Cooking in the West

Over the 27 years I have been writing this column, I have shared every Mother's Day anecdote from my life that you should be forced to endure, so I decided to research a few Mother's Day thoughts for you.

In 1907, Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948), a Philadelphia schoolteacher, began a movement to set up a national Mother's Day in honor of her mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis. She solicited the help of hundreds of legislators and prominent businessmen to create a special day to honor mothers. Anna's hard work finally paid off seven years later in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as a national holiday in honor of mothers.

Mother's Day is now celebrated in many countries around the world. Australia, Mexico, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Russia, China, and Thailand all have special celebrations to honor Mothers, but not in the same way or on the same day as the United States. In my research I also found the following great quotes:

"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." - Abraham Lincoln

"The hand that rocks the cradle usually is attached to someone who isn't getting enough sleep." - John Fiebig

"I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids." - Unknown

The mother of three notoriously unruly youngsters was asked whether or not she'd have children if she had it to do over again. "Yes," she replied. "But not the same ones." - David Finkelstein

A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son's memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world." - Bits and Pieces, 1989

A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: "My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?" When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word Mother - Unknown

Happy Mother's Day to every mother! It has been eighteen Mother's Days since I lost my mom, but even after all those years, Mother's Day is kind of a bitter sweet day of celebration with my children mingled with memories of Mother. Happy Mother's Day to every mother out there. If you are fortunate enough to still have a living mother, don't worry about sending flowers or gifts, just spend some time with her--that is the best gift you can give her!

I have some kid friendly recipes this week for kids who are wanting to cook for their mothers. Nothing says Mother's Day love like kids in the kitchen!

Creamy Orange Salad

6 oz. pkg. orange Jell-o

2 C. boiling water

two 3 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

14 oz. sweetened condensed milk

8 oz. carton whipped topping

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Beat cream cheese until fluffy in a small bowl. Gradually blend in hot Jell-o until completely mixed and smooth, beating on low speed. Stir in condensed milk. Fold in whipped topping. Do not completely mix if you wish a "twirly" effect. Transfer to 2 1/2 quart bowl or rectangular baking dish and refrigerate four hours before serving. Keeps well for up to a week.

Baby Ruth Bars

6 C. Corn Flakes

1 C. salted peanuts

1/2 C. brown sugar

1/2 C. white sugar

1 C. white corn syrup

1 C. peanut butter

1 pkg. chocolate chips

Lightly grease a 9 X 13 pan. Sprinkle Corn Flakes and peanuts in pan. In a sauce pan, cook sugars and syrup until boiling. Add peanut butter. Stir until melted and pour over cereal and peanuts. Melt the package of chocolate chips and spread over the bars. Enjoy!

Twelve Minute Cookies

1 cake mix (any flavor)

1/2 C. oil

2 large eggs

Mix together and drop spoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Get creative and add 1 C. nuts or 1/2 C. raisins or other add-ins if you like!

Simple Peanut Butter Cookies

1 C. peanut butter

1 C. sugar

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

Mix all ingredients well. Roll into two dozen balls. Flatten onto greased cookie sheet with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.