I seem to be in step with just about everybody else's wacky holiday mood. Yesterday was a full day. First, I went to the dentist. Not a big deal, luckily, but the hygienist kept calling me 'honey.' It made me cranky. That scraping thing made me cranky, too, but I am done for another six months.
Then I came home and moped around a bit, got some butter out to bake, and decided to take my menobutt for a walk with Dora. She is good company and can find many things to smell entertain herself with around the neighborhood. Which is what we were doing when we found Daisy.
Daisy was on her own and pretty far from her address on her tag. So, Dora and I caught her and brought her home with us to call the number on her tag--disconnected. Great. While I was on the phone, she made me a present in the dining room. I put some Nature's Miracle on it so Squazz could help me with it when he got home from playing golf. Yes, golf. It was in the 60's here yesterday. Anyway, he was delighted with Daisy's present, too.
I had no choice but to call Animal Control to come get the dog. And while we waited, I tied her up outside. I attached a leash to a very heavy iron loveseat. Heavy. Daisy dragged it around with her like it was a rubber ball.
Isn't she cute? I am going to check tomorrow to see if her family called for her. Dora kinda liked her. Isn't she cute?
After Daisy went with the nice Dog Catcher, I went to start my baking project. I somehow decided that this would be just the holiday activity that would get me in the spirit. It took me a few minutes to find my mother's recipe for Louisiana Cookies. God rest her, my mother never used a clean piece of paper to write a recipe--it was either the back of an envelope or a memo note like this:
When I was 12 or so, we ran into Chad Everett and Wayne Rogers at a Red Lobster in Nashville, and she handed me a ratty old envelope out of her purse so I could get their autographs. She also saved aluminum foil. But I digress. And the other side of this memo/recipe paper looked like this:
Her notes about the recipe--dated 12/19/88. Twenty years ago this week, she was making these cookies. I was a married young woman in New York City, and my mama was in her Tennessee kitchen baking her wonderful Christmas treats. I miss her so much.
Louisiana Cookies
2 sticks softened butter
4 tablespoons confectioner's sugar (plus more for dusting cookies)
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
2 cups finely chopped pecans
Mix butter and sugar well. Add vanilla, flour and pecans. Mix well. The dough will be very thick. Break off pieces of the dough and roll into a small crescent shape about 1 1/2"
Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 300 for about 30 minutes.
Makes between 5 and 6 dozen, depending on size.
After they cool, roll in extra confectioner's sugar.
Enjoy!
35 comments:
Oh my! Being from Louisiana, I can attest that these are to die for! My mom and grandmother make them and call them wedding cookies. Mmmm. Don't eat too many! They go straight to the hips. I can attest to that too, unfortunately. :)
I have some old recipe cards that my grandma gave me and I just love them.
Oh, and you should keep Daisy.
yuk on the dentest... and hygentest HONEY... the recipie looks and sounds great... cute pup I hope her people do get her...I hate when critters are lost...
Happy Tuesday!
I adore these cookies... which is probably why I won't be making them...
Cute pup. However, looks like a lot of work to me. You know. Walking her with that heavy bench attached and all.
;-)
Lovely post, Mama. I too miss cherished loved ones this time of year. I love the holidays, especially Christmas, but they are a little sad for me. I was never close to my mother and was raised mainly by my maternal grandmother. She passed a few years ago on Christmas Eve at the age of 102. I miss her every day. She was a lady way ahead of her time and didn't spend time baking. She wasn't your typical grandmother, choosing instead to teach me how to manage my own business. She could also do anything a man would and could wield a handtool like no one else I knew. So, I will borrow your cookie recipe and hope my grandchildren will remember me for baking yummy cookies.
P.S. I believe Daisy came into your life for a reason. If her parents don't want her, you should adopt her. She's a cutie!
Yes, the dog is very cute, I have to say....
Your mother and my mother have to be related. My mother will not throw anything away, tin foil, string, the twisties off bread bags, bread bags, bags, bread, you name it, it is saved.
I can only imagine what it feels like to miss your mamma like that. I suppose one day I"ll find out, but hopefully not any time soon.
The cookies sound wonderful. IF I knew how to bake without catching the kitchen on fire, I'd make them.....
Bless your ♥ taking such good care of that cute puppy...but it was your recipe on the scrap piece of paper which made me cry about your mom...MEMORIES!
Most ALL of my recipes are like that...but they are the tried and true ones, so they ARE THE BEST! I will be baking today...so I can ship some Christmas to my boy down in Alabama...I wish I could send myself...although I couldn't afford the postage for this fat old woman......
Daisy Daisy, come live with Mama, do!
Daisy is cute, but don't let BHE see her. She may want the number for the pound.
I remember using note pads like that. Well, they probably still make them, but we don't have them in our office.
My mom still saves "Reynold's Wrap".
My dad died a couple of years ago. I miss him too.
I think Daisy would be a lovely Christmas present for you.
