The Basket Lady

Basket Lady received an e-mail from Jonathan Berkleigh, enjoying life somewhere in the great Sunshine state that praised the book, “When We Were The Kennedy’s,” a memoir written by Monica Wood, who grew up in Mexico. Yep, it’s a small world after all.

Jonathan wrote, “The Roche/Wood families were from Prince Edward Island originally, and the author’s aunt Rose Roche, visited with my mother quite often.” His mother of course, is the late Dot Sanchas.

Jonathan included one of their family recipes, sort of an old-time recipe that includes the use of molasses.

Basket Lady received Jon’s permission to print the Rose Roche soft molasses cookies recipe. Try it. The cookie(s) will melt in your mouth.

1 1/4 c. butter

1 c. sugar

Beat butter and sugar till well-blended.

1 c. molasses

1 c. cold coffee

Beat into sugar mixture.

Combine the following in a large bowl:

6 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. allspice

1 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. cinnamon

Add the dry ingredients to the molasses mixture. Stir together, and place dough in refrigerator till well-chilled. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll out the chilled dough, cut into circles and place on parchment paper. Bake 10 minutes.

Note: Jonathan uses a cookie scoop to make the cookies a uniform size then he flattens them with the bottom of a glass instead of rolling out the dough.

Basket Lady would like to thank the following every day kindness angels for their acts of goodwill, encouragement, and generosity:

Joyce Saisi and family, Jennifer Kreckel, Dr. Kendall and medical staff, Roseanne Crider, NP., Virginia B. Stickney, Barbara “Jean” Smith, The Penny angel, Two special nameless angels, Sue Ellen Richardson, Ron Curtis, Rumford Dead River, Marge and Lem Cissel, Richard Hutchins, Rhonda Sinclair, Louise Stickney, Lorraine Nadeau and special friend, Lori Grassette, Dianne Patterson and Roger Whitehouse.

Friend, show someone a kindness today. Don’t delay. Kindness not only counts but it adds up!

We miss your kindness every day, Dot Sanchas! Until then, smile and live in the present.