An Ode to Grandma

Today would have been my Grandmother’s 89^th birthday.  It seems surreal to me that she has been gone almost 4 years.  And while it is sad for me to think of how she is not here, it also brings me joy to notice the ways that she is still here.  Looking at old photos, watching our favorite old movies or making a batch of her world famous cookies and I feel as though she is right here with me.  That is one of the big reasons why I am trying to change my life and move ahead – I love feeling connected to the past by embracing some of the things/thoughts/values of years gone by.  We need to appreciate our parents and grandparents while they are here.  It’s like the old saying goes “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”  There are so many things that I wish I could have asked her, or even to show her some of the things I am working on now…  When we were younger, it wasn’t cool to want to hang out with your grandparents.  As children, there was nothing better than getting spoiled rotten by them, but as we got older… teenagers are usually too busy trying to act cool and grown up than to spend time with family more than twice their age.  Now that we are older, most of us long for days gone by – when things were simpler and not quite so fast-paced.  I am blessed that I still have grandparents on my Dad's side that are still here with me.  One bite of my Grandma's spaghetti sauce, or hearing my Grandpa hum the same tune that has been stuck in his head for the last 30 years, and I feel like a kid again.  There is nothing better than that.

So in honor of all the grandparents that are not here and in honor of passing on traditions, I made a batch of my Grandma’s chocolate oatmeal cookies.  They are so simple and so delicious and each time I make them I am reminded of her.  Miss H already loves to help me bake, and I can’t wait until she is old enough to pass on this recipe to her kids.  Wait a minute.  What am I saying? Of course I can wait.  Wasn’t I just talking about how I wanted to slow things down?  So for right now, let’s just say that I am more than happy just to share this batch of cookies with her. She can keep dreaming of princesses and unicorns and how she wants to be a ballerina when she grows up for as long as she'd like.  Right now that’s more than enough for me.

Grandma's Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

You will need:

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup cocoa

1 stick butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups oatmeal (quick oats)

You will need to take the first 4 ingredients and melt them in your saucepan. 

Bring them to a boil for 1 1/2 minutes.

Then you will need to add the last 3 ingredients all at once and quickly mix together.

You will then immediately drop them by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let them cool.  You could literally have these done in about 15 minutes.  Make sure that you measure the ingredients EXACTLY - if even one item is a little off your cookies will not set.  They still taste great - just a little messier to eat!  Our family loves these, and they are a staple at holiday cookie time.  I know your family will enjoy them just as much!