| Bobbie was reminiscing about her grandmother | | | | that she was down for the count. She didn't |
| and those little green apple turnover cookies. | | | | expect to forget him and what he had meant, |
| Bobbie would beg her to make them so she could | | | | but she did expect to be able to think on him with |
| serve them during her tea party with one of her | | | | happiness and tenderness and without sadness or |
| best friends, Teddy Polk-A-Dots. Bobbie knew | | | | bitterness. |
| how to cook those little cookies before she was | | | | It would take some time certainly, but she did |
| allowed to hold a knife. She remembers her | | | | know that someday she would look around the |
| grandmother telling her, "You have to use Granny | | | | corner and find the man who possessed some of |
| Smith apples Bobbie because the cookies won't | | | | the wonderful characteristics of those lazy |
| taste as sweet without the tartness of these | | | | afternoons. This one though, when he looked into |
| apples. Remember that. It's the most important | | | | her he would see heaven and hell, fear and hope, |
| part of making these cookies." | | | | friendship and love and not let her go. Not for a |
| Bobbie slowly moved her head up at the sky | | | | million. It could be today....for now it is just one |
| blinking at the bright sunlight, "Just like life | | | | step at a time. |
| Grandma. Got to have that tart to make it that | | | | "Fresh Green Apple Turnover Cookies"* |
| much sweeter. Thanks for the advice. I miss you | | | | Likely Page Break |
| so much Grandma." She knew that she had a | | | | Ingredients: 1 and 1/3 cups of ricotta cheese, 1/3 |
| clean shirt on today that was a definite | | | | cup of confectioners' sugar, 1 cup of all-purpose |
| improvement from yesterday. She was exactly a | | | | flour, 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 2 large eggs, 1 |
| lion yet but she had strength, the confidence was | | | | tsp of baking powder, 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice, |
| lacking but one step at a time. Guitars and a | | | | ¼ tsp of salt, zest of one lemon plus a tsp |
| certain room flashed through her brain and she | | | | of zest, 1-2 tbs of non-fat milk, 1/3 cup of |
| flopped down helplessly in her porch rocker. | | | | Splenda, 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, 1/3 cup of |
| She gave up and didn't resist. The bittersweet | | | | sugar, ¼ tsp of vanilla extract, 1 tbs plus 1 |
| memories flooded over and through her. She was | | | | 3 cup of margarine, 3 medium Granny Smith |
| facing the wall in her little cottage. She could feel | | | | apples peeled cored and cubed, and 3 tbs of |
| the bed beneath her and let the cool air from the | | | | golden raisins. |
| air float in through the window and over her. She | | | | 1) Mix the cheese, the flours, baking powder, salt, |
| heard that front door close and she shut her | | | | vegetable oil, milk, 1/6 cup of sugar, 1/6 cup of |
| eyes. Bobbie was curious. She knew that you | | | | Splenda, 1 egg, 1 tsp of lemon zest grated, vanilla |
| could always tell how much a man loved you by | | | | extract, and 1/3 cup of margarine in a large |
| how he treated you when you slept. So, she | | | | mixing bowl. |
| thought she would try it out. She felt the | | | | 2) Plump the raisins in hot water for 10 minutes. |
| pressure change on the bed and she lay still. She | | | | Drain well and pat dry with paper towels. |
| felt his arms circle around her and he kissed her | | | | 3) Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Set out a |
| cheek ever so softly. Never before the moment | | | | couple of greased cookie sheets. |
| had she felt so much and peace and love flow | | | | 4) Mix the apples, remaining margarine, remaining |
| over her in a strong wave with no abating. She | | | | sugar, remaining Splenda, remaining lemon zest, |
| could feel the same exuding from him. They were | | | | and the juice in a large saucepan over low heat. |
| safe and with each other. | | | | Once it starts getting bubbly, simmer for about 5 |
| She turned around and he kissed her softly on | | | | minutes or until the apples begin to soften. Stir in |
| the lips. "The night grows bitter, the stars have | | | | the raisins and let them cool completely. Discard |
| lost their glitter. That great beginning has seen a | | | | the lemon zest. |
| final ending, with hope....," Judy Garland was singing | | | | 5) Roll the dough out to ¼ inch thick. Use a |
| her sweet song in the background. The emotions | | | | round 3 inch cookie cutter to stamp out circles. |
| within Bobbie were almost too much to handle. | | | | Spread with a tsp of the apple filling leaving a |
| There were very few things she remembered as | | | | ½ inch border around the edge. Brush the |
| well as his face laying on that pillow. That day she | | | | border with the beaten egg and fold over |
| memorized every little feature in his face, every | | | | pressing firmly. Brush the tops with the remaining |
| little mole and mark. His blond hair, his lips, his | | | | egg. Arrange on a cookies sheet. Bake for about |
| closed eyes....she fell in love all over again when | | | | 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on the |
| she saw his face. Passion, fear, and purpose | | | | sheet for 2 minutes and then transfer to wire |
| became hers all over again. Her heart just couldn't | | | | racks to cool. Dust with the confectioners' sugar. |
| contain it.... | | | | 6) Enjoy these delicious cookies with all the |
| Two months of those lazy afternoons and it | | | | wonderful sweetness of life. |
| became night, permanently. All over what? An | | | | * Base of recipe from Cookies and then I molded |
| issue over heaven and hell, fear and hope, | | | | it from there. |
| friendship and love. She knew for the moment | | | | |