All things new ...

"At the end of every year, on December 31st, we get so excited about the prospect of the new year which is about to dawn. We have such high hopes and unreasonable expectations. People gather together with family and friends, or in large groups in public spaces such as Trafalgar Square, the Embankment, Times Square, Sydney and Dubai, to wave goodbye to the out-going year and celebrate the promise of the new one, with elaborate fireworks displays.

So much optimism; so many possibilities. Yet within a matter of a few hours, it all evaporates. This January, many of us have been battling widespread flooding once again. Something we all hoped was behind us, following a similar situation in 2012, which caused so much damage and disruption, and loss of life. Yes, it didn’t take long for us to start cursing 2014 and longing for January to be gone.

Many of us still make resolutions, and with the best of intentions vow to make changes which will improve our health, our wealth, our relationships, and if we aim really high, the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves, and the world in general.

Spring is a time for cleaning and sorting and stocktaking. Cupboards are emptied, paperwork is filed.  Rooms are tidied and redecorated. And in the removing of clutter, we feel better in our spirits when the physical and mental and emotional cobwebs are dusted off. We can think more clearly and react more logically. For a while,

For myself, I resolved to be more like my dear, late husband; more positive, tolerant and loving. He was such an inspiration, and I want to be worthy of him. Spring-cleaning and a healthier lifestyle involving taking more exercise also feature on my list of ‘must dos’. But even as I resolved all this, I know beyond doubt, that come February, they will be history, and both my house and me will be as messed up as before.

Really, in all honesty, the only new thing to have permanence in my life is a wonderful little granddaughter, Emily, a cousin for Sam, who is now almost fourteen. Aside from her, “Vanity, vanity. All is vanity. “As it says in Ecclesiastes. But I know that come December 2014, we will go through the whole business once again. And maybe that’s the human spirit and to use another famous quote about second marriages, from Samuel Johnson, is “The triumph of hope over experience”. I will just add that in my own case, my second marriage was a match made in heaven."

Penny from across the pond. 

Granny's Sugar Cookies

Granny’s Sugar Cookies

The holidays are full of memories for many and I am one of those with a polaroid camera full of memories.  You do remember those cameras.  The ones where the picture came out of the bottom of the camera. 

Every year, my girls and I set out on a mission to make Granny’s sugar cookies.  These are the cookies that my grandmother made for us each year to eat after the Christmas program at church.  The cookies are sugary, thick and buttery little masterpieces!  Out from the bottom drawer of the kitchen cabinet comes the wooden rolling pin, next comes the slightly tattered original recipe that my grandmother used when she made the cookies. Next, let the combining of ingredients begin. 

·      2 cups of flour

·      2 tsp. baking powder

·      ½ tsp. salt

·      ½ tsp. nutmeg

·      2 eggs

·      2/3 cup vegetable oil

·      1/tsp. vanilla

·      ¾ cups sugar (One year I mistakenly used salt)

o   Sift together flour baking powder salt and nutmeg.  Beat eggs in large bowl, stir in oil and vanilla.  Blend in sugar and add flour mixture.  Drop on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten cookies with an oiled glassed, dipped in sugar. 

The recipe seems simple enough, but let’s add a few twists and turns to this delightful experience.  This Christmas, we added Farm Fresh eggs.  “Can you get the eggs from the refrigerator Keiana?”  Let me get it; let me get them, screams came from both Kelaina and Keiana.  Both girls were so excited to be able to retrieve the eggs from the big black box that sits majestically in the corner of our kitchen.  No, the girls didn’t travel down the road less traveled to a red painted barn an bypass Wilbur to uncover the eggs.  But, they did have farm fresh, never been to a grocery store eggs.  After retrieving the eggs, they began to examine the eggs.  “Why mom, why do these eggs have dirt on them, what is that?”  Why, it’s bird poop!  These are farm fresh eggs!  You must wash them before each using them and wash your hands after using them?  “What are you kidding?”  You mean these came from the chicken’s butt?  OMG mom, why?  “What is wrong with you mom?  I  have never truly reviewed in detail a chicken’s private parts.  Nor, have I had the urge to do so.  And, we didn’t decide why the chicken crossed the road or which came first, the chicken or the egg.  However, we got past the chicken butt dilemma and moved into the sticky dough rollout and all of the sugar sprinkles.  You see, I have every color of sprinkle that a bakery would have and my girls want to use every drop.  The dough is rolled out on the cold marble surface and just the right cookie cutter is selected, an angel, a star, not so well formed Christmas tree.  Then, the sprinkles, red, green, yellow, U.K. blue, you take your pick; we have to add the sprinkles.  The problem comes about, when too many sprinkles are placed on a cookie and the sugar begins resembling a stained glass window. 

Did I mention that the older daughter volunteered me to make 300 cookies so that all of her friends could have some of the cookies before she went to break?  Three Hundred, 300, how many other ways can I say that?  A lot of cookies!  So, with that, we made chocolate chip cookies, snickerdoodles, sugar cookies, fudge and even a few brownies!  We placed the cookies in baggies and boxes and tied them with ribbons and bows.  After placing the last cookie into the baggie, the youngest daughter made her request!  “Mom, can you make Puppy Chow for my class for tomorrow! “  For a minute, I thought I as on a new reality show, Extreme Baking challenge.  I tell you what, we had three straight nights of baking, and I wouldn’t change a thing. After all of the baking, the best part of all, is we made more memories, more stories to tell! 

When the girls and I first started baking, they couldn’t reach the counter.  They stood on chairs and stools to help me stir and mix the dough.  As the years have gone by, the girls have grown taller, one in particular, is taller than I.  However, the cookie recipe is the same, the rolling pin and our tradition is untouched.  The same cookie cutter still exists.  We have now switched from store bought to organic free range chicken eggs and I have a new story to tell!