A Very Special St. Patrick's Day

On this St. Patrick's Day 17 years ago, my father-in-law passed away after a lengthy battle with diabetes. He was a retired TN Highway Patrol Officer and was loved by most of Nashville. He had conquered a huge demon in his life... he died the day after celebrating his 24th year of sobriety. He stole the heart of a petite blonde, blue-eyed Dorothy Ruth, and they had three children. I am married to the son. Buck mentored thousands of people over his 24 years with Alcoholics Anonymous and spoke to groups all over the country helping people recover. Buck Ross loved me before I was even involved with his son since I was girlfriends with his baby daughter. His presence is still among us. Even yesterday I said to my husband: "Your daddy would have really liked her." When I married into Buck's family, I knew I would be loved for a lifetime. Happy St. Patty's Day, Grandy.

Improvement On A Toll House Cookie?

Not hardly. There is really nothing to improve on a Toll House cookie if you ask me (or my husband). It was one of the first items I can remember baking successfully as a teenager. So when a cookfriend suggested to me that the dough could be frozen and baked right from the freezer, I was somewhat skeptical. Knowing, however, that she is a very experienced cook, I did as she instructed. I scooped out the cookie dough onto cookie sheets and stuck these in the freezer. Once hard, I placed all of the dough balls in ziploc bags. There they sat for several weeks until I got up the nerve to try them. OMG: my husband and I had warm cookies 3 nights in a row. This may be my newest favorite "Gotta have in the freezer at all times" item. My oven took about 14 minutes for the most perfect warm cookies ever. With a glass of cold milk, my life greatly improved in an instant. Why bake 3 dozen and have day old cookies when they can be this fresh? And, oh by the way, PORTION CONTROL! I will only have 3... Yes, I am aware that such dough can be bought at the store, but with the added preservatives to keep that dough "safe" for no telling how long, the finished prize just doesn't taste the same. If you have not made a place in your home for an extra freezer after reading my earlier blogs, poor you. A freezer FULL of these would not be a bad idea. Think I will pull out a few after dinner tonight.