Grandma Vi's Yellow Cookies

Inspired by…

Fourteen years ago today, On December 4, 2004 one of the most influential and loving persons in my life, died suddenly. For us, it was a shock, we all fumbled to wrap our hearts and minds around the fact that she was no longer here with us. For her, it was such a gift. Without pain, without disease, she was awarded her home in Heaven which she had been striving for and showing us “The Way” in her every deed, word, and love shown toward us; every day that she lived. Her name was Grandma Vi.

How many of you have had the incredible blessing of knowing, interacting, loving, and learning from a Grandma, or a “grandma figure” in your life? If that person is still here on earth with you, how much do you appreciate them? How much time do you spend with them? How often do you tell them you love them? How often do you just take them for granted, and assume that they’ll always be that Rock and anchor in your life? This is me, in a very kind but imploring way to put time, energy, and effort into this relationship in word, deeds, and actions. In the blink of an eye, or within a few hours that loved one can pass from life into eternity. I promise you, when the end comes, you will never chastise or beat yourself up by saying, “I spent too much time with my Gram, or I loved her too much!!” If you take action it is a gift you will give yourself and her.

Grandma Vi loved to have her family around, her church family, and any of our friends. She was a grandma to everyone and treated all with the same love and joy whenever we were in her home. Grandma also loved to feed you. She wasn’t very good at taking “no” or “I’m not hungry Gram” for an answer. If you didn’t want her sweet rolls, well then surely you would want some cookies. If you didn’t want cookies, then surely you would want at least a cup of hot cocoa (aka: “hot tottie” according to gram) or tea. Food was her love language, and she passed this out joyfully and abundantly.

My favorite cookie of Gram’s were her “Yellow Cookies” (hence the title of this post). Their real name is Sour Cream Cookies, but the grandkids somewhere along the way nick-named them Yellow Cookies. These cookies were a soft yellow color, almost cake like, moist, sprinkled with the perfect amount of sugar, and baked to perfection.

As a Grandma, she didn’t have to “follow the Mom rules” for when you could and couldn’t have sweets. At Grandma Vi’s the cookie jar was always full, and never off limits.

One of the sweetest memories I have as a child is on the mornings, after spending the night on her sleeper sofa (which was right outside her bedroom door, so no worries about being scared at Grandma’s.) I would wake up usually to the smell of coffee brewing and the sounds of Grandma and Grandpa rustling in the kitchen. When she realized I was awake, she would come sit on the edge of the couch, make sure I slept well, and then would ask me what I wanted to eat. (I’m awake, I must want food immediately, right? lol). She didn’t ask me what I wanted for breakfast, simply what I wanted to eat. With a gleam in my eyes, and with a “blissful guilt” of breaking the rules, my response was always the same, “Yellow Cookies and Hot Tottie!”

What transpired next? …another “Ruler Breaker!” My joyful childlike response would then make my Grandma’s eyes shine with love and anticipation as she went into the kitchen to prepare for my morning treat.

And, here’s the next “Ruler Breaker”… she would bring it to me my lovingly prepared cookies and hot cocoa on a little turquoise tray, painted with pretty little flowers to enjoy in bed. I could eat cookies and have a drink all on Grandma’s couch!! Oh the bliss of the simple joys shared between the love of a child and their Grandma! As I sat there, still snuggled in the softest comforter ever, with Grandma at my side, with each of us munching on cookies and sipping our hot tottie I would feel like a princess adorned in the most beautiful robe, dining with the Queen herself!

As I sit here writing this post, allowing myself the time to drift down memory lane, I can still feel the warmth and joy that Grandma passed on to me so many years ago. I wasn’t planning on sharing anything other than the sweet memory of “Yellow Cookies”, but…I have to!

That wonderfully soft comforter I was adorned in as a little girl sitting on Grandma’s couch 40 years ago, has become my “prayer blanket”. On these cold wintery mornings here in CT, when I awaken in the morning, or kneel beside my bed at night, I take this gem of a blanket, wrap myself in its love and warmth, and say my prayers. It’s torn, its worn, its stuffing is popping out, most people would say it needs to be placed in the garbage, but I can’t do that! This old comforter has literally and figuratively become an intricate part of who I am. Because of the beautiful Godly example of love, times spent, conversations had, prayers offered, and special memories created with my Grandma Vi I give her much reverence and thanks in becoming the woman I am today. This blanket wraps me in those precious memories.

As you enjoy this recipe, you will notice that it does not follow my typical recipe posts that equals healthy in a nutritional sense. No, nutritionally we would probably say they are unhealthy. But these delicious little “Yellow Cookies” are like gems of gold to the health and wellness of our inner being. As you take the time to make them, remember this post, or go down memory lane yourself, find yourself immersed in a sweet memory of long ago, when you gleefully broke “Mom rules”, and were adorned with a crown of love, and feasted on the joy of kindness bestowed upon you by the “Grandma Vi” in your life.

Did this INSPIRE you? How did your “Grandma Vi” influence and love you in your life? Take the time to share by leaving a comment in the comment box below. I’d love to hear from you!

Recipe: Grandma Vi’s Yellow Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 c butter

1 1/2c sugar

2 eggs

With a Mixer, cream these 3 ingredients together.

1 c sour cream

1 t vanilla

Add this to the above mixture, and mix thoroughly.

2 3/4c flour

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

Add this to the above wet ingredients, and mix in with mixer till batter is smooth.

Chill dough for 2 hours in refrigerator

Scoop out, and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle each cookie generously with granulated sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 min. Cookies should be soft and just slightly browned on the bottom.

Smile, and enjoy!!