grandma jeans date cookies.....

we all have it.
something that is very nostalgic to you.
for me, i have 100 different things but grandma Jeans date cookies are at the top of my list. my brother tim is also very sentimental about foods, especially ones that came out of my grandmas recipe box.
today,after church we went to tim and lisa's (& their lovely children!)for lunch and to watch the hockey game. (worth the watch even from someone like me who know nothing about hockey other than that they do a whole lot of pushing. is that really necessary that they push each other up on the glass wall?!)
anyways,i was greeted by a plate of grandmas cookies.
my bro has been on this 'new' baking kick and i love it. granted, i don't live with him and by the time i get there most of his 'treasures' are consumed by his children.
but every once in awhile, he thinks to save me a baggie full.(ok, he only 'saves' them for me when he knows that I KNOW he keeps an extra stash in his freezer!) today, he made DATE COOKIES! now, i know they sound disgusting and entirely much too healthy to be wearing the title of a cookie but trust me, they are heavenly.
almost sinful really.
when i first bit into that bit of goodness, i closed my eyes, took a deep breath and let out a silent scream of joy! i may as well have been back in my grandmas kitchen, sitting by the 'short counter',with a glass on Tang in one hand and a date cookie in another.
isn't it funny how years later that i can tell you every little detail about her? the way she stood by the stove.
the way she folded her napkin.
the way she would laugh.
the way her tiny little house smelled after she baked banana bread (in tin cans instead of bread pans),
the way she smiled when grandpa Ollie walked in the back door.
the way she loved me and my family.
the way she looked when she was sitting on her lawn chair, in the driveway watching us drive away.
the way she leaned over to talk to my gramp on the intercom. (he was ALWAYS building something in his shop.although it was a really short walk out there, they still loved to talk that way)
the way she loved the Lord.
last october, at 99 years young,she got to meet Jesus.
i'm so happy for her,
but truth be told,i'm sad for me.
i'm sad that my boys will never really know her.
i'm sad that i can't call her and tell her that tim made the cookies that she was famous for.
this is where i pick myself up-
dust off those cookie sheets
and go to town, baking.
she'd be proud of that.
she'd be proud that tim's tasted JUST like hers!
i think she'd laugh, out loud knowing that we were so darn sentimental about those cookies.


i know you are all dying to have the recipe and since they are soooo good, and i want you to know, first hand how yumm-a-licous these babies are!! if you have any questions, don't email me. i won't know. i've personally never made these bad-boys. i figure i should just enjoy a few more batches of tim's.



DOUGH:
1 C. "cheap" oleo. (now that's a good dutch lady for you! :))
2 C. white sugar
1 C. brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
4 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda

mix well and make into 2 or 3 rolls.
wrap and refrigerate.

FILLING:
2 C. cut-up dates
1 C. raisins
2 C. sugar
2 1/2 to 3 C. water

Cook about 15 mins. Thicken with cornstarch (which has been mixed with water).
Cool and add a little vanilla.

Slice cookie thin;put a little filling on cookie and put another cookie on top (without pressing down).
Bake at 350 degrees. watch.

share....

i can feel a post coming on.
don't get in my way.
this could be worth reading.
or not.
whatever.
i post.

church starts in a little less than 2 hours. before that time i need to iron 3 shirts, bathe, eat and of course, sit and enjoy the cup of java the hub just whipped up for me.
but i'm a mommy-
i multi-task.

let me get a quick request in here.
we're switching Internet services and mama needs a new, SASSY email address.
one people will remember.
maybe something with the word 'mama. boys. crazy.country, front porch sitting, etc..etc..'
and here's the kicker.
i bribe.
and i'm good at it.
so, if i choose YOUR idea, i'll pass my L-O-V-E of coffee on to you in the form of a Starbucks gift card.
just for the record, don't think it will be a large enough gift card to buy your java for the year/week. after all, i do send my kids to a private school.
but....
it'll buy you a cup or two. or maybe just a cool new mug that you've been eyeing for months.
but i'm sure i won't hear a lick of complaining since it'll take you very little effort for you to win it.
like i said, i bribe but only when you deserve it.
let's hear it.
give me your ideas.
i listen.
(contest will close when the 'right' address comes in. or a year from now, which ever comes first.)
don't make me wait a year. i'm not patient like that.

just a teaser...more to come.....

playing catch up.....

you know how it is, one little slip and it's all downhill. that's how i feel about blogging right now. of course, i LOVE it but hokey-mocky,i can't keep up.

can we just wipe the slate clean here, people??
i'll try better.
i promise.

let's see...
sunday.
not one picture. we went to church, heard my dear nephew ross speak, to mom's for lunch, home to veg, the db's over for dinner, cousins overnight.
and with all that fun going on, i couldn't break away to get a camera.
good thing i have a built in camera, my mind.

anywho, monday was a day off for the kids. i THOUGHT the hub had to work. why did i think this you ask???
because he told me so.
yup, flat out lied to me.
since on days when the kids don't have school, mama sleeps in, so i slept in.
i woke to the smell of pancakes and bacon.
those darn kids.
they KNOW they can't use the griddle or oven when mom isn't around.
i fling open the door and wouldn't you know it...
there was my hub in the kitchen, spatula in hand and his signature grin planted on his face.
oh, what a nice way to start a day!
i quickly forgave him for lying.

so mama cleaned cabinets, pulled the fridge away from the wall and vacuumed behind it for the first time since we've lived here.
and yes, it was disgusting.
i think i'm nesting.
the kids played their little hearts out, which is what they should be doing on a day off.
the hub washed BOTH vehicles.

evening was spent up north(that's Canada for you out of towners) with our nieces and nephews. Boston pizza for dinner and 5 pin bowling. if you have never done this, do it! i thought i was going to witness seeing a grown man cry. (the hub)
and bless him, he's man enough to admit that he got beat, fair and square by jacko. YEAH jack!!
you must know that rye is the guy who NO one wants to bowl with.
NOT because he isn't fun, which he is but because he's THAT good.
me? i use the bumpers and i'm not afraid to admit it.
let's just say, this was a lesson in humility.
since ross, tay and their boys are going to be moving to Australia soon, we are soaking in every min. we can with them. what a joy to spend a whole evening enjoying them! i need to grab a few pics from taya but then will post them.
good times. good times.

tuesday. back to reality. boys back in school. mama home putting the house back together. laundry caught up. (who am i kidding??)

today. after a morning with my 'other' boys (the wubs), kath and i made a quick trip to Ikea. a great way to spend an afternoon. shopping AND girl time. ah, good for the heart.

boys off the bus in a few...
post later.