Cookies - Peanut Butter Delight and Thank you

Life has a way of throwing you an unexpected curve. Who among us are in the place, the circumstances imagined decades or even months ago? Having surgery last July and becoming a single parent two months later was certainly not on my to-do list. I must confess that I’ve had moments when I thought to myself, This is not the way it was supposed to be.

But life is about growth. We glean lessons from our experiences and move on. I’ve not dwelled too much on making a better home for my daughter and myself. The most difficult part in making that transition was taking that initial step. I took that step and was surprised to see an outpouring of love and support from good people here in this small southern town, that extended to friends in other states and beyond to my poetry brothers and sisters (and cousins!) from around the world. The greatest gift any of us will receive during this time or any other time throughout the year is a sincere, caring friend. Friends are the buffers who cushion the unexpected bumps on life’s road.

So, a sincere “Thank you” to all who have gifted me with friendship. And a heartfelt “Thank you” to those of you who donated items to my daughter, Alana, and me for our new home.

We hope your holiday season will be a joyous one. Merry Christmas!

The local grocery stores sells these cookies at an outrageous price. It's much cheaper and fun to make these tasty morsels from scratch.

Peanut Butter Delight

2 ½ cups quick oatmeal
8 tablespoons peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 stick butter
2 cups sugar
½ cup milk
4 tablespoons cocoa

Put oatmeal and peanut butter into a bowl and set aside. Melt butter in a pot. Add sugar, milk, and cocoa and boil for 1 ½ minutes. Remove from heat and quickly add oatmeal, peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper or pour into a buttered pan. Let cool and cut into squares (if you poured the mix into a buttered pan).

I apologize for not posting Colin Stewart Jones's recipe in a timely manner. I've had a busy week. Colin's recipe will be posted next.

Christmas Eve –
my children pretend
to snore

The Heron's Nest V:3, 2003