Day 18 - Chocolate Crinkles

     It always amazes me that three different children raised in the same house by the same people can be so very different.  I'm not saying that I'd like them to be the same because that would be boring, and I completely support their individuality and uniqueness.  I'm just in awe that they are each so different.  I think if I had had a brother or a sister I wouldn't be so surprised.  I often wonder what he or she might have been like and if we would have been close.  The differences in my children are never so apparent as when it comes to their homework habits.  One is laid back, and will procrastinate a little; another is ultra-organized and it seems like their work is finished before it is even assigned; the final child would much rather be doing other things and many times will procrastinate until the last possible moment.  We've never had a problem with them completing things on time or had to have an "intervention" with them about their grades.  More often than not they are harder on themselves than we are.  Maybe it's hereditary, too.  I remember many a times procrastinating until the night before a due date, but really excelled under that pressure.  I think part of this is my control issue, so mom will have to (something my mother always said just slammed, not popped, slammed into my head), "get over it."  Ouch!  Hearing that brought back some not-so-nice visuals and auditory memories.  Not where I was planning to go with this.  Anyway, I know that as a parent, there are certain things that are beyond my control and I just need to take a step back and let nature take it's course.  I am here to guide and direct and ultimately certain choices in their lives will be up to them.  After all, isn't that what parenting is all about, raising our children with love, giving them guidance in making the right choices to build their moral character, and supporting them no matter what the outcome of the choices they make?  It certainly isn't easy and would have been helpful had they come with a manual attached at birth.  By far though, it is the most difficult thing I have ever had to do, and at the same time, the most rewarding.  I wouldn't change it for the world!

I remember my mom making these cookies quite a few times when I was little.  I loved them then and still do.  I don't have her recipe, but was able to find one in my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook (as seen here).  I can't print the recipe because I haven't heard a response from the publisher yet as to whether I can reprint it, but I'm sure some of the cookbooks you have will have it listed.  If not, I'm sure you can find it on the internet.

     Chocolate Crinkles

     The Ingredients:  Flour, Sugar, Eggs, Baking Powder, Vanilla Extract, Oil, Unsweetened Chocolate (melted), Confectioner's Sugar (Powdered Sugar)(for rolling).

After mixing the chocolate, eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla, and baking powder.

After mixing in the flour.

Ready for the oven after being rolled in confectioner's sugar.

Mmmmmm....Ready to be eaten!

     These were really yummy and the family really liked them!  They were so good that one of my daughters said, "Thanks, mom, for making these.  They're really good!"  I also sent some back to college with our oldest who was here for the weekend, so she could have a touch of home with her.  Also, since Valentine's Day is tomorrow we had to have some chocolate!
     So, for the rolling pin rating on this one: 3½!  They were very easy to make.  Just make sure that the dough is chilled well enough before you start to shape them into balls because it becomes very sticky.
     Happy baking!

Day 1 - Beginning with Banana Bread

     My name is Lynne. I am extremely fortunate and grateful to have been married to my high school sweetheart for 20+ years and to be a stay-at-home mom to our three beautiful children: two girls, ages 18, and 17, and a boy, 13.  Since I returned to being a full-time mom in May of 2010 after working 40+ hours a week, I have immersed myself in cooking shows, cookbooks, magazines, recipes and cooking websites on the internet along with bedtime reading of some fiction and non-fiction along the way.  My family has been very supportive. They reap the benefits of a new recipe that is delicious, and are polite and thankful for the effort even when meals I've made haven't turned out so great.  I enjoy it immensely!
     So, this is something I've always wanted to do.  Write, that is.  So, I thought doing a blog would be a good way to begin.  I don't even know if anyone will ever end up reading this other than  immediate family and maybe close personal friends.  I do have a tendency to become very "wordy" when I write, but I'll do my best to stick to the point and not go overboard unless it's about something I really need to explain in depth.  Who knows what that would be though; maybe insight to teenage angst. ;-)
     There were two final events leading up to my beginning this blog today.  Yesterday I discovered in my pantry that I have 3, yes (3) 5lb. bags of flour that will expire on February19.  I've read both that flour does and does not expire, but an expiration date on anything is certainly motivation to make sure I use it.  They are leftovers from making Gingerbread Houses for Christmas.  Sometimes I have a tendency to think big and go overboard, and while the houses were beautiful and somewhat large, I still had plenty of ingredients left over.  Then this morning, I was faced with two overly ripe bananas sitting on the counter and began looking through my cookbook for the Banana Bread recipe. It was then I decided that I'd do a blog about baking something every day for one year.  Yes, 365 days of straight baking.  I know it's a big undertaking and my immediate thought was that the whole family would gain some weight, especially my husband and myself because the metabolism just isn't what it used to be.  The immediate idea of things to be "baked" that came to mind were of course, cookies, pies, cakes, and breads.  Without a doubt I will tackle those, but there are so many other things I am discovering I could do as well!  I am very excited to see what this year brings and happy that you will be joining me!  I'd also like to be able to post some other recipes that I have that are passed down through the family and ones that my children just couldn't live without.
     I want to have fun with this and for you to enjoy and learn something as well.  I've also recently started "couponing".  I have used coupons in the past, but not to the extent where it really saves us some money.  I'm about three weeks into it and am quickly learning ways to get the most for your dollar (or for FREE!) at the grocery store or drugstore.  So, I will be posting different things about the coupons, and specials or freebies I may hear about on the web.  If I help one person then I'll be happy.  I would love to hear any comments or questions you may have and will do my best to respond as quickly as possible.
     Remember, I've never done anything like this before, so it's a go-as-I-learn (haha, see what'd I tell you!), LEARN-AS-I-GO, so there are bound to be mistakes along the way.  Mistake on day one, I neglected to take pictures of the Banana Bread baking process, so the only proof that I have is the picture of the end product, and I cannot add that tonight.  It will have to be tomorrow.  Everyone makes mistakes, but hopefully we'll all have a good laugh because of them.  And I have so many questions about how to write this, what to write and what I can and cannot add to my blog.  Hopefully, I won't be finding these things out the hard way. Any input would be gladly accepted, especially from those of you who have "been there, done that".
     So, here we go...
     Banana Bread
    Since I don't know if I can post the recipe verbatim, I will just tell you that the recipe came from a tried and true cookbook I received as a wedding present over 20 years ago, the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.  This particular version of the recipe however is from a newer edition.  I will be contacting different authors, websites and publishers to verify if I can publish the recipes and what restrictions there may be.  Also, as I said before, I unfortunately cannot post the picture from this computer, so I will put it up tomorrow.  However, I can tell you that the banana bread was yummy!  It was a little dryer than usual because I left it in a few minutes longer (probably 5 minutes) than I should have fearing it wouldn't be completely done.  The bottom third of the bread was darker and the sides were brown, but the top of the bread was moist and delicious which I always think is the best part anyway!