Rainy Days Are Meant for Family Time UPDATED 2-20-2015

SEE THE  2-20-2015 UPDATE AT THE END OF THIS ORIGINAL POST, WRITTEN ON 7/10/2011




"I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me."  Psalm 13:6

July 10, 2011:

I love rainy afternoons...and it seems like we've had a few here recently...which is much appreciated after a season of drought.

What do you like to do on a rainy afternoon?  When I am at home and not working I love to do several different things when it is cloudy and rainy and cozy inside my house.  One, I love to cook and bake.
Two, I love to read and sip hot cups of tea and stay in my comfy pj's. Three, I love to write this blog...

What is even more fun is when the family is home with me and we can do things together on a rainy afternoon...like play a game, or watch a movie, or bake cookies together!

Now, you must understand that I live in a house full of men...having a husband and three sons I have always been outnumbered.  And now, even though one of my sons is married, they had a son also...so the men still outnumber the girls. Oh well, I am very thankful for ALL the wonderful men in my life...and the one daughter in law as well!

Recently our #3 son decided to move back home from New Hampshire...said he didn't want to face another winter up there living in the cold basement of his friend's apartment with barely enough work (as a cook at a restaurant) to survive and keep warm...so he took his chances and came back home.  Fortunately, he found a job the first day he got here and so far so good!  One of the benefits of having son #3 back home is that he loves to cook and bake in addition to working on his car, doing lawn maintenance for a living, and fixing things very creatively...(but that's another story). 

So today, being a rainy afternoon, he suggested that we make Grandma Mursch's (my mother) famous Orange Cookies! Now, this is a family treat that my mother lovingly made for her family (and especially the grandkids) every chance she could.  It was her special recipe that was always in demand for bake sales, parties, and just because.  Many people have requested her recipe (and actually, it originated from a bakery in Pennsylvania, but it was given to her when we moved to Florida in the 50's), but few people have been able to duplicate it as perfectly as she.  You see, Mama always said the secret to making good Orange Cookies was in the way you "folded in the buttermilk".  If you didn't "fold in the buttermilk" just right, the cookies would go flat. 



Me and My boys baking cookies...circa 1979
Front to Back: Matt, Benton, Scott, Me

I was, of course, delighted to have my old cookie-baking son-buddy back home again. We have baked cookies together ever since he was old enough to lick the batter from the beaters...but this was the first time he had ever asked to try his hand at this particular recipe.

I will post the progression of our baking time together here...and you can judge for yourself if this was a worthy way to spend a rainy afternoon with one of my handsome, sweet sons...

Mixing up the cookies...2011

Scott ~ Sampling the Batter...yep, it's good!

Folding in the buttermilk

"now be sure to fold in the buttermilk this way",  I can almost hear my mother saying...



Yeah, You got it!  Just don't over-do it or they'll go flat!!



Oh, man! They sure smell good! 

Next you have to frost the cookies with an orange-flavored glaze...I can't wait to taste them...

easy does it...just a thin glaze

Oh, please...can I eat one now?  They look perfect!!!!

Ready, set...go....!

Oh Yeah....They are GREAT!!!!!

(remember to click on the picture to enlarge, then back-arrow to return to blog)

This is the original recipe typed by my mother....pretty priceless way to spend a rainy day, wouldn't you say?

My Mom on the 4th of July, 2001.
Sure do miss you, Mom!!!
Love,
Pam

Yes, "I will sing unto the Lord, for He has dealt bountifully with me!!!"

NOW GO HERE FOR THE LINK TO THE UPDATE WRITTEN ON 2-20-2015.