COOKIE RECIPE

“Hey, I just got a message from Erica.” my husband Steven handed me his phone so I could read the text:

“Hi Uncle Steve! I always think about Aunt Kathy’s oatmeal cookies and how I used to bake them with her. It’s really one of my favorite memories. Is she willing to share the recipe with me? They are still the best ones I’ve ever had.”

I looked up from the phone. “Aw, I’ve finally become the Aunt that everyone wants recipes from before I kick the bucket!”

Steven started to laugh. “That’s what you took from that text?”

I shook my head and laughed. “No, I think it’s sweet that she has that as a favorite memory.” I got up to go to the kitchen. “I haven’t made them in so long I don’t even know where the recipe is.” I opened the cabinet and looked at the two overflowing recipe boxes along with cookbooks and stacks of papers with recipes written on them. Taking them all down, I dumped them on the counter.

“Well, let the search begin!” I sighed as I looked over at Steven, not feeling very hopeful.

I held up a piece of cardboard. “I remember when I asked my sister for her banana bread recipe and the only thing I could find to write it on was this piece of cardboard.” I placed it to the side of the pile and continued reading recipes that were written on scrapes of paper, napkins, even one on the back of an old Christmas card.

“I keep telling myself that one day I’m going to organize them all into one recipe file and get rid of this mess!” I pushed the pile of papers aside and grabbed one of the recipe boxes. None of the cards were in any type of order. Instead, cookie recipes were next to chicken recipes that were in front of crock pot recipes.

“This is going to take forever!” I cried as I flipped through the cards.

Half way through I pulled it out. “Here it is!” I held up the grease stained index card. “I can’t believe I found it!”

My son, Alex came into the kitchen. “What did you find?” he asked as he looked at the pile of papers scattered all over the counter top.

I held up the recipe card. “My oatmeal cookie recipe!”

“Are you making cookies?” I could hear the hope in his voice.

“No.” I shook my head. “Your cousin Erica wanted my recipe.” I couldn’t help but smile. “She said they’re the best ones she’s ever had.” I couldn’t help feeling a bit proud.

I looked over at Alex. “Do you remember when we used to bake cookies together?”

Alex shook his head. “Not really.”

“Oh, come on. We used to bake all the time when you were little.”

Alex was still shaking his head. “Nope. I don’t remember.”

“You and your cousin Erica are the same age.” I chided. “How come it’s a favorite memory for her and you can’t even remember it happening!”

Alex shrugged his shoulder. “Food’s never been that big a deal for me.”

“What if I said I was going to make a batch this weekend?”

Alex smiled. “I wouldn’t say no.”

Steven quickly chimed in. “Me either!”