face you made. Well try out the recipe below and then we'll see if you turn up your nose.)
So how about it all you creative writers and readers? Do any of you have a traditional family dessert with a manly name?
Email me with your manly recipe name by midnight on December 12 and I'll draw one name to receive a print copy of my book Perilous Passions. In the meantime, if you want to take a look at my books, here's the link.
And now please enjoy my family's time-proven ugly-named cookie recipe:
Boiled Cookies
1 stick butter
2 tbsp cocoa
2 cups sugar
½ cup milk
3 cups uncooked "quick" oatmeal
½ cup crunchy peanut butter
½ tsp vanilla
In a boiler or non-stick Dutch oven, mix the margarine, cocoa, sugar and milk. Bring to a boil. Boil hard for one minute. Remove mixture from heat. Pour in peanut butter and oatmeal and vanilla. Stir until well mixed and then drop by teaspoon on waxed paper. Once cool, enjoy!
Teri Thackston
Because every passion needs a little peril...
Scent of Lavender now available at Cerridwen Press
