Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Tribute to a Lovely Lady

A wonderful woman we've had the joy of knowing for the past 30 years or so passed away Sunday from pancreatic cancer. She will leave a huge hole in the hearts of her family and friends. She was always friendly, always upbeat, always ready with a smile and a warm greeting.

Along with my memories of time spent with her is this recipe for oatmeal cookies. One of my theories of cooking is that if you want to be a good cook, find a good recipe. This recipe is a keeper. I've used it for years and the results are always delicious.

Here is the original recipe:

Refrigerator Oatmeal Cookies

Cream together:

1 cup shortening
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar

Add:

2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla

Then add:

3 cups oatmeal
1 1/2 cups lfour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Shape into a roll and chill. The dough is very stiff. Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes.

Last week, Clovis and Raquel's Father (aka Little Man's Father) used this recipe and made some variations:

Use 1/2 cup shortening and 1/2 cup butter
Use 2-3 tsps vanilla
Add 2-3 tsps cinnamon
Add about a cup of dried fruit - raisins, currants, craisins, dried apricots (chopped)
Add 1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts.

All I can say is "WOW".

Monday I decided to try another variation:

Use 1/2 cup shortening and 1/2 cup butter
Use 2-3 tsps vanilla
Add a 12 oz bag of chocolate chips.

Again - WOW is the word!

So, farewell our friend, and thank you. You are alive in our memories.