My item in last week's column about mashed potato candy brought back memories for one reader, who sent me this nostalgic email:
"Growing up, we
loved having mashed potatoes for dinner because mashed potato candy was always
coming for dessert!
"Mom made a dough with mashed potatoes and
confectioner’s sugar, rolled it out into a sheet, spread peanut butter on top,
then rolled it into a log and cut it into pinwheels. This is the only variation
I’m aware of because I’ve never heard of anyone else making it or even
mentioning it!
"Mom grew up in far western Ohio, where
there were a lot of settlers who had settled in Pennsylvania for a generation
or two before moving further west."
She said that if mashed potato candy is in fact added to the Unionville Community Fair baking competition, she will definitely enter hers.
At the Jennersville Y this afternoon, a friend was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and I noticed that he had what looked like a fresh tattoo, an abstract tribal pattern, on the back of his shoulder. After class I asked him about it, and he said he just turned 41, had always wanted to get a tattoo, and figured the time was right. In fact, he got another one on his other shoulder as well, an elaborate compass like you might see on an old map.
He likes them very much, but there is a downside: "I can never take my shirt off in front of my mom again."
At the PIAA District 1 track and field competition at Coatesville High School's stadium last weekend, I was sitting in the stands behind a large group of spirited Garnet Valley parents. They cheered especially loudly during one of the girls' relays; their team put up a good showing against a formidable Strath Haven foursome.
At the end of the race, one of the moms, hoarse and emotionally spent, turned to another and asked, "I've got three more years of this?!"
Memorial Day is just around the corner. Here are the details on three parades in our area. They're on separate days, so die-hard fans could actually attend all three.
1. West Grove's parade starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 25, at the Avon Grove High School. It proceeds down Prospect Avenue (Route 841) and ends with a ceremony at the memorial plaza in the middle of town. It's organized by the folks at Ruffini's Barber Shop.
2. Marshallton's parade starts at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 26. Registration for the kids' decorated bicycle contest starts at 12:45 p.m. in the Goddard School parking lot. The parade starts at the alley by the Merchant of Menace, proceeds east on Strasburg Road and ends at the Marshallton United Methodist Church. Sponsor is the Marshallton Conservation Trust.
3. Kennett Square's parade kicks off at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Kennett High School. The parade route is East South Street; South Union Street to East Cypress Street; South Broad Street to West State Street; West State Street to North Union Street, ending with a ceremony at Union Hill Cemetery. If it's anything like prior years, this spectacular parade, organized by Bill Taylor and his committee, includes local veterans; antique cars, trucks, farm equipment and military vehicles; marching bands and color guards; historical reenactors; local civic groups and politicians; unicyclists; Mummers from Philadelphia; Scouts; Little Leaguers; and fire trucks.
The Market at Liberty Place has enacted a new and in my opinion very sensible "Teenager Policy," suggesting that teens behave as if their parents are sitting as the next table. The rules state that youths "must purchase and consume food" and can't bring in outside food or beverages; must use headphones when listening to music (or keep the volume low); can't treat the market as a gymnasium; and can't use the charging stations at the wine bar. "Loud, disruptive behavior, horseplay, significant public displays of affection or foul language will not be tolerated and you will be asked to leave."
The Market owners say they are glad to provide a welcoming place where youths can hang out; "However, you must follow the rules and act as a young adult."
Just a reminder that the annual Bayard Taylor Home and Garden Day is Saturday, June 1, and tickets are on sale at the Kennett Library. Usually the tour focuses on either "Chateau Country" in northern Delaware or the horse farms of Unionville, but this year all the houses and gardens are actually within the borough of Kennett Square. It's a delightful and unusual tour, and the money ($40 a ticket) goes to an excellent cause.
By the way: we stopped in to pick up our tickets Wednesday evening and I couldn't help notice that the library is bustling and looks terrific.
A few weeks ago I attended the prestigious Hoka One One Henderson Invitational track and field meet to watch the Young Relative and his Unionville High School teammates compete. Taped to the table at the stadium entrance where they were selling tickets was a sign that read: "If you are just dropping something off, or if you just need to talk to someone quickly, IT'S STILL $5."
I laughed out loud and asked the ticket sellers if the sign was having its intended effect. They said that it had greatly decreased, but not eliminated, the problem.
