2007 - Postscript to a Painful 2006

My sister Lisa, co-founder and co-creator of Our Cookie Journal, loved Christmas and family.

I couldn't write anymore last year after Lisa died— too bleary-eyed and heart-broken. I don't even think I baked anything else after Charlie and I got back to England. I was shattered with grief and we both had jet-lag. Christmas was less than a week away and we were scheduled to move into our new house in January. It was a relief that there was so much going on; I didn't have as much time to dwell on my loss.

I'll miss my sister in every way, every day. Since it was close to Christmas and I'd had Our Cookie Journal out, I took it with me to the funeral, with loads of photos. It was nice to have a legacy to remember her and something she loved doing — baking cookies with and for her family. 

Mom said that Lisa, Mike and April made Festive Fudge the weekend before she died. I'm glad I made it too — and that I got to tell her about it. We talked about how good it was and how it reminded us of the fudge we'd buy by the pound at the Kentucky State Fair.

I've already written that she baked Pumpkin Bread in some giant loaf tins that Mike bought for her. And she made April's birthday cake earlier in the week — chocolate frosting on a yellow cake for her youngest of four daughters, a 10-year-old.

She also showcased a new entry in her repertoire: Crunchy Peanut Butter Balls. There's a Rice Krispy version that uses powdered sugar but she used a recipe featured in Taste of Home magazine. More a candy than a cookie, these rich concoctions were the last treats she made. She declared them a success worth repeating and had three fresh off the tray — as did April and Rachel. They were still in the fridge at her house on the day of her funeral, and the girls offered one to me. I took a chocolate-y sphere from the tray, took one bit and, although it was yummy, I just couldn't swallow it. It was too sad and I was too choked up. April said they wound up throwing the rest of them out because they depressed everyone. Bless her. 

Mom had planned to make White Chocolate Cherry Crunchies but said she couldn't remember where she saw the recipe. It was Lisa who had remembered that it was Paula Deen's recipe. That girl's memory was impeccable! I will miss that so much — she knew all the dates and names and details of all our lives. Mom had a batch of Coconut Cream-Filled Macaroons in the fridge that she couldn't ever bring herself to finish after Lisa died. She threw it all out. "I wanted to knock it all on the floor," she said. 

Rachel and April wound up making some slice and bake cookies — snowmen, trees and stars. Danielle and Michelle said they just couldn't because it would be too depressing. April said making cookies, like her mom did, made her happy. We all handle it differently.

Michael honored Lisa with a baking frenzy that included Chocolate Chip Cookies, Whoopie Pies (regular and peanut butter), Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter Fudge and Donya's Coconut Crunch Delight. Lisa definitely would have given him a cookie stamp of approval on such a peanut-buttery array. I'm sure his baking session was cathartic as well.

I will miss her brief but brilliant entries in Our Cookie Journal. As well as collecting and trading recipes with each other. And passing the diary back and forth each year to review Christmases (and kitchens) past and talk about the current year's hits and misses. I'll miss her memory, her sense of humor and her love and comfort. I'll miss her help in the kitchen, even when we weren't baking side-by-side. I'll miss the promise of another session with her. But I'll never forget the fun we shared, the memories we made and the dozens of cookies we ate together. I'll measure every new recipe by her standards and her memory will mingle with the aromas in my kitchen every time I bake cookies. I love you, Dahling! Merry Christmas, always! 

Crunchy Peanut Butter Balls

1 c peanut butter

1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme

1 1/2 c crisp rice cereal

1 1/2 c (9 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

4 tsp vegetable shortening

In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter and marshmallow creme; add cereal and stir until well coated.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and shortening. Microwave, uncovered, for 1-2 minutes, or until chips are melted; stir until smooth.

Roll cereal mixture into 1-inch balls; dip in chocolate. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until set.

Yield: 2 1/2 dozen.

2006 - We Come Bearing Cookies

Cookie Sampler, 2006.

I cranked out a batch of Dunkable Brownies yesterday (Dec. 8), resulting in 5 decadent dozen! I baked them for only 8 1/2 minutes in my fan-assisted oven because they're not nearly as nice if they're overbaked. I want them chewy and moist, not hard and dry.

I also baked the Snickerdoodle Pinwheels that I prepared yesterday and wound up with 10 1/2 dozen. I don't know how I got them all in the freezer! I just kept shifting things; and I tossed a few questionable items. The Snicks were tastier this time, with the extra cinnamon-sugar. And I just love the way they look. 

