HOLIDAY POEMS "Taste the World: Writers on Food HOLIDAY DELICACIES Food and family go hand in hand Whenever there is a gathering of relatives You can be sure to find a smorgasbord of scrumptious edibles Waiting to be devoured. During Halloween, There is always plenty of candy lying around From sweet candy corn to luscious chocolate bars like Snickers, Three Musketeers Milky Way, Kit Kat and Twix Caramel apples and powdered donuts Are also quite savory But if you want a treat a little less sweet Popcorn balls and pumpkin seeds Are the choice goodies to eat. On Thanksgiving Day, The waft of Turkey and trimmings Permeates the air with its warm tender aroma While pumpkin pie tops off the meal With its spicy yet sweet flavor and fluffy whipped cream Just melts in your mouth for days on end. During the Christmas season, There are dozens of cookies galore From elaborate cutout sugar cookies With creamy frosting and colored sprinkles Butterballs doused in mouth-watering powdered sugar Peanut Butter Blossoms that keep you going back for more Jam-filled Crumb Bars with chopped nuts and rich raspberry preserves Gingerbread Men filled with ground cinnamon and ginger. Then there are birthdays Starting off with mouth-watering pepperoni and cheese pizza Followed by a mound of glacial ice cream cake That is whipped together into a delectable combination Of chocolate cookie crumbs, colored frosting and vanilla ice cream. On Valentine's Day, Whether you have a sweetheart or not Everyone loves a good box of Russell Stover chocolates I especially love the strawberry and orange creams Which are so fluffy and rich Jellied red hearts Which are so soft and chewy Or pretty pastel conversation hearts With their confectionery sentiments. On Easter Sunday, I excitedly run down the stairs To find an overflowing Easter basket of yummy treats Such as colored jelly beans Which are so soft and chewy My favorites are licorice, grape and cherry Blue and yellow Marshmallow bunnies and chicks Several Reese's Peanut Butter eggs And tiny pastel malted milk balls A giant white chocolate bunny wrapped neatly in pink cellophane. On Independence Day, I always enjoy a big outdoor picnic With family and friends Beginning with hot dogs and hamburgers Sizzling on the grill Corn on the cob Smothered with butter and salt Heaping portions of potato and macaroni salads Handfuls of potato chips and cheese curls Watermelon slices dripping with sweetness Soft warm chocolate cookies and brownies And a large pitcher of pink lemonade. So whatever your flavors may be There is always something for everyone At the holiday tasting table.