Bear((( )))
Your puppy guest is adorable. I'm sure she didn't mean to do it on your rug. How awful that she's lost for the holidays.
Mmmm... cookies!
Must make these. Must.
I started baking yesterday too. Old traditional oatmeal cookie recipe. Soon to be posted to the blog.
Ok. NOW you've done it. It's not even ten o'clock, and I'm sitting at my desk with puffy eyes.
My grandmother used to make those cookies. New Year's Eve will mark the one year anniversary of her death. (She was 95) This is the main reason that I have not been in the Christmas spirit this year.
I'm going to HAVE to make those cookies. I'll have them with a glass of wine, and toast your mother and my grandmother:) Wanna come over? Bring Daisy:)
Yes, those cookies are really wonderful (I'm a Louisiana girl too).
Daisy looks like a Jack Russell. My niece has two JR's. I hope you have a lot of patience and energy if you decide to keep her. They are very sweet and smart, but very high strung dogs and can be destructive if bored or left alone. (one of her dogs ate the cushions on her outdoor furniture. The other chewed a hole through the wooden fence.)
With each recipe on its different piece of paper you actually have a bit of your mom to remember. Nice.
An interesting Monday for you. Too bad Daisy didn't have a home to go back to. It is sad to think someone may have abandoned her.
Making cookies may put you in the holiday mood. Did it work? I have yet to begin to consider this...but my office/den/craft room is looking better!
I love a recipe that only has five ingredients. I would try it, except that I'm afraid I would eat them all, and add greatly to MY menobutt.
Why do I get the feeling that you are going to keep Daisy?
xoxo,
Mary
That's a cute dog, and I don't even like dogs.
Sounds like you need a hug. :-)
Could you send me some of Daisy's energy?
We call them moon cookies. My boyfriend loves them. His mom and I made two batches worth, one just for him.
It's wonderful that you can celebrate your mom by doing the same thing she did twenty years ago. I'm sure she's smiling at you.
I cannot tell you how many recipes I have on those pink message forms! And I keep them just that way - for the memories they bring.
Cute pup! Go get her!!!
~Mad(elyn) in Alabama
www.xanga.com/madewyn
Here, we call them snowballs. I have gotten such a kick out of hearing about everyone's comments and memories of these same cookies and all the different names for them. I adore the story about your Mom - think I will give mine a call just to say I love her. {{{Lauren}}}
The cookies sounds yummy! Am gonna try them.
Oh I hope Daisy's people come look for her .. how weird that she was out in a collar and leash but no person ...and despite her present (which I hope removed w/o stain) you did a GOOD deed .. a mitzvah!
:-Daryl
I try not to make cookies because they are my favorite. The faster I can eat them the sooner they are gone. Gone to my butt that is. Please go get little Daisy. She needs a family for Christmas.
I hate when people call me honey. I'd be cranky too! If Daisy got away from her owner, sounds like you'd make a better parent. Keep her! She is very cute!
I'm not so happy either, and was actually thinking that maybe baking cookies would make me feel better.
But then I decided I'd just get pissed off. (I'm usually much more cheerful than this!)
I know everyone wants you to keep the dog, but I don't. Her people, if they have any sense, will call into the local pound/SPCA and find her.
I miss my mom, too. And my dad.
I think it's pretty interesting that you were living in NYC.
Okay I loved the story about your mom, so sweet. And Ummm...where's the pics of the cookies...no food porn for us?
Well first off I hope the dog found her way back to her family. That is very sad that she was out there all alone. But she does appear to be a smiggen hyper doesn't she?
I sat down tonight and copied recieps for the kids to have. They are my favorite ones for Christmas although I don't cook much any more. I emailed them out and hope that they will print them off to enjoy in the future. Who knows.
AND I CAN'T STAND FOR SOMEONE TO CALL ME HONEY OR HUN! That drives me crazy.
Yum! I have never had them. I will need to make them. I hope her owners call for her. Let us know;) Oh and send me some of those cookies;) LOL
Those cookies sound GOOD! And yes, my mother wrote down her recipes the same way. They were scribbled on all kinds of paper bits.
I feel a little sorry for Daisy, but I also feel sorry for your rug. I had to clean up a very huge mess Monday morning because Bodhi got into something that didn't sit well with him. We're suspecting that the next door neighbor tossed something to him, because it smelled suspiciously like Mexican food. Hmm...
Peace - D
I want Dora, Chad Everett and some cookies. Not necessarily in that order. My Mom did the same thing and this time of year I miss her probably the most. Whaaaaaah!!!!
Great long post, Mama :)
I have recipes my grandmother wrote down like this. My mom too but she still has all of hers and says she is making a cookbook. So we will see. That dog is so cute. Sorry about the treasure she left you on the carpet.
That pup looks like a JRT which would explain its insane strength and determination.
I'll bet your MOM's cookies turn out perfectly. Her love was all over that scrappy piece of paper.
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