I made a quick batch of Coconut Cream-Filled Macaroons too. I had a bit of a mis-hap though: the recipe calls for unsweetened coconut and I added sweetened (which I've done in the past) but forgot to adjust the sugar in the recipe! And I even consulted last year's entry in Our Cookie Journal before I began.

I didn't have a chance to finish them yesterday, anyway, so I don't know yet how they'll turn out. I had to get Charlie's supper ready for him after he got home from his school trip to the Cinderella pantomime. And I had tea with Linda and Neil, our next-door neighbors from Winslow Hall. 

I did manage to mix up some Spicy Pumpkin Seeds to put in the cookie gift boxes though. They're so tasty, yet so easy — I made 6 cups' worth.

There were only four cookie boxes to make this year for Charlie's teachers and headmistress. I was very happy with the results (and so were they). Charlie and I delivered them this morning. I enclosed a card, so they'd know it was a perishable gift. On the back of the card, I put a photo of what was inside, as a legend (like chocolate boxes):

Pumpkin Bread; Fudge Two Ways; Overnight Cookies; Snickerdoodle Pinwheels; Spicy Pumpkin Seeds; Nestle's Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies; Dunkable Brownies; and Lime Meltaways.

I'm exhausted! But not finished. I still want to make the Coconut Cookies, even though they're not going in any treat boxes. They'll be great for cookie trays throughout the season. And I want to call Lisa and see what she's making or if she has any new entries for the diary. I've tried her a few times but she's sooo busy with her job at Meijer. She must work 60 hours a week! We talked about stocking stuffers not long ago though! I'm glad we've kept up the tradition even after I moved to England. Anyway, I'll call her tomorrow after I get back with Charlie from Millie's birthday party. 

I packed four boxes with cookies and more for Charlie's teachers & headmistress.

2006 - Overnight (Cookies) Sensation

SIGH! For some reason, I couldn't get motivated this year! I was as sick as a dog the day after Thanksgiving, so that didn't help. And I've been very busy with Charlie and all his school-related activities. But his last day of school is Friday and I needed to get moving so we can give cookies as gifts to his teachers. Sooooo, right after I got home from walking Charlie to school, I got busy!

While waiting for the butter to soften, I whipped up another batch of Pumpkin Bread. I wound up with seven mini loaves. I froze all but one, which I intend to eat for breakfast!

I was still undecided what to even make this year. I didn't want to make all the same things again. And since the oven was in use for the Pumpkin Bread, I thought I'd try Lisa's Festive Fudge. It's an Eagle Brand (condensed milk) recipe that she gave me last year. It was easy and quick — I made one pan of chocolate fudge and one pan of chocolate-pecan fudge. Of course, I sampled a square from each batch (two hours of chilling later) and deemed it dee-lish! I tinned it all up and put it in the fridge. Yield: 2 pounds.

After that, I decided to go with Lime Meltaways again. They're easy enough, being slice-and-bakes, so I mixed up the dough, wrapped the logs in parchment, and put them in paper-towel tubes in the fridge. I made a double batch of four logs, which I'll slice and bake tomorrow. 

Then I called Mom to ask her about Grandma Baker's Overnight Cookies. As kids, we never liked them as much as her other cookies. I remember Dad loved them and ate them by the handful. But Mom couldn't find her recipe, so I called Aunt Judy in Ohio. She easily found the recipe and quickly rattled off the ingredients. She couldn't say how long to bake them though and said, "Can't you tell when they're done?" I had to laugh! Of course I can but my OCD kicked in and I needed her to say!

I started them in my stand mixer but had to switch to an enormous bowl — it's a gigantic recipe! Aunt Judy remembered that Dad didn't like nuts (and neither does Charlie) but I do, so I added pecans to half the dough. I got five hefty logs from it. By that time, Charlie was home and writing his Christmas cards at the table, so I called it a night.

Without nuts for Charlie (and most kids).

Grandma Baker's Overnight Cookies

4 c brown sugar

1 c butter

4 eggs

6 c flour

1 Tbsp soda

1 Tbsp cream of tartar

1 c nuts

In a large bowl, sift together flour, soda and cream of tartar. In a HUGE bowl, combine brown sugar and butter and blend well. Add eggs and combine until well-mixed. Stir in nuts.

Form dough into loaves or logs and wrap in parchment paper. Chill overnight. 

Slice and bake cookies at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 10 minutes (rotating cookie sheet midway). Makes about 15 dozen!

With nuts, for meeee!

I shared this recipe with the Foodtastic Friday Feelin' at Not Your Ordinary Recipes.