The Best Cookies Ever

It took only about 30 minutes, but I made the best cookies ever. I came across this recipe in an older cookbook, but it has always been one of my favorites. It’s great for baking on a budget, too--only a few staple ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, baking powder, and almond extract.

With this morning’s cold and stormy weather, I was content to be reading and listening to the rain. As I was getting sleepy, the kids were getting hungry. Remembering that Lillian ate only half of her Frosted Mini Wheats, I thought it couldn’t hurt to make them a little treat?

Problem 1. We have no chocolate chips. Can any dessert be good without chocolate in it? Ah, yes! Almond cookies!

Problem 2. Convincing children that a cookie that starts with “almond” can be good. Luke muttered, “What kind?” I answered, “Well, they’re really sugar cookies, but they have an almond flavor, but not really. Trust me--you’ll like 'em!”

As I shaped the dough into balls, Luke rolled them into sugar and put them on the cookie sheet. His skepticism turned into anticipation. “Well...they smell good!”

The result? They were perfect! Light, soft circles of sugary goodness. I poured another cup of coffee and delighted in the heart-warming outcome. We took a picture just for the blog--just in case you, reader, find yourself in a storm and out of chocolate chips.

Almond Cookies

2 sticks butter or margarine, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 cups flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp almond extract
Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Yields: 18 cookies

It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it.

~Julia Child

Spoken from the Heart

ISBN 978-1-4391-5520-2
Scribner, May 2010

I’ve been reading the former First Lady’s book, “Spoken from the Heart”. It is truly a Texas treasure. She speaks of her growing-up years in Midland, her relationship with her parents as an only child, and how she came to know George, enjoyed raising her two girls, Barbara and Jenna, and faced the reality of enduring politics and public service.

What surprised me was her sincerity in describing her feelings as a daughter, friend, wife, mother, and First Lady. I found myself breaking down in tears as she recalled her childhood, and then also again during the events of 9-11. I didn’t want to read that chapter, but I did, and it opened up the flood gate of emotions that all Americans must have felt on that horrific day. She explains how she dealt with the media’s opinion of her during those many years, and how she leaned on the help and advice of many friends and advisors. The book closes with how she and George were relieved to return to private life, yet they were sad to say good-bye to the many people they worked with at the White House. She often longs for a quiet, anonymous life, similar to her childhood in Midland, but she settles for the busy, post-presidential life in Dallas and in Crawford, at the Prairie Chapel Ranch.

I was blessed by her book in that it was indeed “spoken from the heart”.  Great time was put into recording specific details about both personal and national events during their presidency; but in her notes, she recorded how she felt and the people she met during the highs and lows of the decade. Her pride in being a mother, daughter, and loyal wife is evident and contagious. I was left knowing so much more about her complex and interesting life. This is a must-read for all Texan moms, of course.

White Chicken Chili

Our family got back from a long road trip to Amarillo. I started to write about West Texas, but my entry was turning into a book, so I stopped. Maybe that will be for a later date. We all needed a change from the typical fast food and Valentine's candy, so I searched online for something good to eat.

I had all the ingredients for White Chicken Chili, and I found a great recipe here. I'm not familiar with this author, but she has many tasty recipes listed on her page. I made a few modifications, like cutting the ingredients almost in half to serve 4-6. I also didn't have Tabasco, so I used cayenne pepper.

Ingredients:

1 can (16 oz or so) of white beans (Northern beans)

1 large yellow onion, peeled and chopped

1/2 stick light margarine

1/2 of 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup chicken broth (find the kind with no msg)

1/2 cup half and half

1/2 cup 2% milk

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

3/4 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 can (4 oz) mild green chilis, drained and chopped (can use less to make milder)

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or about 1 lb.)

some extra margarine or oil to cook them in

Optional condiments: grated Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese, chopped tomatoes, sour cream

Instructions:

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add margarine or oil. 
2. Coat the chicken with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Cook the pieces in the skillet for five minutes, do not turn it over until after 5 minutes. Then, flip the chicken and cook the other side until nicely browned.
3. Remove the chicken from the pan. When it is cool, you can shred it with your fingers or a fork, or leave it as is.
4. While waiting for the chicken to cool, cook the onion in the same pan with 2 Tablespoons of margarine or butter until the onion is softened. Set aside.
5. In the same heavy pot, melt remaining 3 Tablespoons of butter or margarine over medium to low heat. Whisk in flour. Cook and whisk constantly, for about three minutes.
6. Stir in the onion, gradually add the broth, half and half, milk, and continue whisking.
7. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes.
8. Stir in the cayenne pepper, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. 
9. Add beans, chilis, chicken. Continue to cook and stir over low heat for about 20 minutes.
10. Serve alone or over rice, with cheese, tomatoes, etc.

