Article: Do You Know A Cookie Lady?

[Sara Noel]

Do you have a Cookie Lady in your life? Did you know one in your
childhood?

Is there someone special who made delicious cookies and comes to mind when you think of homemade baking, a homey kitchen, treats when you visit?

My Cookie Lady, about whom I've written a poem, was my aunt, my mother's sister who remains in my memory when I think of delicious meals, homemade bread, and tasty cookies. I also have her recipe book where I've found many of those foods of childhood.

Her cookie recipes include some she acquired from friends and relatives, others going back to former generations, and those she simply liked to make. Some of these recipes my mother baked in my childhood and I've prepared for my family.

Who is Your Cookie Lady?

When I've read my poem, "The Cookie Lady," (found in my children's anthology, Tales of Adventure & Discovery) to youngsters, showed them the illustration, and asked who their cookie lady is, I've received numerous answers.

For some youngsters, Cookie Ladies are Mom or Grandmother. For others it's a neighbor or a friend's mother. She may even be the lady at the bakery who gives out free cookies to children who stop by.

Do thoughts of your Cookie Lady evoke memories of recipes of childhood, a special occasion or holiday, a particular gift, or a fun time?

Other Cookie Ladies of Childhood

Even though my aunt, or Auntie, as we called her, comes to mind most often when I think of a Cookie Lady, my mom also made cookies and often had them warm and ready when we got off the school bus. What a delicious aroma met us at the kitchen door.

Another Cookie Lady might be my girlfriend's mother, the 4-H leader who taught our cooking classes. From her we learned to make biscuit, muffins, cakes and cookies. What fun we had at her home learning the rudiments of cooking correctly...and sampling our results.

Cookie Lady Sketch

I even sketched my Cookie Lady to accompany the poem in my book. Without having anyone particular in mind, I drew a happy person with a plate of cookies. One day, as I was telling youngsters about the Cookie Lady of my childhood and describing Auntie, one child pointed to the picture and exclaimed, "That's her!"

I realized that it did indeed bear some resemblance to my aunt. Requests for copies of the illustration resulted in my making enlarged posters and including her in my coloring book, too.

Cookie Lady Recipes

DROP MOLASSES COOKIES evoke thoughts of treats of days ago. Cream together 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup molasses. Stir in 1 beaten egg and 1/2 cup sour milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla.

Sift together 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/ 3/4 teaspoons baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon allspice. Some cooks like to add 1/2 teaspoon ginger. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, stirring well.

Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 10-12 minutes.

(c)2003 Mary Emma Allen

(Mary Emma Allen enjoys researching family recipes and food histories. She also teaches workshops on compiling your family food heritage. For more information about her book, Tales of Adventure & Discovery, and "The Cookie Lady" poem, visit her web site: http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea; e-mail: me.allen@juno.com. She's also developing a Cookie Lady booklet.)

[Darlene]

My cookie lady was our next door neighbor. She didn't bake though...she had oreos. She'd give us a glass of milk to go with them. We never had oreos because our family didn't have the money to buy them.
My Mom baked but her cookies were usually burnt,lol.
I'm the cookie lady around here, and I don't burn them.

[Heather]

Oh, we sure did have a cookie lady! Cookies and milk anytime we stopped by.....and thinking back now, she must have baked everyday because they were always fresh and ready to go! We also had a tart lady, the lady in the farm next to us made the best butter tarts and the lady in the farm behind us made the best chocolate cake!! Yummm!!!

[Dixie]

My great aunt, by marriage was the cookie lady in my life. She also baked cakes and pies for every sick person she knew. If you were sick in our family or neighborhood, she would bake something for you. Sometimes , I would pretend to be sick, so I could get a fried apple pie.

[captclearance]

My cookie lady was (is) my Grandmother....... She baked the world's best peanut butter cookies.. she was soft and warm and smelled of peanut butter cookies ........