TLC-Mothers and Daughters:
Momma's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Nothing says loving like something from the oven! Mmmmm!
I loved coming home after school! Not just for the cookies or the wonderful snacks, but I knew our Mom was waiting for us! And she was always so happy when we got home! She would have her starched and ironed dress on, and she always wore a very pretty apron when she was in the kitchen! She was full of all kinds of domestic traits and qualities, and our home was always warm and beautiful for the entire family to come home to. Mom was, and still is quite an extremely talented lady! The talent, love and homemaking she poured into our lives are things I want to share with you.
I wasn't that old when Momma began to teach me how to cook, and I loved it! I would make popcorn balls. No, not with microwave popcorn, but the real popcorn you cook on top of the stove and shake the pan until it stops popping, then pour it into a big plastic bowl and cook the syrup on top the stove. When the syrup was done, I would pour it over the popcorn, wait for it to cool, and start rolling those caramel popcorn balls! I could hardly wait for it to cool, and I burned my hands more than once. I got so excited to get them done and put on wax paper. I can taste them to this day! Oh, what a treat!
I liked making the sweets the best, although we learned how to make many things. In the evenings my Mom taught piano and organ lessons in our home. That was always the perfect time to get in the kitchen and get something going, and my Dad loved the surprises as well. I know brownies were always a big hit in the evenings. While I didn't bake every night, the whole family enjoyed it so much when I did!
One thing about our family was we loved being together! We ate supper every night at 5 o'clock without fail! Dinner would be on the table. Favored menus that I'll share with you later included entrees of fried chicken, pork chops, 7-layer dinner, pot roast, chicken and dumplings, or spaghetti, and we had all the trimmings!
We all sat down and ate together, something that is rare for families to do these days. Our house prayed and ate dinner together. People get so busy sometimes; they just don't make the time to get together. That’s right; we made time to get together! It would have been very easy to simply put a T.V. tray in front of the T.V. every night and never socialize.
Eating dinner together became a very important part of your day! We talked about what went on during the day, and I always remember it being such an enjoyable time. If anyone had a new joke, a great story, or just wanted to talk about their day, that's what we did! It was one of the best parts of the day for our entire family!
I am a southern cook (how could you ever guess, huh?), and my kids were raised on the same recipes my Momma shared with me. Those homemade pizzas were so yummy, and everyone decorated their own! It is so thrilling to me now, as I see our children take the time to make meals together, a special time of the day!
Well I could go on and on about those great times in the kitchen with my Momma. I will share with you more in depth later how she made as many things as I can remember. For today, however, I'll close with a favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe I hope you enjoy with your family. Feel free to download it and share it with those you care about.
Momma’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
-2/3 cup shortening (do not melt)
-1/2 cup of sugar
-1/2 cup of brown sugar
-1 egg
-1 tsp. vanilla
Sift together and blend in:
-1 1/2 cups of flour
-1/2 tsp. baking soda
-1/2tsp salt
Stir in:
-1/2 cup chocolate chips
Use a teaspoon to drop the mixture in dollops (sized to your desire) about two inches apart on an un-greased baking sheet.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until slightly brown (cookies should still be soft).
Cool slightly before removing from pan.
Yield: about three dozen
