My great-aunt Helen died last weekend. She was 97, and up until the last few months, lived mostly independently. Helen was never without a smile and a laugh, a lover of life, living the last 40 years on her own after her husband, Carl, passed away. My dad grew up having weekly dinners at her house, and since my dad's mom died when he was 20, he always really valued his relationship with aunt Helen.
She leaves a legacy of good humor, of joy, and most important, of the white cookies she'd give out in round tins every Christmas.
Each family received its own tin, and it was a generous family who would share their stash at the annual holiday gathering. Our was kept secreted away in an rarely frequented cupboard, eaten slowly and with a firm eye toward equality. She shared the recipe freely, surprised in her Scandinavian modesty that we liked them so much. We used to claim that the cookies we made were never the same and suspected her of hiding the secret ingredient or tip, but I made them last Christmas and everyone agreed they were the real thing (although a bit too big... she really does mean a teaspoon).
Great Aunt Helen’s White Cookies (Sand Cookies)
2 cups (1 cup butter, and 1 c margarine)
2 cups sugar
3 1/2 c flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
14 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons almond extract
1 c. almonds (Helen doesn't use)
Beat shortenings and sugar until frothy with electric beater. Sift dry ingredients twice and add to sugar mixture, beating until airy. Take rounded teaspoons, roll into ball and flatten with fork. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake on a cookie sheet 25 min at 300. May need more flour if nuts are omitted.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Catch up
My goodness! Here we are in late May. Let's see: momentous moments:
1. Husband turned 30! Celebrated with takeout and dusk walk in the parks around our house.
2. We run our first ultramarathon! And survive. My desire to do the race stemmed from my belief that it sounded IMPOSSIBLE. Alas, it was not. Discovered 31 miles is not all that different, and that sometimes running hurts less than walking.
3. Garden round 7, and I think it's H house, 1, Garden, 0. We are finally figuring out how to manage the jungle and even to grow more vegetables than what seemed possible.
4. Husband expresses a desire to travel internationally! Plans to the homeland are in the works.
5. Come down with seasonal bout of spring fever. Cured by crossing the headwaters of the Mississippi and getting drunk at annual cabin lane Memorial Day cookout.
1. Husband turned 30! Celebrated with takeout and dusk walk in the parks around our house.
2. We run our first ultramarathon! And survive. My desire to do the race stemmed from my belief that it sounded IMPOSSIBLE. Alas, it was not. Discovered 31 miles is not all that different, and that sometimes running hurts less than walking.
3. Garden round 7, and I think it's H house, 1, Garden, 0. We are finally figuring out how to manage the jungle and even to grow more vegetables than what seemed possible.
4. Husband expresses a desire to travel internationally! Plans to the homeland are in the works.
5. Come down with seasonal bout of spring fever. Cured by crossing the headwaters of the Mississippi and getting drunk at annual cabin lane Memorial Day cookout.
Monday, May 25, 2009
March/April/May books
March-April-May list
A Voyage Long and Strange - Tony Horwitz. A look at an era in American history most Americans (i.e. me) know little about, the time after Columbus and before the Mayflower.
My Little Red Book, a series of stories from women about their first period, by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff.
Tamara Drewe - Posy Simmonds. Fun graphic novel.
Enrique's Journey - Sonia Nazario.
Other books
The Housekeeper and the Professor - Yoko Ogawa
Here's the Story - Maureen McCormick
The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
How Starbucks Saved My Life - Michael Gates Gill. Self-indulgent, sappy, racist at times.
Darling Jim - Christian Moerk
Never Tell a Lie - Hallie Ephron
A Voyage Long and Strange - Tony Horwitz. A look at an era in American history most Americans (i.e. me) know little about, the time after Columbus and before the Mayflower.
My Little Red Book, a series of stories from women about their first period, by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff.
Tamara Drewe - Posy Simmonds. Fun graphic novel.
Enrique's Journey - Sonia Nazario.
Other books
The Housekeeper and the Professor - Yoko Ogawa
Here's the Story - Maureen McCormick
The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
How Starbucks Saved My Life - Michael Gates Gill. Self-indulgent, sappy, racist at times.
Darling Jim - Christian Moerk
Never Tell a Lie - Hallie Ephron
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Spring break
Our spring break has a lot less spring this year.
And a lot more snow. Instead of running on the beach, we're running through snowdrifts. The skis have made another appearance, as have the snowshoes.
Our vacation still has a few of the classic vacation standards--generous cocktail hour(s), lots of reading, lots of relaxing, and good food.
And this year, cats!
