Week 24: Evil Cookies

This week I chose to bake evil cookies.  It's a recipe that I found on the internet, and Dan and Victoria thought it sounded yummy so I made it.  The cookies are like a cross between an oatmeal cookie and a chocolate chip cookie with the addition of butterscotch chips, chopped walnuts, and extra vanilla.  The cookies are really delicious, but I do not prefer recipes that include shortening.  I mentioned in a previous blog that I do try to chose a recipe with health in mind.  For that reason I try to limit the number of recipes that use shortening.  Also,  in this recipe I used a combination of all purpose flour and whole wheat flour to make it a bit healthier. The other change that I made was I baked the cookies individually.  The recipe instructed the cookies be baked in a 9 x 13 pan and then cut like bars.  I prefer individual cookies so I dropped them onto a pan and decreased the baking time to 10 minutes. Here is the link to the recipe that I used: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Evil-Cookies/Detail.aspx

As a stark contrast to last week's cookie title, I was not immediately drawn to the name of these cookies.  I do not like the word evil...not even in relation to a really decadent dessert.  If I am going to refer to a dessert in that manner, I'd chose an adjective like sinful or luxurious...never evil.  Despite the name, these cookies are good and I am glad that I made them.  I was thinking about the title of this recipe as I mixed the dough, and it prompted some thoughts about evil things.  For starters this weather is EVIL.  It has been raining...more like pouring...for the last 12 hours.  It is cold and extremely windy too.  We had such nice weather last week that in comparison this weather is pure evil.  I am so ready for consistently nice weather...sandal weather to be exact. ☺  I love love love to wear Birkenstocks but have been unable for the last few days due to the cold and rain.  Don't get me wrong I love love love to listen to a good thunderstorm, especially if I am cozy under a blanket, but this weather is ridiculous.  I have said it before and it bears repeating  "...mother nature is a stupid bit%&"

Secondly, again spewing some anger at mother nature, I am in total need of sunshine.  I found out recently that my vitamin D levels are ridiculously low and I need to supplement.  This is no big deal for most people but I am special (man I wish there was a specific font to indicate sarcasm).  What I mean is that I cannot take supplements like a regular person.  Every time, and I mean every stinking time, I take a vitamin or supplement I get kidney stones!  So for me vitamin D has to be supplied by the sun, and sun is nonexistent the last couple of days.  Insert your own profane statement about mother nature here. ☺ In addition to my vitamin D levels my mood could use some elevating and again sunshine would be a big plus.

My still unplanted herbs...

Thirdly, my left knee is evil.  I don't know what I ever did to her, but man is she angry at me.  This happens literally every year about this time of the spring and here I am again.  It hurts so bad that I have to wear a brace, use a heating pad, medicate consistently, and psyche myself up just to pull on a pair of pants or try to get into the car. EVIL!   All I wanted to do last week was prep my garden, and work on the property.  Every year I plant an herb garden, different vegetables, and of course flowers.  I bought some new herbs, a ton of kale plants, and I got a few new flowers, but I have been unable to finish planting them due to my stupid knee.  I also love love love to cut the lawn.  Dan and I actually fight over who gets to cut it.  This year we are lucky enough to have 2 tractors.  My Aunt Pat and Uncle John were kind enough to give us their riding mower as they no longer need it. So now Dan and I can both cut the property...simultaneously!  Last week I did attempt to cut a little bit, but I didn't last long.  Granted I did get the tractor stuck in the mud, but prior to that fiasco, my knee was begging me to quit.

Lastly, I think that life itself is sometimes evil.  If this wasn't the case, how can the terrible things that happen to undeserving people be explained?  I mean why does an innocent person get killed by a drunk driver but the idiot drunk driver walks away?  Why do innocent people, especially children, contract incurable diseases?  Why do good people lose their jobs while the biggest moron in the office gets a raise?  I hate these questions.  Even more I hate that there are no good answers...evil. This sentiment also raises all sorts of questions that I will never have answered about my own life...specifically about my Mom. Why did she have to suffer?  Why did she have to die?  Why did my Dad have to lose the only woman he ever loved? Why so soon?  I have no answers to these questions.  There was no lesson to be learned.  There was no purpose to be served.  There was no benefit to anyone. Evil.

Speaking of my mom, she would be uncomfortable with all the attention that has been paid to her in my blog.  She was a very understated kind of person.  She liked to be in the background...she never enjoyed being the center of attention.  She loved to help others, but never sought or wanted recognition for her efforts.  She always thought of others first.  In short, she was the complete antithesis of evil.

As I reflected on all of this, I also had this thought; if you rearrange the letters in the word evil, you can spell live. Well that's exactly what my Mom would want me to do...live.  So everyday, despite all the evil in the world, I try to emulate her good example. I try to channel her sweet and selfless intentions, and I pray that through it all, I live a life that my Mom would be proud of. ♥


My Mom's surprise 60th birthday party.