Apples&Thyme!!

So, this is officially my first post involving the Daring Bakers group. I wasn't going to do it, I didn't think I had enough time so had put it aside. But every time I logged on I would see it, and instantly think of my Great Grandma. So I thought to myself..what do I think of?? Well her Chicken and dumplings for sure, big pot and all the family..definitely my Moms favorite. How it is made, I have no idea. The only Cook book I was lucky to get was her Joy Of Cooking.

I got that book in 1991 when I was 14, and I stole it..kind of. My Grandma could no longer live on her own, and my Great Aunt and Uncle could no longer care for her so we were moving her to a home. I remember hearing everyone talk about what they were keeping and thought to myself "how could these people talk like this of her, she is just going somewhere else to live, shes not gone and they are already talking like she is." I picked up a box to take to the car, and there on top was her Joy of Cooking. See I spent every weekend I could with my Grandma, for as long as I could remember, probably since I had been 7 yrs old. It was my favorite place to be. Begging mom on Friday night to take me, stay up late eating homemade Carmel corn and watching Golden Girls..when it came on at 11pm. We would wake up early on Saturday mornings and make silver dollar pancakes and bacon for breakfast then spend the day watching the Price is Right and learning how to crotchet. It was in the late afternoon that I couldn't wait for. We always baked Cookies, Snickerdoodles. So as I put that box into the car, I took her book and slid it under my Grandpa's seat and finished packing. As we got in the car, my Aunt, my Grandma, my Grandpa and I; I spoke up and told Grandpa not to move his seat. When he asked Why I explained about the book. My Aunt, down from Oregon looked at me and said " Tina, Grandma always told me the one thing she always wanted you to have was that Cook book, Its yours and no one else will get it. You take it home and remember your time with her." I remember tears in both of our eyes and it still brings tears even now.


So, as soon as I through out the idea of Chicken and Dumplings I thought, well the Snickerdoodles of course. So I pulled out that book, of which I have not opened in over 10yrs and went to the index. To my surprise there was no snickerdoodle recipe. Bummed I was, I know that is the book we used all those Saturdays baking. So I sat down and opened the book. The cover is her scribble for 2 persimmon recipes (she loved her persimmon's). The next page is the note I made of getting the book in 1991, and then her passing in 2001. and the next page on the top Right hand corner was the scribble of Snickerdoodle Cookies. That right there told me I was to do this post and make those cookies.


As you can see, the recipe was minimal. No more than the ingredients, a bit of sifting, rolling the balls, the cinnamon&sugar, the oven temp and time to bake. Leave it to Grandma to make it that simple. They were the best cookies. The reason Mom always gave in, was the knowledge that I would be bringing home some of her favorite Cookies on Sunday.


I have been baking since then, I have always been thankful for the passion and ability to bake that I have, and have always said I have it because of my Grandma (yes she is my great grandma but they were always just grandma lol). By the time I was old enough to do it on my own, I would bake cakes, and pies and cobblers. and I still think of her when I bake, for it truly is because of her that I can.


So, I made my Grandma's Snickerdoodles for this post, a wonderful tender cookie with a little a cinnamon crunch. The whole thing just melts in your mouth. And now that I have it again, it will be a regular in my holiday baking. Thank you for hosting Apples&Thyme, what a Wonderful thought it was to dedicate something this memorable to those amazing women that left their imprints on our lives, and for helping me rediscover My Grandma's Snickerdoodles!!

Made with Love and fond Memories of My Grandma Irene!!

http://vanielje.blogspot.com/2007/10/apples-thyme-celebration-of-mothers-and.html