How Sweet it is...

Snickerdoodles.  Sugar cookies.  Homemade bread.  Apple pie.  These are the things that I can’t see, taste or smell without thinking of a couple of the best people in my life, my grandparents.  One slight whiff of any of these items takes me back to their house in the hollow, five years old, wearing Gram’s apron and standing on a stool eager to help her bake. 

Last Sunday was Grandparent’s Day and I got to thinking how much my grandparents have influenced me.  They’ve taught me more than any professor, made me laugh more than my favorite TV shows and loved me more than words could ever encompass.  They’re always there to lend an ear, offer advice and make me feel better.  Many of my grandparents’ lessons were taught in the ultimate classroom, the kitchen.  .  Here are a few of the most memorable.

1.       Be yourself.  When I was young, my grandmother would stand quietly at the sink doing dishes while my cousins and I dumped colored sugar by the handful onto our cutout cookies.  We made trees red, reindeer yellow and stars green.  My grandmother never tried to make us follow the world’s rules of color.  We were having fun, using our imaginations and getting a little creative and she let us do so.

2.       Be prepared.  My grandfather always gets out each ingredient before he starts a recipe.  This way, he doesn’t get into the middle of something only to have to run to the store for flour.  My grandfather is incredibly wise.  By making sure you have everything you need, you avoid getting yourself into a situation that you aren’t ready for and may not be able to get out of.

3.       Timing isn’t everything.  Probably 90% of my grandmother’s recipes have the wrong time listed on them.  She still puts the timer on, but periodically touches the cookies for doneness.  When I was little, I thought this was a super power.  Over the years, I’ve also developed “the touch.”  Sometimes, you can just feel when things are right.

4.       Many hands make light work.  A few times each year, my family gathers at my grandparents’ house to make pierogies from scratch.  Every family member has a different role.  My grandpa makes the cheesy potatoes.  My mom and grandma handle making the dough.  I roll it out.  My cousin cuts the circles of dough.  My aunt puts the filling on each one.  Everyone else is in charge of pinching.  Acting as a team, we crank out several dozen pierogies in couple hours.  By working together, we can accomplish a lot more than we can alone.

My grandparents mean the world to me.  They’re the type of people that I think of and can’t help but smile.  All the little lessons I’ve learned from them will stay with me for a lifetime.  Check out this blogger's lessons from her grandparents.  

My grandmother always says that there’s no reason not to share your recipes so I’ll leave you with one for her flawless snickerdoodles.  They’re perfect, I promise.   


Snickerdoodles
3 3/4 c. Flour



1/2 t. Baking Soda
1/2 t. Cream of Tartar
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/4 c. Milk
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. salt


3 T. Sugar
3 T. Cinnamon


Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, milk & vanilla.  Add dry ingredients.  Dough will be sticky.  Form dough into 1 1/2" balls - roll in cinnamon and sugar.  Place on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 about 8 minutes until light golden.

Yum! :)