The original recipe called for a cup of half and half, but I used 1/2 cup, with 2% milk to make up the difference. My version was still spicy, but delicious! We had enough for about 4-6 servings, if served over rice. Enjoy!

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek. ~Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

The family who eats together, stays together. ~Anonymous

Wii and Me

We enjoyed another snow day today. I think this was the fifth day within a two-week period, but it was still fun waking up to that phone call. This would have been my third consecutive day to work out at the gym, so instead, Sarah set me up a profile on the Wii Fit Plus. It was a Christmas present for all of us, but so far, I had only watched from afar. Too lazy. Turns out, it's a lot of fun!


Luke is the champion of the Super Hula-Hoop. Sarah scored big on the Ski Jump. Lillian likes to bowl and run. Tim and I took turns trying to upset Sarah's 1st place standings, but she held on to a few. After trying about a dozen exercises, including running in place for about 15 minutes, I only burned about 180 calories. Not too effective, but I provided some inexpensive entertainment for my family :)


I think Luke and Lillian hugged me more today than they have in a long while. What a nice feeling.

This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

A happy family is but an earlier heaven. ~George Bernard Shaw

The Valley Experiences in Our Life

The Valley Experiences in Our Life

The above link will take you to a video of a sermon I found today while in my sickbed. It was so comforting and true. Enjoy!

On Civility and Shopping with Kids

ISBN 978-0312281182
St. Martin's Press, Feb. 2002

Shopping with kids (however old they may be) evokes real drama.  This was the case today after school, running in for a few groceries at the store. You can just imagine two kids--one quickly pushing the cart, and the other sarcastically trying to help. Jokes and mockery, competing for attention (although just acting their age)…what might have taken 5 minutes, turned into about 25. So, this is normal behavior for tired kids at a store after school, right?

Following the teasing in the parking lot, quarrelling over how to share a candy bar--okay, I was part of that--and, fighting traffic, I was reminded of the national media coverage today on the topic of "civility".  Maybe this is something I need to read about and pass on to my children!

One author and civility expert in the news today was Dr. P.M. Forni. He is an award-winning professor at John Hopkins University. His book, Choosing Civility, was written based on these 25 rules:

1. Pay attention
2. Acknowledge others
3. Think the best
4. Listen
5. Be inclusive
6. Speak kindly
7. Don't speak ill
8. Accept and give praise
9. Respect even a subtle "no"
10. Respect others' opinions
11. Mind your body
12. Be agreeable
13. Keep it down (and rediscover silence)
14. Respect other people's time
15. Respect other people's space
16. Apologize earnestly
17. Assert yourself
18. Avoid personal questions
19. Care for your guests
20. Be a considerate guest
21. Think twice before asking for favors
22. Refrain from idle complaints
23. Accept and give constructive criticism
24. Respect the environment and be gentle
25. Don't shift responsibility and blame

 We could have used more of #13 at the store, and less #17. Just sayin'.

As citizens we have to be more thoughtful and more educated and more informed. I turn on the TV and I see these grown people screaming at each other, and I think, well, if we don't get our civility back, we're in trouble. ~Emmylou Harris

Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.  ~Author Unknown

Teaching civility is an obligation of the family. ~Stephen Carter

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)

Have Mercy on Mom

So, last night, our eighth grade daughter was upstairs studying so very intently. Skeptical, after a couple of long hours of her quietly keeping to her room, I went to check on her. Imagining she would be bent over her desk, arduously studying for a test, I found her laying on the floor, falling asleep--in front of the TV. My pity and empathetic sorrow went out the window.

I turned into a mom. What followed were a few minutes of interrogation, scolding, and traditional nagging. Feeling so self-assured and "right", I marched back down the stairs…

…and proceeded to lose my confident footing and fall down the last three steps, slip on the tile floor, break a nail, land on my arm and hurt my back, and stand there sheepishly, while she and her dad stared at me (trying not to laugh).

It took about a minute to "get over myself", but we all got a big chuckle at my expense!

My buddies, Summer 2010

Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.  ~Robert Fulghum