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Big Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

Big Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

A Cookie Monster favorite

“It’s not a silly thing.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I am not bold enough to say these are the best Chocolate Chip Cookies, but they are mighty fine. No obscure ingredients, no overnight chilling time, just a huge batch of scrumptious Chocolate Chip Cookies. These are everybody’s favorite cookie, including the Cookie Monster at my house. I don’t even consider making a small batch of this recipe any more. We keep the dough chilled in the refrigerator and bake them a tray at a time. That way we can enjoy them warm from the oven. The aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking is one of life’s little pleasures. READ MORE . . .

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Giant Cookie Cake

Giant Cookie Cake

Lessons in Acceptance

“I have wondered why it is that some people are less affected and torn by the verities of life and death than others.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Like kite tails swirling in the blustery spring wind; days whirl by. Tangled together the strings are difficult to separate, one day resembles the next. We go along, go along and then venture a bit further. Further from ourselves and what really means the most to us. Sometimes, all the pressures and self imposed expectations of family, work and self intertwine into a jumbled ball of tension and frustration that is more challenging and time consuming to sort out than the tangled kite string. I had arrived at such a place. At the time I didn’t understand how I got there; I was just hanging on to that jumble of a swirling kite tail. Spinning, dizzy with raging emotions I was unsure of myself. I needed shelter from the intense vertigo and most of all needed to accept my arrival at the destination I had played a part in choosing. In the five stages of grief, acceptance is last. No matter how hard we work or how smart we may be the realization that life has blemishes and injuries result in scars is at times daunting. READ MORE . . .

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Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sunflower Seeds

Chocolate chip cookies with sunflowers

The seeds of inspiration: Marion Cunningham

“If one were properly to perform a difficult and subtle act, he should first inspect the end to be achieved and then, once he had accepted the end as desirable, he should forget it completely and concentrate solely on the means. By this method he would not be moved to false action by anxiety or hurry or fear. Very few people learn this.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Many years ago I was given a copy of the The Fannie Farmer Baking Book written by Marion Cunningham as a birthday present. It is the 1984 edition which includes over 800 baking recipes. Holding a place of prominence on my bookshelf, it is a cookbook that has stood the test of time. My daughter now uses this cookbook. My favorite scone recipe is here. I have tried other scone recipes, but I always return to Marion Cunningham. My daughter uses the The Fannie Farmer Baking Book for “Soft Oatmeal Cookies” and the recipe I adapted for this post “Chocolate Chip Cookies”. She likes this recipe with peanut butter; just hold the peanuts. For years it was the only baking book I used. I was busy, working full time while raising a family. When I baked I needed to be sure the final product was a stellar success. There was no time to experiment. This is the book I used. READ MORE . . .

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Banana Nut Bread

Two freshly-baked banana bread options

Banana Nut Bread with orange zest or chocolate chips!

“While Lee helped him Adam said, ‘I had a dream—very real. I dreamed about my father.’”

—East of Eden, John Steinbeck


Inspiration

My father always said he didn’t care for sweets, but loved to eat them! His favorite dessert was banana nut bread. He adored bananas. My dad grew up in the “drought and depression” (that was his description). For his family sweets were something to dream about. He found bananas to be exotic and sweet and he liked them. I have tried many banana nut bread recipes, but this one is the best. The recipe was shared with my daughter by a friend who enjoys baking. Her friend loves to get up early in the morning and start baking at 5am. I am so impressed! Her family has used this recipe for several generations. She adds chocolate chips to her banana nut bread. I like to add orange zest to my bread. READ MORE . . .