HEY GOOD LOOKIN', WHATCHA GOT COOKIN'When Lexi asked me to be a guest blogger, I was honored, nervous (y'all know what a fantastic writer she is! My post is going to look so mediocre in comparison), and excited. I've never been a guest blogger, so I guess Lexi
HOW'S ABOUT COOKIN' SOMETHING UP WITH ME
HEY, SWEET BABY, DON'T YOU THINK MAYBE
WE COULD FIND OURSELVES A BRAND NEW RECIPE
My mother ("Mama" to me) has so many talents I wonder how she has time to sleep. She can sew, play numerous musical instruments, design, build and decorate her house(which she and my daddy have built from the ground up with their own two hands), create wedding cakes and much loved quilts for her grandkids all while holding down callings for the church and supporting my father as the bishop of their ward.
Some of her skills have been passed on to me, through teaching and observation. I can sew (if I have to), I like to LISTEN to musical instruments being played (I took creative writing instead of band. I wonder if I am a disappointment since all three of my siblings play musical instruments?), and I am learning to decorate cakes by observing her and making lots of phone calls once I try my hand at a new skill.
When I was 12, my mother was extremely sick with the flu. It was Thanksgiving time and I, being the oldest of four children, did not want for our family to miss Thanksgiving dinner (I guess my dad could have done it, but I wanted to). I planned a menu, went shopping, and prepared an entire Thanksgiving dinner, from turkey to potatoes to homemade pie. (I bet I did NOT make gravy though. To this day I cannot make gravy.) I was able to do all of this because my parents taught me basic skills, such as measuring, following a recipe, and knowing when to ask for help.
Although I don't remember the dinner, my parents claim it was a success, and since I've been allowed to cook holiday meals unassisted since then, I will believe them. (Though questioning looks were sent my way the year the turkey was VERY dry. Turns out Bart turned the temp. up b/c he thought my mom miscalculated the cooking time of Tom Turkey in the Ronco Cooker)
I don't remember lots of time spent in the kitchen with my mother as a child (boy, did that change once my mom's cake business took off!), but I do remember being allowed to cook and create from a young age. It was my parents trust in me that has allowed me to have confidence both in the kitchen and in life and this is one thing I am (hopefully) passing on to my children.
One of my favorite things to do with my children is cook. They love to help measure ingredients, smelling and tasting everything as we go along. I know I am instilling in them a skill that is necessary for survival and memories that
One favorite recipe (one I've had since I was in high school and still bake quite often) of mine is Oatmeal Cookies. The recipe is so simple, and I almost always have all the ingredients on hand. It is really fool proof and very easy for my boys to help create. (I would share with you my mom's top secret cake recipes and fondant recipes, but then she would disown me and we don't want that, now do we?)
What you need:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg (though I leave this out. I am not a fan)
2 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup shortening (Yep)
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla.
You combine all ingredients in one bowl at one time. Seriously. No creaming of sugars and fats first, no sifting flour. None of that time consuming stuff. Throw it all in a bowl and stir...either with a wooden spoon (because I ♥ wooden spoons) or your fancy pants Kitchen Aide mixer...your choice. (I ♥ my KA.) Then, if you 
Place cookies on your cookie sheet (I use a cookie scoop, it makes for very uniform cookies that have a nice shape) and bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown. I've always found the phrase "golden brown" kind of funny in baking. I mean, isn't it brown to start out with? Cool cookies on wire rack and store in air tight container. I use a pie plate that was my great grandmothers. The lid is cracked and superglued together, and it keeps the cookies very soft for about four days, if they last that long.
Be sure to enjoy one or two while the chocolate chips are still warm and gooey. I think tasting the cookies is Jack's favorite part, and let me tell you, he is a great taste tester.If it weren't for skills shared by my mother, I don't think I would have the gumption to bake with my boys. To be honest, it is often messy, frustrating, and did I mention messy? to have them in the kitchen as I mix and bake. However, I am hoping the long term rewards will benefit and override the messes and spills.
I mean, who's going to make ME a Thanksgiving dinner?
2 comments:
I am no good at making gravy either! Troy always has to do it because I never know the right ratio to make it work. I make pretty much everything else- you can tell if I'm stressed/strapped for time because then I don't make homemade rolls but usually I try to do everything too.
I am definitely trying these oatmeal cookies- I'll just need to go get some shortening first. Do you just use the original kind or do you get the 'butter' flavored one I've seen before?
Oh, and there is nothing better than warm, melted chocolate chips in a cookie fresh out of the oven. Mmmm.
I use regular shortening, the same kind I use (occasionally) in frosting. (Usually I use real butter and cream cheese)
I like these cookies b/c they are soft and fluffy. When I try to make traditional choc. chip cookies using the Toll House recipe, they get hard as rocks and are as flat as pancakes, so I have quit trying.
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