My good friend Kurt turned a year older today. So I baked him a cake and wrote him a poem because Kurt is one of those guys that is hard to buy for… He finds more pleasure in the winey, diney things. Maybe that’s why we get along so well! If you know Kurt, the poem below will make you smile, if not…

For the Recipe, click here:

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberries

Kurt, Kurt, the loveable flirt

Will never say no to a muffin

With black knitted hat and button-up shirt,

His belly, I’ll always be stuffin’.

Come summer his peaches will ripen and fall.

They soften while taking a tumble,

And over I’ll come to gather them all,

Transform them to peach and cream crumble.

In autumn his fig trees will sag with their fruit,

And out on his swing he’ll enjoy them

But birdies will swoop down and steal his sweet loot.

They’ll pluck them right off of the stem.

Kurt is a man that with chocolate in hand

Will share with you all that he’s got

With Thin Mints, ice cold, always on demand

The Girl Scouts are swept of their lot.

Stories he tells are unique and quite varied

From countries and cities galore

And all of the drums that he’s crafted and carried

Have travelled with him through those doors.

From Brazil’s Escola de Samba VAI-VAI

His love for the Quika drum started

He plays it in Vegas with mischievous eye

His Latin love always wholehearted.

But don’t you be fooled because though he is sweet

Kurt’s friendship is fierce and protective

His fatherly wisdom can hardly be beat

He’ll help you develop perspective.

So we all raise a toast or a piece of cheesecake

To celebrate Kurt’s coming year

A better musician he never could make

Nor a friend that’s more special or dear.