moments of zen

Ok, so these are not my cookies in the photo there, but they are lovely aren't they? If I was more Martha Stewart I would have cookies like this at the ready in my exquisitely decorated home. Instead, I am still working on the decorations and any food left out, cookies included, run the risk of being eaten by our horde of kitties. So this plate of cookies will act as my inspiration until I do get to the cookie baking later in the month.

I will be baking cookies as I do every year the week before Christmas at my grandmother's (aka Nanna) house along with my mother, aunt and a cousin or two. It's a girls only event where there is lots of gossiping and baking and a general good time for all.

I do promise to snap some actual pics of the Christmas Chocolate Chips cookies and load them up here. They look like chocolate chip cookies, so you pretty much know what to envision.

I will warn you, this recipe involves Crisco and coconut. Do not wrinkle your nose or claim "but I don't like coconut"- you will still love these cookies. The coconut is very subtle and all my coconut hating friends rave about these cookies. And the Crisco? I can't recommend using it everyday but some recipes just should not be tampered with. Can I get an amen from my souther sisters out there?

Without further adieu...

Nanna's Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening (that's right, bring out the Crisco! and don't dare think of trying to substitute something healthier)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring/extract

2 cups self rising flour

2 cups quick cook oats

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup of chocolate chips (you can be crazy here and mix half milk chocolate and half dark chocolate or stick with all milk chocolate)

1 cup chopped pecans

1. Cream 1 cup of shortening with 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup granulated sugar.

2. Stir in 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring and beat well.

3. Stir in 2 cups of Gold Medal self rising flour (yes, my Nanna's recipe in my recipe book is just this specific), then add 2 cups quick cooking oats and 1 cup of flaked coconut.

4. Add 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup of chopped pecans.

5. Take 1 teaspoon of dough, roll into a ball, and place on a cookie sheet. Take a fork and press down the ball of dough in both directions (making a cute basket weave pattern with the fork tines).

6. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Eat one or two that may break as you slide them off the cookie sheet. This is an important rule- the eating of the "test" cookies. Let the rest cool and enjoy!

Totally on a Lady Gaga kick these days.

Her music is perfection to run really hard to. And she round out the "yeah, I listen to Lady GaGa and Joan Jett and I might just get off this elliptical and kick your ass if you look at me wrong" collection.

And I just think she has a whole new take on the pop scene.

Plus I dig it that she says her name in every song she does. Gotta respect that level of cockiness.

This song is great and the video is performance art.

I didn't get it all at first, but the more interviews I read with her, I really admire her creativity.

She's not for the faint of heart.

And who can resist a bad romance where you love even the ugly and drama.

I defy you to listen and not find yourself humming "Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-Roma-ma-ah!"
Get your freak bitch attitude going and open your mind.

Bad Romance- Lady Gaga

This is song has recently made it onto my workout playlist.

It's part of the "yeah, I listen to Lady GaGa and Joan Jett and I might just get off this elliptical and kick your ass if you look at me wrong" collection.

Sometime angry chick music is just the thing to kick up the heart rate.

So, put on some red lipstick or a leather jacket and climb higher baby!

Zero- Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Daily Inspiration-

Even the stars are shining for you.

Get out there and shine today.

Daily Inspiration-

We can be Heroes, for just one day.

What did you do today to make your life and your world a better place?

It's been one month since an earthquake devastated Haiti.

Today I am reflecting on what I have done over the last month and how my life would be utterly different if I has been in Haiti on 12 JAN 2010.

There's much to be done to hep out in Haiti, but here's one simple thing you can do today to make a difference.

- Download "Everybody Hurts (Helping Haiti)" from iTunes.

This track was written and originally performed by one of my favorite bands, REM, who graciously waived the royalty fees for this remake produced by Simon Cowell. It's a great song on it's own, but with the proceeds going to relief for Haiti adding this to a playlist is a no-brainer. Artists include:Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow and Mark Owen as well as X Factor stars Cheryl Cole, JLS, Leona Lewis, Joe McElderry and Alexandra Burke. Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent, Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey Westlife, Mika, Michael Buble, Miley Cyrus, James Blunt, Jon Bon Jovi, James Morrison, Westlife’s Shane Filan and Mark Feehily.

- Download "We are the World 25 for Haiti- Single" from iTunes.

This is the song you know and love from the 80s remixed and recorded by 80 artists for the 25th anniversary of the first We Are the World effort.

Now you have 2 new tracks on your playlist to enjoy. Link to this post and encourage others to help out with the relief effort.

And don't forget to drop me a comment and let me know what you think of the tracks.

I know, I know...

It's been far too long since I posted.

Work has had me insane but my dear friend Edie inspired me to share a this song with you which always makes me smile and miss my time in TN.