They were so cute daintily sniffing at the snow, until Stilton decided to make a run for it.
Too bad I was barefoot at the time.
And a lot more snow. Instead of running on the beach, we're running through snowdrifts. The skis have made another appearance, as have the snowshoes.
Our vacation still has a few of the classic vacation standards--generous cocktail hour(s), lots of reading, lots of relaxing, and good food.
And this year, cats!
They were so cute daintily sniffing at the snow, until Stilton decided to make a run for it.
Too bad I was barefoot at the time.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Jan/Feb books
Jan/Feb reads:
Burma Chronicles - Guy Delisle. Jamilti and other stories - Rutu Modan. Aya of Yop City by Marguerite Abouet (Ivory Coast). These three are graphic novels for the non-graphic novel reader, and offer really interesting glimpses into three different cultures. Next time you're reaching for a travel memoir, try one of these instead--you won't be disappointed.
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen. I read this for my book club and liked it even more than I remembered. If you're reading Austen, I really liked the Headline publishers version I got from our local library... the bright cover and normal-sized print made Austen seem more accessible.
Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri. Lahiri never disappoints--she always delivers up interesting characters and thoughtful plots.
Confessions of a Teen Sleuth - Chelsea Cain. Clever, entertaining would-be memoir of the "real" Nancy Drew.
Ethan Frome and House of Mirth - Edith Wharton. Both of these are fabulous... the first a short, snowy winter read of missed opportunity, the second, a crushing, fall-into-disgrace novel that proves that not all books end happily.
What to do about Alice? by Barbara Kerley. Beautifully illustrated children's book about Alice Roosevelt.
Also read:
In pursuit of Alice Thrift and Into Love and Out Again- Elinor Lipman.
Paper Towns by John Green. Good, thinking-person's young adult novel.
Burma Chronicles - Guy Delisle. Jamilti and other stories - Rutu Modan. Aya of Yop City by Marguerite Abouet (Ivory Coast). These three are graphic novels for the non-graphic novel reader, and offer really interesting glimpses into three different cultures. Next time you're reaching for a travel memoir, try one of these instead--you won't be disappointed.
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen. I read this for my book club and liked it even more than I remembered. If you're reading Austen, I really liked the Headline publishers version I got from our local library... the bright cover and normal-sized print made Austen seem more accessible.
Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri. Lahiri never disappoints--she always delivers up interesting characters and thoughtful plots.
Confessions of a Teen Sleuth - Chelsea Cain. Clever, entertaining would-be memoir of the "real" Nancy Drew.
Ethan Frome and House of Mirth - Edith Wharton. Both of these are fabulous... the first a short, snowy winter read of missed opportunity, the second, a crushing, fall-into-disgrace novel that proves that not all books end happily.
What to do about Alice? by Barbara Kerley. Beautifully illustrated children's book about Alice Roosevelt.
Also read:
In pursuit of Alice Thrift and Into Love and Out Again- Elinor Lipman.
Paper Towns by John Green. Good, thinking-person's young adult novel.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Day cards, rejected
- cards featuring dogs (initially cute, but what do dogs have to do with romantic love?)
- cards referring to our "old love"
- stalker cards ("I knew since the first moment I saw you that we'd be together forever...")
- cards "To the man I love"
- odd sex cards ("I'll do anything... except that one thing.")
- cards referring to our "old love"
- stalker cards ("I knew since the first moment I saw you that we'd be together forever...")
- cards "To the man I love"
- odd sex cards ("I'll do anything... except that one thing.")
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Thanks, Mother Nature
"Nature wants us to be mediocre because we have a greater chance to survive and reproduce. Mediocrity is as close to the bottom as it is to the top, and will give you a lousy life."
-advice from my lululemon yoga tote.
New Year tipsy (in February)
Some thinking I've enjoyed on New Year's Resolutions:
1. Make a detailed master plan, making scary projects seem manageable
2. Not make any goals, freeing you up to suddenly do something amazing, like write a novel
3. Simple goodness: Resolving for more candlelight
Stop procrastinating at work with better lists
Start procrastinating at work with new games
Get a new fresh desktop wallpapers -- Marimekko wallpapers here and here and also some from Nate Williams
1. Make a detailed master plan, making scary projects seem manageable
2. Not make any goals, freeing you up to suddenly do something amazing, like write a novel
3. Simple goodness: Resolving for more candlelight
Stop procrastinating at work with better lists
Start procrastinating at work with new games
Get a new fresh desktop wallpapers -- Marimekko wallpapers here and here and also some from Nate Williams
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)