The Splendid Table, a public radio program I love, was devoted to mothers this weekend. The first segment featured cookbook author and mother Emily Franklin. As only a mother could, Emily relates her young son Daniel's disdain for peas, using the 5 Stages of Grief as a framework and sending me into fits of laughter and grave compassion for my own mother, who fielded more than her fair share of fits while raising me and my two brothers. Maybe you will recall a similar scene from your own home. Have a listen...
I'm pretty sure that my mom's salmon cakes had the same affect on me as peas do for Daniel, but on the whole, we were very well-fed. My brother Miles was known to shake and quiver in anticipation of Mom's oven-fried chicken. I also have some fairly incriminating family photos that demonstrate just how much my brother Nathan loved Mom's spaghetti and meatballs. For me, I would do cartwheels for her chicken rice pilaf. And blessed were the days when we came home from school to find fresh, buttery oatmeal cookies waiting for us.
When I moved into my first apartment, I called my mom to request her oatmeal cookie recipe and learned that they are really called Aggression cookies, because you can work out any tension or stress while kneading the dough. Maybe this explains why they were a common treat in our house. Raising three children must come with a little bit of stress, but you would never know it with our mom. Try her recipe for yourself and conjure up your own fun childhood memories...
Deanna's Aggression Cookies
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup (3 sticks) butter
3 cups oatmeal, uncooked
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Knead everything with your hands until no lumps of butter remain. Roll dough into small balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten gently with a small fork.
Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool before removing from cookie sheet.
And remember... appreciate your mother everyday!
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