Sad News

Good Morning.

My father passed away this morning at 6:45am.  My sisters Sarah and Susan had driven in to Chicago from Des Moines yesterday to meet with the doctors at 3:00pm and to see where we were at with possibly bringing him home but his illness spread alot quicker than anyone expected.  The doctor actually said that this was a blessing for my dad to have gone so quickly and that he was in no pain.  I am in a mild state of shock right now.  We just got the official diagnosis on Friday and I think we all thought he would have a few more weeks to live if not months.  In a wierd way I am sort of happy that my dad got his last wishes.  He seemed to really want to die in Chicago and wished to donate his body to the Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois.  He also requested a memorial service in Des Moines at St. Augustin Church and we are working on fulfilling that wish as well.

I want to thank all of you for all the thoughtful notes and emails over the past few days and again thank you for allowing me to share this with you.  I am needing to keep my head above water at this point and it actually really helps to blog.

On a brighter note, I do have a recipe to share with you.  My son loves chewy Molasses Cookies and had asked if I could make some.  I am always up for baking and again it was therapuetic to do something that I love.






Directions


1. Prepare cookie sheets by covering with parchment paper ; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar, baking soda, gingers, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; beat until combined. Beat in egg and molasses. Beat in as much of thef whole wheat pastry flour and all-purpose flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.


3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Combine the turbinado sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Roll balls in sugar-cinnamon mixture. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 10 to 11 minutes or until set and tops are cracked. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool on a wire rack. Makes about 4 dozen.
 I am off to makes some calls and plans and will know more in the next the few days.  For now, I just feel blessed to have a loving family and am trying to be of service where I can be.