White Chip Island Cookies

February 5th, 2010

These cookies are absolutely delicious. I took the recipe off of a bag of white chips. The coconut adds the perfect sweetness. The cookies are chewy and carmelly.

1 2/3 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter (use the real thing)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cups (12 oz) white chips
1 cup coconut flakes
3/4 cup nuts

Mix butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add dry ingredients. Mix well. Add coconut, chips, and nuts. Mix. Heat oven to 375. Bake 8-10 minutes. Enjoy every bite.

Poop

February 5th, 2010

Proud Father: “Come listen to Eli.”
Mother: What is it?”
Eli, 20 months, tearing off his diaper looks at Mommy and Daddy, then says “Poop”.

Baby’s Not Working

February 4th, 2010

Isabel, 2 months old, went to the doctor. The insurance verification form stated she was unemployed.

Walking

February 4th, 2010

By much falling, the child learns to walk.
-Asian Saying

Kindness

February 3rd, 2010

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
-Aesop

Best Mirror

February 2nd, 2010

The best mirror is an old friend.
-George Herbert

Pebbles and Stones

February 2nd, 2010

Calculated Pebbles
Can account for some stones
Read your mind
The theory beholds
Love your spirit
In the game of sorrows
Retrieve your conscience
Is the cry of your soul
Moods are thy pains
On this long road
Sketch out your plans
And believe in your shadow

Our Greatest Song

February 2nd, 2009

Senator Hubert Humphrey, a man with an indomitable zest for living,
once talked about the “good old days.” He said, “They were never that
good, believe me. The good new days are today, and better days are
coming tomorrow. Our greatest songs are still unsung.”

Life is A Journey

February 2nd, 2009

From the Jewish poet, Rabbi Alvin Fine:

Birth is a beginning
And death a destination
But life is a journey,
A going — a growing
From stage to stage.
From Childhood to maturity
And youth to age.
From innocence to awareness
And ignorance to knowing;
From foolishness to discretion
And then perhaps to wisdom.
From weakness to strength
Or strength to weakness–
And, often back again.
From health to sickness
And back we pray, to health again.
From offense to forgiveness,
From loneliness to love,
From joy to gratitude,
From pain to compassion,
And grief to understanding—
From fear to faith.
From defeat to defeat to defeat—
Until, looking backward or ahead,
We see that victory lies
Not at some high place along the way,
But in having made the journey,
stage by stage
A sacred pilgrimage.
Birth is a beginning
And death a destination
But life is a journey,
A sacred pilgrimage
Made stage by stage—
From birth to death
To life Everlasting.

She Walks In Beauty

December 21st, 2008

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes
Thus mellow’d to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair’d the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Of softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dea their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Lord Byron
1788-1824

Song to Celia II

December 19th, 2008

Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I’ll not look for wine.

The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
No so much honoring thee,
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be.

But thou theron didst only breathe,
And sent’st it back to me,
Since when it grows and smells, I swear,
Not of itself but thee.

Ben Jonson
1572-1637

9 Year Old Babies

December 15th, 2008

Seven months ago I’d give Coco and Bean, the cats, attention and they’d walk away. Now that little baby Eli is the center of attention, the big nine year olds come begging for love, wanting to sit on my lap. Nine years is a long time to wait, unless your my husband, who waited eleven years for us to marry.

Soup

December 10th, 2008

“Soup is the song of the hearth… and the home.”
Louis P. De Gouy, The Soup Book (1949)

The Best Chocolate Pie

December 5th, 2008

I visited my sister for Thanksgiving. Like the old times growing-up we cooked together in the kitchen. We love sweets and chocolate. This pie was a big hit, almost as good as the Risotto on Seinfeld.

This recipe is taken from Mrs. Fields Best Cookie Book Ever

Crust
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 ounces milk chocolate finely chopped
In a medium bowl blend the first three ingredients. Add the chocolate. Press into 9 inch pie crust. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Filling
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons water
2 cups heavy cream, scalded
5 large egg yolks, beaten
6 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
In a heavy saucepan dissolve sugar in water over low heat. Bring to boil over medium heat. Brush down sugar from sides to prevent crystalizing. Remove from heat. Add cream. Stir well. Add egg yolks, stir well. Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla until melted and smooth. Pour mixture into pie crust. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts. Bake 35 minutes in preheated oven. Transfer to wire rackto cool. Refrigerate until firm, 4 hours. Save me a piece if you make it :)