.... or... Batter Up!
Home-arts heroine!
The world is a better place because of her.
Unless you were lucky enough to live in Massachusetts in exactly the right time period- ya never met her, nor did I. But- millions of people are indebted to her for her simple contribution to the enrichment of life: The Toll House Cookie.
And three cheers for my great-aunt, Clarice Cannon (Pargie), who probably held me by the elbow and showed me how to mix a bowl of simple ingredients into the best comfort food in the world.
My earliest memories are of being in my Great-Grandmother's, Grammy's, kitchen with Pargie. We lived next door to them from the time I was 3 until we moved to TX when I was 6. Most mornings- I awoke and headed straight across the driveway to Pargie's house. On cold mornings she would put me in front of the old stove and prop my feet on the open door as it warmed up. Then, she and I would mix up pancakes. Warmer mornings were different- she'd make cinnamon toast and chocolate milk and we'd drive across town to the water-tower to sit in the shadow... but, that's another story.
Mama remembers Pargie and Grammy making bread more often in her younger days--but, my memories are of making chocolate chip cookies and always ALWAYS the semi-sweet chips from the yellow Nestlé bag.
Several years later (I must have been about 13 or 14) my baby brother uttered a famous Keyton-ism in our family:
"Sada burned her dookies!"I can still recollect his face and almost look of horror when he saw that pan coming out the oven. How very disappointing! I think I redeemed myself and got the next batch right, anyway.
This all got me to thinking about Mr Nestlé and his food legacy. Did you know he started out making baby food in Switzerland? Now the conglomerate owns (among other things) Purina and Jenny Craig. Not the most decadent and tasty morsels.... but, nutrition for the masses nonetheless.
So.... today, I celebrate the most wonderful delectable treat in the world. The humble Toll House cookie. I will be so glad when I have an oven (with a door that works and doesn't burn me!) in which to bake some! And, yes-- my not-so-secret ingredient (Nestlés butterscotch chips) will be in the batter.
Cheers! Saluté! and dunk mine twice, please.
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