| "I'm playing carthorse for an annual conference. I'm | | | | "Next time, I'll play host to you in Williamsburg, |
| leaving for Orlando tomorrow morning in the wee, | | | | Virginia!" my librarian cousin sang out, as she cradled |
| wee hours of the dark," she typed into the | | | | the tin of Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Bars and waved |
| instant-message system. | | | | goodbye. |
| "Great! Come to Tallahassee!" I responded with | | | | Hazelnut Chocolate Chips Squares are a tasty and |
| bubbling excitement. | | | | sweet way to send a traveler off in style. |
| Popping from my memory garden were visions of | | | | Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Squares |
| my young cousin pirouetting and curtseying across | | | | 2 sticks butter, softened |
| the sanctuary of the Clarendon Hills Presbyterian | | | | 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour |
| Church. The last time I had seen Dora Byrd was at | | | | 1/2 cup sugar |
| my dad and stepmother's wedding. She was the | | | | 1/4 tsp. salt |
| flower girl. | | | | (1) 12-oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips, |
| We were long overdue to reconnect. The idea of her | | | | divided |
| visit created an undeniable effervescence in my heart | | | | (1) 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk |
| to welcome my long-lost cousin with open arms and | | | | 1 tsp. hazelnut extract |
| warm, inviting Florida hospitality. | | | | 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract |
| But as Dora Byrd and I instant-messaged | | | | Soften butter to room temperature and preheat |
| back-and-forth, I realized something. The whirlwind of | | | | oven to 350 degrees. |
| busyness could easily snatch this opportunity away | | | | Grease a 13- x 9-inch baking pan. |
| from us. If I wanted to see Dora Byrd, I would need | | | | Whip butter in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Add |
| to do some driving, too. Tallahassee was just too far | | | | the flour, sugar and salt and mix until nice and |
| away. We needed to meet somewhere closer to | | | | crumbly. Using floured fingers, press 2 cups of the |
| Orlando. | | | | crumbly mixture into the prepared pan. |
| Sometimes hospitality means packing a picnic basket | | | | Bake for 10 minutes or until edges turn a light-golden |
| and a cooler, and taking a moveable feast to a more | | | | brown. |
| central location. So that is exactly what I did. On the | | | | Meanwhile, combine 1 cup of the chocolate-chip |
| last Friday of September, we synchronized our | | | | morsels with the sweetened condensed milk in a |
| watches and planned to meet for a delightful | | | | small, heavy-duty saucepan. Stir over low heat until |
| afternoon at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in | | | | the chocolate has melted and the two ingredients are |
| Gainesville. | | | | smooth. Stir in hazelnut extract and vanilla extract. |
| "I'll wait for you at the visitor's center," Dora said. "I'll | | | | Pour and spread the hot chocolate mixture over the |
| be the person in the faded green hat with a flower | | | | hot, baked crust. |
| on it." | | | | In a small mixing bowl, combine hazelnuts with the |
| Sure enough, Dora Byrd was there waiting for me | | | | remaining chocolate morsels and the reserved |
| when I pulled into the parking lot. Hat or no hat, I | | | | crumbly mixture of flour, sugar and salt. Sprinkle this |
| would have recognized her anywhere. Her face, | | | | mixture over the chocolate filling. |
| personality and warmth were a beautiful and almost | | | | Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until the center |
| haunting reminder of other favorite relatives. | | | | is set and the top is golden brown. |
| Whether you are trying to coordinate a visit with a | | | | © 2006 Kathi Dameron, Kathi Dameron and |
| traveling relative or are simply up for an adventurous | | | | Associates |
| day trip and a beautiful picnic in the park, the | | | | This article originally appeared on October 12, 2006 in |
| bamboo, butterfly, water and herb gardens at | | | | the "Entertaining with Kathi" column of the Northeast |
| Kanapaha present a splendid backdrop for creating | | | | Chronicle, a Florida newspaper. |
| new memories to cherish for a lifetime. | | | | |