~Bona Vita~

In order to embrace the ideals of Bona Vita, the “good life”, in our homes, we must share our lives with our children.  This means sharing your hopes and dreams for them, your goals and aspirations with them.  Practically speaking, we need to work and play with our families.  Together you can garden, cook, clean and work on projects around your home.  Share your hobbies with your children and experience these together.  Golfing, playing tennis, jogging, hiking, biking, traveling . . . whatever you love to do, share it  with your family.  Treasure your times together as a family.

Participating in activities as a group actually is beneficial to  large families similar to ours.   I rarely find myself torn between needing to attend two or more of my childrens’ events simultaneously.  This would be a strategic nightmare!  Instead, we are all generally together.  When we golf, we all golf; when we play tennis, we all play tennis; when we travel, we all travel (11 seats on an airplane has made it necessary to book through the airline’s group sales); and when we bike, we all bike.

Our children, particularly our daughters, share a great deal of time in the kitchen with me.  They have participated in cooking from an early age.  But this past weekend I discovered that I have not been passing on crucial information to them as we worked.  I assumed they  know that I never follow recipes.  Don’t get me wrong: I usually have a recipe in front of me when I cook; I just rarely follow it.

The disconnect came about because my daughters were under the impression that I followed these recipes, word for word.  The enlightening moment came when my daughters realized that the chocolate chip cookies I served our family were not created from the recipe found on the package of chocolate chips.

At first, they felt slightly misled.  You see, my family loves my chocolate chip cookies.  They usually rave about them.  The girls’ cookies rarely receive this reaction.  How could they have been working with an incorrect recipe for so long?  Did their own mother actually dupe them?  Of course not.  I merely failed to share vital pieces of my recipe with them.  It was simply a break-down in communication.

I am now going to be more committed to recording my recipes.  And now, for those cookies…

Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 cups shortening

2 tsp vanilla

5 eggs

2 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Mix the first four ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Set aside. Cream shortening and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla to the shortening mixture.  Add eggs, one at a time, whipping at medium-high speed after each egg is added.  Scrape bowl frequently.  Add flour mixture to the shortening mixture about 1 cup at a time, mixing on medium speed until all of the flour mixture is incorporated into the shortening mixture.

Add the chocolate chips, gently folding them into the mixture.  Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes or until they are just turning a light golden brown.  Do not overbake.  Let cool for  about 30 seconds on cookie sheet.  Place on racks to completely cool.  Store in airtight container.  Makes about 9 dozen cookies.

“He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers…” –Malachi 4:6