What I remember most about Mary was not just her love for her family and baking, but the act of combining those two by teaching the younger generations how to bake and spending time with them in the kitchen. I did just that to commemorate her special day.
My cousin Alison and I baked Mary's Sugar Cookie Recipe with her son's Henry and Gus. Mary passed away shortly after Henry was born. He often watches "The Mary movie" that my cousins and I made using all of her slides after her passing, but he never had the privilege of really knowing her. However, I feel by baking her recipe and using her cookie cutters, a bit of Mary was celebrated today.
(Sorry for the poor quality images, I had to use my cell phone to capture the moment)
Out of all her recipes, the sugar cookie recipe is the one that she made with us the most. Every school holiday party was a chance to bake cookie cutter shaped treats in her kitchen. I whipped up her recipe last night, but between the car ride to the house today and being mushed between the hands of a 5 year old, they weren't quite roll-able. We still managed to eek out a cow shaped cookie and some circles and they were delicious!
Sugar Cookies
(written in green ink on plain recipe card)
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs (room temperature)
1/2 tsp lemon
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 400. Cream shortening, sugar, egg, lemon, and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Chill for 1 hour. Roll dough 1/8inch thick. Cut on floured board. Cook on ungreased baking sheet for 6-8 minutes. Makes 4 dozen Mary sized cookies so approximately 2-3 dozen in reality!
Happy Birthday Mary!
Very nice Rachel. Mary would be so proud of you!
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