"Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence."*
The louder, the busier and the more frenetic life is, the more I long for silence, or at least stillness. Moments of stillness - like sleep - rejuvenate me. Clears the cobwebs in my mind. For some reason, December started out with lots of cobwebs. It started with Christmas music and commercials everywhere - sucking the joy out of the season, that is, until I walked into The Alchemist at Stoney Point. Actually, it was meant to be a short cut on my way to find the See's Candy Store but I lingered and listened to the music. It was Cadence Spalding - an angelic voice if there ever was one. She turned Christmas Carols into an etheric experience. I stopped. I listened and, suddenly, I was at peace. I reveled in the moment and, then, I continued on my quest.
To my disappointment, the candy shop was not at its usual location. I turned and began to retrace my steps when a symphony of music and lights burst forth from the Christmas tree in the center of the plaza. I stood in awe like a child awash in pure joy. Afterward, I returned to The Alchemist, where I bought Spalding's "Holiday High" CD. I knew it was time to do a meditation with music.
From that night on, the season was magical. At Bizarre Bazaar, I discovered Lavender Fields, a local farm that produces local raw honey and lavender - two of my favorite things - and their recipe for lavender cookies. I made batch after batch. I also discovered a recipe for Blue Cheese & Walnut cookies that intrigued me so much I had to try it even though I do not care for Blue Cheese. Here are both of these recipes as a belated Christmas gift from me to you with this thought:
"You are a child of the Universe, no less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here and whether of no it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding exactly as it should."*
Lavender Cookies
Blend the following together: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened + 1 cup sugar + 1 egg
Add in: 1 cup self-rising flour + 1 tablespoon culinary lavender buds
Drop dough onto parchment lined cookie sheet
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 15-18 minutes until edges are golden brown.
Cool cookies on a wire rack. Makes 48 cookies.
Bleu Cheese and Walnut Cookies
Blend the following together: 1/4 pound unsalted butter + 5 oz. Bleu Cheese, crumbed
Add in: 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour + 2 teaspoons kosher salt + 1 teaspoon black pepper
Also, add: 1 tablespoon of water and combine all ingredients
Drop the dough onto a floured board; press it into a ball and roll into a 12" log
Brush the log with egg wash (1 egg with 1 tablespoon water)
Spread 1/2 cup chopped walnuts in a rectangle on the cutting board
Roll the log in the walnuts, pressing gently, until the log in evenly covered with nuts.
Cut the long in 3/8ths inch pieces and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 22 minutes - rotate the pan once during baking.
Cook and serve at room temperature. Makes 36 cookies.
*Excerpts from Desiderata
