97 Years of Cookies

If I could add up all the batches of cookies that my grandmother made for me (and my cousins) it'd be way more than I've made yet in my days. But give me time; I just may out-bake her.


Warming to my baby daughter here, just 9 years ago, she's bright and light-hearted. And that's the way I hope my children remember her. It's how I will. For many grandchildren, it can be hard to relate to grandparents - their lives, histories, and tribulations can seem almost prehistoric. And our relationship was no different than most, I guess. But, now at 40+ years, I get how delighted she'd be when she cooked for others. That simple feeling of usefulness, being needed - even if it's just a meal - can be enough most days. And right up to her early eighties, she was enjoying being needed, whether it was a family visit or coffee and cookies with her neighborhood friends, "the ladies." But with age come daily challenges that had never before existed, and hers led her to a wonderful nursing home that cared for her in her final decade.

A body can only live for so long, but a soul survives the prolonged weight of time. Her nine great-grandchildren are living proof of that.

Peace.
LMS 1913 - 2010

The Art of Improvisation

The other day, I had made these Brownie Roll-Out Cookies from my favorite blog. They were fine, but for a chocolate cookie - with nothing really going for it other than the shape by which it was cut - I thought it was a lot of work. All that rolling, and flour, and dirty counter space. Too much for just a plain chocolate cookie. I had made two batches, because I was afraid I wouldn't have enough. But then when I started baking, and had to keep rolling, I found I had plenty, and there was no way I was going to keep rolling just to use up the dough and bake off all the cookies. So, I improvised. I took the remaining chunk of dough, and formed it into 2 logs, about 2 inches in diameter. I refrigerated them, and yesterday I had the occasion to bake them off as slice-and-bake cookies. Serendipitous, if you ask me. I had zippo time to make a batter and bake cookies, but I needed cookies. Absolutely could not show up to the game empty-handed. Well, slice-and-bake time. These baked perfectly as little disks, and to make them a bit different from the roll-out cookies from several days before, I sprinkled them with powdered sugar after they had cooled. Without all the rolling, these make for a perfectly delicious chocolate cookie. I won't roll them out again, but I will use the dough for the slice-and-bake method. Simple and tasty.

Two Teams, One Great Game. Two Flavors, One Great Cookie

Yes more baseball. But the good news is: more cookies.
If you've ever been to a NY Deli, or if you live anywhere near NY, you know what Black & White cookies are. A cake-y, domed cookie frosted on the flat side with half vanilla icing, and half chocolate icing. Usually these are wrapped in Stretch-Tite plastic wrap and left up top of the deli counter at the corner near where you pay. Of course they can stay there for days. To gauge freshness, pick the one with the least smooshes on it.

Today I made Black & White Cookies for the game. Our town's two teams went head to head in the first round of playoff games for the league. All our boys and all of us parents are friendly. We all knew it would be a bittersweet end for one of the teams, and it was a hard game to play. The cookie, to me, seemed fitting. The two flavors make for a great cookie, and two teams came together to play a great game. Each side is a winner, with a sweetness all its own. It was a labor of love, making 50 of these big cookies. Everyone was grateful and loved the treat. Tomorrow we are off to Playoff Game 2. I've got to get ready to bake again tomorrow. But this time, just for our team - win or lose.

Love of the Game, or Love of the Team?

Last night, my son's baseball team played a strong competitor, and felt that they needed the win to make the playoffs. (They didn't; due to other teams' losses, they are in, fair and square.) This game, played under the lights, on a steamy summer night, meant a lot to them, and the backdrop of the illuminated green grass, and dark tree line surrounding us all, made a serious impression as the first batter stepped up to the box. They tied the game with an inside-the-park homerun and kept it tied going into two extra innings. In the end, the other team had a walk-off hit, and won the game.

Some of our kids were upset. There had been a lot of drama on the other side: their head coach was kicked out for heckling the umpire's calls, and parents from the other side were joining in as a result. Then some kids on the other team were behaving badly on the field by kicking their batting helmets after a close out at first, or by throwing bats, and in return for their behavior they got yelled at publicly by their coaches - the ones that were left in the dugout. It was a dramatic evening for everyone.

But our coaches and players were gentlemen, and were appropriate with their enthusiasm. Don't get me wrong; they were hardly pushovers. But they were certainly respectful to the players, the official, the other team, and the game. It was probably the best game of the season, regardless of the loss.
Watching your child perform under pressure and with dignity is one of the most rewarding experiences as a parent. I was proud of all of the boys, and realized that, whereas I love the game of baseball and how it is an exact metaphor for life, I think I've come to love our team more. Their effort, joy, forgiveness, hope and success all come together to make a supportive unit for a group of boys that have all the luck they need, win or lose.