Week 42: Sweetheart Cookies

This week I chose to bake sweetheart cookies.  I was browsing my collection of cookie recipes, and I just wasn't finding a recipe that I wanted to try.  It wasn't until I got to the "S's" that I chose the recipe for this week.  I knew it was "the one" because I read "sweetheart cookies", and I immediately began to hum the tune to "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."  Okay so I have heard of a house, or a car, or a really great outfit, that's spoken to people, but a cookie? Well... yes.  This recipe spoke to me.  As I mentioned above, as soon as I read the word sweetheart, I began to hum.  I also had a few immediate thoughts.  The first was of the song, but the second was of "NECCO
Sweethearts."  I love love love those little conversation hearts, and every year near Valentine's Day I buy a bag for the house.  My kids love them too, and think it's funny to read all the little messages. I remember once in high school, I wrote Dan a letter with those conversation hearts...too funny.  Speaking of Dan and high school, that was the third thought I had..."high school sweethearts."  Dan and I met in the 9th grade and dated for a few months.  After he broke up with me (I always love to remind him of that☺) we remained friends.  In the 11th grade we got back together for what turned out to be the rest of out lives.♥  So any time I hear the word "sweetheart",  I automatically think "high school sweethearts."  Well anyway I chose this recipe for my cookie of the week.  I made only one small substitution.  The recipe calls for strawberry or raspberry preserves, and I used blackberry.  The cookies are really easy to make and the dough only called for 4 ingredients.  Here is the link to the recipe that I used: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweetheart-Cookies-2/Detail.aspx.

The recipe title "sweetheart cookies" got me to thinking about the word "sweetheart." Who came up with that word?  Who was the first person to use it in reference to someone that was special to them?  Dan had told me about this cool website that addresses all those types of questions.  When I searched "sweetheart" I found that it has been used in conversation since the late 13th century.  If you are ever interested in the origins of a word check out the website.  Here is the link: http://www.etymonline.com/   As I mentioned above as soon as I read the title of this cookie recipe, I began to hum the tune to the song "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."  I love that song and have since I was a little girl.  I remember singing it with my Mom.  I don't remember if we had a music box or a jewelry box that played that song, but I do remember singing it.
I also remember being on a carousel that played that tune.  Even though I remember singing that song, I only know 3 or 4 lines of it.  So I decided to look up the lyrics, and found this website that lists the lyrics and also plays the tune.  If you are interested, or if you haven't ever heard the song, here is the link: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/sweetheart.htm




Prom 1989

 In addition to making me hum, the word "sweetheart" made me think of "high school sweethearts."  As I mentioned above Dan and I were high school sweethearts (until he broke up with me that is hahahaha). I truly am kidding.  I really don't harbor resentment about that... Dan was only 14 years old.☺  Anyway I love love love that we have been together since high school.  I have heard all the horror stories about marrying your high school boyfriend or girlfriend (supposedly the divorce rates are higher among high school sweethearts), but they just don't fit in our case. Actually, I know a few really great couples who have been together since high school.  My good friend Connie and her husband Dave met while in high school.  My "brother from another mother" Jim met his now wife Kim in high school. My in-laws met in childhood and dated through out their high school years, and my own parents were high school sweethearts. So although I do believe that it is possible for people who enter into a relationship very young to grow apart from one another, in these cases it doesn't fit.  I've had a few experiences where women are getting to know one another and they may ask "...do you ever wonder about the guy who took you to the prom?"  I love to answer that question because my response is always "...nope I never wonder about him.  I married him so I don't have to wonder." ☺

The name of this recipe conjured all sorts of good images and thoughts for me.  So while I mixed the dough I reflected on the meaning of "sweetheart" in my life.  Yes I am reminded of candy hearts, a song, and of course my high school sweetheart/husband, but I am also reminded of my Mom.  She was the epitome of a "sweet heart."  Everything she did for others was motivated by her sweet and compassionate heart.  She embodied pure kindness and selflessness, and I miss her each and every day.  Oddly, the lyrics to "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" express the way I feel.  Even though it is intended as a romantic song, some of the lyrics fit.  So in closing here are a few lines of the song...about my "sweet heart Carmie." ♥

I am dreaming Dear of you, day by day
Dreaming when the skies are blue, When they're gray;
When the silv'ry moonlight gleams, Still I wander on in dreams,

Longing for you all the while, More and more;
Longing for the sunny smile, I adore;
Birds are singing far and near, Roses blooming ev'rywhere
You, alone, my heart can cheer; You, just you.




Dad and Mom before the Prom.