Tasty Tuesday - Mrs. C's Chocolate Chip Cookies

I looked forward to making cookies at my best friend's house. Her mom used Oleo. I loved the smell of it.  The recipe was an old family recipe. I think those are the best kind! Tried and true!

When Mom Carlyon passed away, she took the recipe with her. 

I've spent some time in the kitchen being a mad scientist to figure out the actual recipe. My family never once complained about being "forced" into taste testing.  My son's baseball team certainly didn't complain about getting the left overs.

Alas... I cracked the code. 

Mom was certainly with me as I made this last batch. 

Time to share. Can you smell them?

Ingredients

3 cup Unsifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon Baking soda

1 teaspoon Salt

1 cup Regular Crisco

3/4 cup Granulated sugar

3/4 cup Brown Sugar; firmly packed

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

2 large Eggs – room temp

1 cup Walnuts or pecans; chopped (I smash mine into a rough powder)

1-2 cups Chocolate chips 2 cups chopped Dates

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl; set aside.

Combine butter, sugars, and vanilla extract in a large bowl; beat until creamy.

Beat in eggs.

Gradually add flour mixture; blending well.

Stir in Nestle Semi-Sweet Real Chocolate Morsesl, dates and nuts.

Drop by rounded teaspoonsfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. I like to actually roll the dough into balls. I also used parchment paper lined cookie sheets. If the dough isn't firm, chill it in the fridge for a 30 min.

Bakes at 375 degrees F. for 8-10 minutes.

Cooking With Wine

Enjoying some vino while grilling the trout.

Fish caught in Lake Michigan.

Wine: Michcato from St. Julian Wine Co

Seriously?

Nothing tops a bad day!

I ordered my favorite shoes in black. 

The day they were delivered had been a sucky day. With excitement I tore into the package.  Its shoes!

Only one shoe was in the box!

Are you kidding 

#TiaraTuesday

Illegal Erections

 I need to start drinking at work because I sound like I already have been. 

I'm the township treasurer and we were short staffed today so I  fielded a few calls. 

One time I answered the phone: Montrose Twp, Mary speaking. How can you help me? I quickly corrected myself. The caller and i had a good laugh. 

Later..

A resident called to complain that his neighbor was erecting a building on his property that didn't have a permit posted. He ranted for a few minutes so I put him on hold to transfer him to our new building inspector/code enforcer. Today was Bill's first day so I don't have his extension programed in my phone. I walked to his office to let him know he had a call. 

Me: "Kevin Peterson is on the phone. He wants to talk to you about his neighbor's illegal erection."

Bill: turns beet red and struggles to hold back a smirk

Me: "That didn't sound right, did it?"

 Bill: shakes his head and gives me a full smile.

I walked away like a boss thinking "I'm going to stick to counting money so I don't have to talk to people."

A Great Day

Nothing is better than drinking coffee outside on a beautiful day. 

Flyboy is in Cali so it's just me and Teen Boy.  We did all our chores yesterday so we could veg today. 

Flyboy is hitting the beach. 

Teen Boy is opening our swim spa. 

Time to exercise, relax and catch some rays.

What are you doing today?

Celebrate Trees, It’s Arbor Day

It's always romantic to walk through a park with your honey. Maybe even steal a kiss on  bench. Perhaps the canopy of trees and wildlife enhance the romance.

Here in Michigan, we celebrate trees. Arbor Day, celebrated by Michigan the last Friday in April, is a holiday to recognize and appreciate trees and all the wonderful things they do.

Arbor Day, first held in 1872, was envisioned as a way to spread awareness about the importance of trees and to encourage tree planting.

In 1885, the Michigan Legislature resolved "that the Governor is hereby requested to call the attention of the people of the state to the importance of planting trees for ornament and by naming a day upon which the work shall be given special attention, to be known as Arbor Day."

Did you know? Until 1965, the Upper and Lower peninsulas had separate Arbor Days in the spring because of the difference in weather conditions for tree planting. Today's Arbor Day celebrations usually take place during the whole last week of April.

Get into the spirit of Arbor Day by planting a tree. Some of the trees in my small town were planted years ago by scouting groups with seedlings. If you live in Michigan, visit the Arbor Day website for information on 6-12” seedlings to plant.  https://www.arborday.org/celebrate/tree-seedlings.cfm

Here are a few other ideas to celebrate trees in fun and creative ways:

• Take your family on a tree-ID walk. 
• Visit the DNR's Nature at Home webpage to help kids discover the wonders of the natural world. 
• Give a tree as a gift. Unlike cut flowers, trees can be enjoyed year after year.
• Create and share tree-themed art. Use tree coloring pages to get started or make nature crafts from pine cones, leaves and twigs.
• Learn about the importance of trees and sustainable forest management.
• Have a picnic near or under some trees.
• Enjoy a hike around your local park to spot wildlife living in the woodland and forests. 

Not feeling, celebratory? Grab a cup of Joe and relax on your porch or deck. Take in a deep cleansing breath and look around. Leaves are sprouting so fast; one could almost hear them. Can you?

What are you going to do to Celebrate Trees?

Wine Anyone?

I picked up this beautiful wine rack with doors at a yard sale for $60. The tag was higher but I purchased several items and the owner was willing to lower the price.

 The original skeleton key for the lock came with it.

The rack is  filled with mostly wines from Michigan Wineries. I'm a big believer of supporting local businesses. 

I also enjoy trying wines from wineries whenever we go in our travels. Feel free to post your favorites! 

Ahhhh...the First REAL Coffee of the Year

Oh, I've had coffee since January 1st but I'm talking about sitting on my deck surrounded by nature, feeling my soul cleansed kind of coffee.

Yeah...thats it. That's what I'm talking about.

Its 46 degrees, sunny, the woods is turning green and the birds are singing their mating calls. (Some of your say, "Brrrrrr. Thats cold. Shes crazy." But my menopause sisters get me.

Im so happy the snow is gone and spring is here. Flyboy and sons put the deck furniture out for me before they left so im enjoying this moment of tranquility.

Until the new pup decides to use my leg to prop a stick against my leg while she chews on it.

"Its a good stick, mom. Want some?"

Happy Earth Day!

 

In 1970, an idea was born when thousands of people came together in the United States to speak up and demand cleaner air and water. It was decided to set aside one day a year to celebrate our planet. In 1990, Earth Day became global when 200 million people in 141 countries spoke up together about global environmental issues.

Today, we celebrate the 51st Earth Day! This year's theme is Restore the Earth. Classrooms around the world are learning about the environment and conservation.

I checked out around me to see what's going on.

A group over in Chelsea is planting trees. A group in Flint is participating in the Great Global Cleanup. Many other communities are cleaning parks, school yards, trails, and more. Some students in Montrose Twp did a bit of recycling and made bird feeders out of plastic bottles and toilet paper rolls. What are you going to do for your part?

"We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." - Native American Proverb