Sometimes Tradition Is Especially Sweet
Yesterday I spent the day decorating Minion shaped sugar cookies. Every time I make sugar cookies I think of my childhood. My mom has always had a special super power of making me feel like I was the most important person in her life at that moment. She would set me on the counter top and we would create something sweet in the kitchen.
I always thought she made up these recipes with her super powers. Imagine how surprised I was to find out that our beloved sugar cookies and many others came from her Betty Crocker cookbook!
I got married when I was 20 yrs. old and moved south to Ft. Polk, LA with my husband. Mom sent the Betty Crocker cook book with me. It had been hers since the early 1960's. When I got it, there were notes written in it, some worn pages but over all it was in pretty good shape. Almost 27 years later, the hard orange binder is completely gone, several pages are falling out and the print is very faded. But all of the instructions are still there.
My trusted cook book has been my companion when the Army moved us and I didn't know anyone. When I needed to attend an Army Family Support Group event, I always opened my trusted cook book. It gave me all of the right measurements to create a sweet treat to share.
I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've pulled my cookbook down from the cupboard to look for a recipe. I seem to use the Traditional Sugar Cookies recipe the most. It's a simple recipe and a family favorite. However, the cookie dough isn't the sweet kind that everyone likes to sneek a taste of. It's actually not very tasty until all of the ingredients are baked together.
Yesterday, while I was frosting cookies I remembered a story one of my friends shared at a AFSG meeting many years ago. The story showed how God can use the bad times in our lives for good.
At the front of the room on a table were all of the ingredients needed to bake a cake. My friend spoke about each ingredient and how it is used. She even had some of the ladies taste the ingredients such as flour. Obviously, eating the indgredients seperately would not be very pleasant. Once all of the ingredients are mixed together and baked they taste sweet and delicious.
We have all had some difficult or heartbreaking experiences in our lives. Sometimes these are minor experiences like a traffic ticket and sometimes they are life altering and devestating like the loss of a loved one.
Thankfully life has many times to be joyful too. The joy I felt at the birth of each one of my children is undescribable. You see, God blends together the good and bad experiences in our lives for our good. All togethether our life becomes a sweet, savory, and meaningful story to be shared.
I love that during the quiet moments of life God brings back sweet reminders of His promises. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work togeth for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
Here is the recipe that my mom and I both use for our sugar cookies.
Traditional Sugar Cookies - Betty Crocker Cookbook
3/4 cup shortening (part butter or margarine , softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (don't use self rising)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
Mix thoroughly shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Blend in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 400. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Place on ungreased baking sheet. ( Note- I always use a baking stone) Bake for 6-8 min or until VERY light brown.
Frost with your favorite frosting. I mix together powedered sugar, milk, & water until the desired consistancy.
