One Hand in the Cookie Jar

When I was young, we had a cookie cannister that looked a little like this:

It had a different picture on it, but it had that same kind of lid.

My mom used to bake up a storm about once a week. I would come home from school and there would be rolls, cinnamon rolls, bread, anise bread, and whatever else she felt like baking all over the kitchen table, cooling off so they could be put in the freezer to be pulled out to eat another day. That's probably when my bread addiction began.

Not only did she make breads, she always kept the cookie jar full: chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cookies with white frosting, spice cookies (my favorite), snickerdoodles, molasses cookies, gingersnaps, etc. We had homemade cookies in our lunch every day, and homemade cookies for our after school snacks. I think I was in high school before I ever tasted a store bought cookie (except perhaps the rare Oreo).

My dad got home from work about 5:30. Then he and my mom would have a drink or a glass of wine and discuss their day. We children were invited to join them if we could sit quietly and participate nicely in their conversation. Otherwise we were supposed to stay clear until they were done and we could eat dinner. We did not usually join them.

Meanwhile, we were usually starved to a fever pitch. But if my mom heard the fridge open or a cupboard door she would holler to stay out of the kitchen--she didn't want us to ruin our appetites. I, for one, became a master at sneaking a cookie or two during this cocktail hour. I would oh so very carefully open the cupboard door with the cookie jar in it. The cookie jar was on the second shelf down. I could lift the jar about a fourth of an inch and pull it off the shelf.

Then came the tricky part. Getting the lid off without being discovered. It was necessary to brace the jar so it would not slide on the counter. Then the lid had to be eased off very gently. It was tin, and would easily clatter, which my mother's very sharp hearing could detect.  Once the lid was pried up just enough, I would sneak my hand into the jar and snag a couple of cookies. Then the lid had to be replaced gently, and the jar put back up in the cupboard. Then I would breathe.

I would nonchalantly saunter into my bedroom, cookies stashed under my shirt, and eat them in there, away from the prying eyes and possibly tattling souls of my siblings (although they likely were sneaking their own cookies while I was eating mine in my room.)

Traditions

Remember the old story about the new bride who cut the ends off her roast before she put it in the pan? Her husband asked her why she did it, and she told him that was how her mother did it, so that's why she did it. The bride asked her mother why, and the mother said because her mother did. They then asked the grandma why she cuts the ends off her roast and the grandmother said, "because that's the only way the roast would fit in my pan."

When I was making cookies with Madeleine I thought about how I arrange my cookies on the baking sheet. I make a baker's dozen per pan, arranged like this:

A baker's dozen per cookie sheet

I've always done it that way. That's the way my mom does it, and I learned it from her. I'll have to ask her if that's how my grandmother did it, or if my mom just figured that out by herself.

Cookies with Madeleine

Madeleine was here today, and we made cookies. This time we cooked up a baker's dozen and froze the other 7 dozen (best recipe ever!). Madeleine helped me dump the sugars, flour, chocolate chips (minus a few that needed to be tasted for quality first), and oatmeal into the bowl. Then we both watched it mix, and had a little taste or two (more quality testing).

Big Helper Madeleine and Diane (cute apron by Elna)

Of course, once the cookies were baked, there was once again the need to taste test.

Madeleine reaping the reward of her hard work

All quality testing passed with flying colors. The frozen cookie dough balls will go with us to Yosemite next week, where we can bake them up and the whole family can have them hot out of the oven.

Another Abandoned Book

A friend recommended this book - said it is her all-time favorite.

Somehow it didn't click with me. I didn't hate it at all. I just thought it was okay. I haven't had as much time to read lately, and I wonder if it is just not quite gripping enough to keep me going when I can only catch a moment of reading here and there.

But then, I've read plenty of books that easily keep me going when I don't have a lot of time to read.

The book is due tomorrow. I'm about halfway done (page 231 of over 500 pages). I've given it a fair try. Frankly, I don't really care what happens to any of the characters at this point, and the book can't be renewed. I decided it's not worth paying overdue fines for a book that hasn't "captured" me.

It sure seems like a book I should love--history, love, intrigue. I guess we just aren't meant for each other.

Maybe I'll try it another time. Maybe not. I've got a lot of books waiting for me out there.

Garment Sewing

I used to make all my own clothing, except for pants. I didn't really have the patience for the detail with pants. Sometimes I would buy fabric on a Saturday morning and have something new to wear when I went out with my friends that night.

 I started sewing when I was about 10. It used to be I could sew about four outfits for the price of buying one outfit, but that's not really true anymore. Now I buy my clothing.

I still sew, but it is almost exclusively quilting. This week I was adventurous and made a few skirts for Audrey. My friend Jeanie taught us how to make the pattern (something I have never done before), and I whipped up the skirts in no time. I made a burgundy skirt (it looks pink in the picture), a white skirt, and brown skirt. The brown skirt has six panels, and a zipper. It is two layers. The burgundy and white skirts are made of gauze, with an elastic waist - easy peasy. 

Here is my silly daughter, modelling her new clothes:

Audrey in the white skirt

Audrey in the pink skirt

Audrey in the brown skirt - two layers

And my silly daughter's lovely children (also silly at times):

Elizabeth - almost 16 months, queen bee

Austin, 5 years, Matthew three and a half

Fashion and Beauty Tips

As I got ready for church today, I noticed three things that I do on a regular basis. These are things I read about as a teenager (likely in Seventeen Magazine), and still do.

1. When I lotion my face, I rub the extra lotion remaining on my hands on my elbows (in hopes of keeping them soft). I always do this - it would feel weird not to!

2. I apply mascara to my lower lashes first (keeps the upper lash mascara from blotting on my eyelids).

3. Best tip ever: I wear my slip inside out. It keeps my skirt from crawling. I don't know where I read this, but it really, really works. I recommend it if you don't do it already.

What do you do on a regular basis?

Funerals and Friends

Mae Blanch: 1928-2010

A good friend of my mother-in-law died last week. My mother-in-law is on a mission in Hong Kong right now, and was unable to attend the funeral. I went with two sisters-in-law as our family representatives.

It was a delightful funeral. I learned lots of lovely things about Mae, and what a wonderful life she led. She never married, but had a large family of nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She was an English professor at BYU (I had a class from her 32 or 33 years ago, and still remember her from that).

But here is what I really enjoyed: the main speakers were five of her women friends. This was a perspective that I loved! Girlfriends see into each other's hearts in a way that is different from everyone else. We are not just mothers or children or siblings or wives to our girlfriends. I'm not minimizing being a mother, child, sibling, or wife - those are very important parts of my being, that enhance and edify my life. But there is a part of me that is just me, and I love how that comes out with my friends.

I think there should be a girlfriend luncheon before every funeral. A time to pay tribute, laugh, and cry amongst ourselves about the special parts of each other that we share because of our friendship.

But even more importantly, we need to have that girlfriend luncheon on a regular basis while we are all alive and able to revel in that friendship together.

Cookie Conversation Follow-up

I left for awhile last night. Audrey reported this conversation that occurred during the consumption of cookies:

Austin: G'ma is lazy.

Audrey: What??

Austin: G'ma is lazy.

Audrey: Why in the world would you say that?

Austin: When she put the cookies on the paper, I asked her why. She said, "Because I'm lazy."

(I put parchment paper on my cookie sheets--the cookies bake more evenly, and it is easier to wash the cookie sheets.)