“Hey! You Got Eyeballs In There? Book III: 41. Cooking With Marion

Hey! You Got Eyeballs In There?

By Kate Chamberlin

As Grace grows up, some of her stories are happy, some trying, some enlightening, and a few themes are sad, but, they’re all the warp and woof of what goes into the tapestry of life we call Family. The daily living skills and techniques demonstrated by the fictional characters in these stories are valid, tried and true.

Book III:  Wife and Mother

#33. The Wedding

#34. The Honeymoon: Lake Pocotopaug

#35. The Honeymoon: Freedom Trail

#36. The Baby Can’t Go Home

#37. The Home Visit

#38. And Then There Were Two

#39.  Fire Prevention

#40. And Then There Were Three

#41. Cooking With Marion

“They’re gone, Mommy,” 3-year old Marion told Grace as the school bus swallowed William and Paul. “We can bake cookies now.” She pushed the old, paint splattered, metal, two-step stool over to the kitchen counter.

“I’ll get the Crisco and vanilla that are up tall,” Grace said. “Would you, please find the eggs and milk from the refrigerator?”

Okay, Mommy,” Marion said and actually got the eggs over to the counter without cracking any and milk without spilling a drop.

Marion was just the right size to halfway climb into the awkward corner cabinet to bring out the cookie trays. She stretched into the utensil drawer to bring out the measuring spoons.

Once everything was out and ready, Marion climbed up the stool and sat on the counter with the recipe card in her hand.

“One C S-U-G-A-R. Three E-G-G-S,” Marion spelled out each word until  the cookie batter was ready for shaping. It was slow going, but, Grace knew how important it was for a young child to feel successful, so she waited patiently for each amount and ingredient to be read.

“Mommy, what does this say,”  Marion asked when she got stuck on a number, letter or symbol.

“Draw it in my hand, Dolly,” Grace said and held out her palm so Marion could draw the confusing character on her palm.

When the cookies were in the oven, each would get one beater to lick; Grace would get the wooden spoon, and Marion would get the rubber spatula to clean out the bowl.  It was fun and they shared even-steven before they washed the dishes together.

“MMMMMMM, Dolly,” Grace would say after the Brailled timer had rung, “Don’t those cookies smell good? What color are they? They don’t smell burned crispy black!”

Grace and Marion squatted in front of the oven door’ window to look in on the gingerbread men.

“Oh, they look puffy and brown.  One of them is crying.”  Marion said.

“Crying? What makes you think he’s crying?” Grace asked in mock horror.

“His chocolate chip eye is running down his cheek,” Marion answered sadly.

“Why do you suppose he might be crying?” Grace asked, slipping into teacher mode.

“He knows he’s going to  be eaten,” Marion said with wisdom.

“Well, why did we bake these Ginger Bread Men?” Grace asked  as she reached for the  print/Braille  book of THE GINGER BREAD MAN. The Ginger Bread Men cooled on the wire racks as Grace read the story to Marion.

“So, you see,” Grace concluded. “Our Gingerbread men were made to be eaten.” And that is what they did when William and Paul came home from school.

Sometimes, Grace and Marion baked cookies shaped like numbers, dinosaurs, bare  feet, hearts, Christmas symbols, or geometric figures. Then, Ken and the children decorated the cookies with lots of frosting, colored sprinkles, chocolate Jimmies, silver balls, and hot red cinnamon hearts.

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 cup molasses

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (optional)

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves until well blended.

In a large bowl beat butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until well blended.

Add molasses, vanilla, and lemon zest and continue to mix until well blended.

Gradually stir in dry ingredients until blended and smooth.

Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic and let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 deg. Prepare baking sheets by greasing or lining with parchment paper.

(Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but in this case it should be refrigerated. Return to room temp before using.) Preheat oven to 375°.

Grease or line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Place 1 portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface.

Sprinkle flour over dough and rolling pin.

Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thick.

Use additional flour to avoid sticking.

Cut out cookies with desired cutter– the ginger bread man is our favorite of course.

Space cookies 1 1/2-inches apart.

decorate now with features or wait until cool

Bake 1 sheet at a time for 7-10 minutes (the lower time will give you softer cookies

Remove cookie sheet from oven and allow the cookies to stand until the cookies are firm enough to move to a wire rack.

After cookies are cool you may decorate them any way you like.