Have you ever noticed how our earliest memories from say, four years old, are mental snapshots taken..
just a few feet off the ground looking up?
We don’t seem to remember faces looking “straight on”
…but looking up,
because we were small back then.. isn’t that cool?
Loved ones, in our memories, still hover over us.
♥
My Grandma Nell was swept up to heaven when I was still a small child
so I only have limited recollections of a beaming, statuesque yet mysterious woman with such long fingers
…she seemed always immaculately and very fashionably dressed.
♥
I think I have her hands.
♥
I asked my mom to write some stories about Nell for me.. and there were too many for one post..
I will have to scatter them like crumbs from her recipes to find my way back to her.
♥
Nell was born and raised in Newfoundland..
( before it was even a province in Canada )
Nell’s mother was a school teacher for Great Grandpa Janes 14 children.. she eventually went on to marry the widowed Grandpa Jimmy Janes, Stipend Magistrate.
They went on to have four more children.. a total of 18 in all.
(No wonder Great Granny Janes liked her food.. it would be a comfort I think;)
These cookies are Nellie’s recipe
and they were a source of comfort in our little kitchen on Claret Street.
♥
My mom always said that there isn’t a sugar cookie just like these anywhere.
You may think they’re a shortbread… but they’re not.
You may think they’re a typical sugar cookie… but they’re not.
And they always have a little round cherry pressed in the center,
but first you have to dip a glass in sugar and press the cookies into sugary orbs.
♥
If you bake them a short while.. they are soft as can be.
Bake them longer.. and the brown sugar caramelizes and you have the crunchiest of cookies.
♥
When one is only four, these cookies seem massive,
so I used to eat them in circles, going in wee mouse bites round the edges,
…spiralling in until I reach the absolute edge of the maraschino cherry
and that was the last sweet bit to pop in!
- Scant 1/3 cup butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Red Glace (maraschino) Cherries
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, or in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon, beat the first four ingredients together until they are light and fluffy.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture into the whipped butter mixture.
- Roll or scoop cookie dough out into balls and place on a baking sheet lined with silpat or parchment paper.
- Dip the bottom of a flat glass or jar in sugar and press on cookies to flatten.
- Place a maraschino cherry half in the center and gently press in.
- Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until they are as browned as you wish.
- Sit on the kitchen floor looking up, nibbling in small circles… and save the cherry for last!
A lot of self control required to not want to dive straight in and eat the cherry!
Wow, another lovely post – I’ve really enjoyed all of your recipes and tales that you have shared recently. Thank you Smidge
“I will have to scatter them like crumbs from her recipes to find my way back to her.” Lovely way to remember a woman who “liked her food”.
I love this recipe. The cookies are beautiful and reading to your story I can almost taste them… yumm!!
This one is going to my recipe box. Thanks for it, Barbara 🙂
What a lovely post, Barbara! I love sugar cookies – and I love sweet stories – so you have a perfect blend! I’ll have to try these for sure…
Such a lovely memory, and I can imagine nibbling ’round and ’round until reaching the treat in the center!
WOW!!! These look like they will just melt in your mouth – yum 😉
Might have to give these a try soon. Christmas is fast approaching so it’s cookie time!!
I was never much of a sugar cookie fan but butter or oatmeal cookies??? YUMM!!!! Your cookies just sparkle here. 🙂
I like the thought of loved ones hovering over us. The cookie look delicate and delicious.
What a sweet story and sugar cookies are my number 1 favorite!! They look gorgeous with the cherry in the middle. 🙂
Your post made me think that I have NO recollections of any sweets baked by my family – I wonder if that explains my lack of a sweet tooth? My Grandmas had no interest whatsoever in cakes, or cookies, or pies. My Mom same thing. IN a way, that is too bad, I think kids should grow up with sweet memories (literally). So, if you don’t mind, I will borrow your memories for a while… 😉
Well.. borrow away! Maybe that’s a good thing, you’re going to have a slim figure not eating or craving sweets:)
Good point… 🙂
congrats again on being featured on the newspaper, I smile every time I think about it!
Oh Barbara — what a lovely and sentimental post… I adored it. Yes “looking up” — I do recall…and being fairly small – still often “look up” in many respects… These cookies – Nellie’s recipe, looks amazing — and I just melted from the way you ended this post… I’m in awe of your creative spirit — how you have woven these posts with treads of words, emotion photography and delectable recipes ~ lots of love, Robyn
Thanks so much, Robyn.. I think you’re right, I’m still not a tall gal so lots of looking up for me always:) xx
It is so cool that you have these memories, and these recipes, from family. Sadly, I have nothing like this….my family just didn’t cook or bake unless it was absolutely necessary. And then, the things they ate never seemed too special because no one ever remembers any of them, or talks about them. So, when I get to read about these things, well, it just makes me smile. And those cookies are so beautiful, I’d hate to eat them! Oh but I will, lol. Hubby loves sugar cookies, and this recipe is right up his cookie alley. We will love these. Thank you Smidge! xo
(P.S. Barb, thank you for your sweet comments, and for being the first follower and commenter on my new knitting blog. I appreciate it. I’m so obsessed with it right now that I think I’ll leave the cooking/baking blogs to you experts for now. I get a LOT of great recipes reading you guys, and have so much fun cooking them!).
You’re so welcome.. anyone reading this.. head over to Sarah’s new blog.. it’s beautiful:)
That’s very interesting – I tend to see my life as a child, as me being normal height or looking down on the scene. I don’t remember feeling small and I do have a good memory of it all.
Great cookies 😉
Oh, cool.. then maybe it’s just me? Thanks!
My goodness those do look good! Yum.
Fabulous once again! And I remember reading about the Newfoundlanders fighting in Word War 1, before it was part of Canada.
Barbara, this can I really resit – strangely enough. Looks too sweet for me *smile – but they look like they smelt on the tongue and they are so pretty too. This week will I post you verdict for your Italian chicken – did it over the weekend. Friday I think it will be.
Awww what beautiful little cookies – love the cherry 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Such a charming post. I’m so glad you are going through these family recipes and sharing these stories.
It’s wonderful the comfort we can receive from memories of our Grandmas baking in the kitchen and the recipes they handed down. These cookies look very melt in the mouth. I can understand why you would eat them in a spiral fashion. 🙂
It’s lovely to hear your memories of these cookies being baked when you were small. They sound good – I might just have to bake a batch before I start a pre-holiday detox! 😉
How cute are they with the cherries in the middle!
Raising so many children, 10 of which are not actually your own, is such an exhausting thought. It’s a mystery to me how women back then did it all – and still had time to be incredible but understated cooks. I love the look of your sugar cookies – I grew up on something similar (but I wouldn’t dare say, ‘they’re the same’!) xx
Nell’s sugar cookies need to be added to my cookie baking list for the holidays. I LOVE a good sugar cookie and this both sounds and looks like a great sugar cookie. I like the way that you describe we look up at our loved ones. That’s often how I think of my grandma even though I knew her as an adult, I most often think of her like when I was a child. 🙂
Those are so pretty they should come in a tin, but are a million times tastier than tin cookies I’m sure.
Love this and the tie back to a wonderful memory!
With 14 children I don’t imagine anyone ate too many cookies! Good looking recipe, lovely photos and I like the new look on your blog!
I’m always surprised by how many of those little snapshots are swirling around in my head. I love the cookies, and the story makes them even more crumbly and delicious.
I love the contrast of those pretty cookies against that lovely tin serving tray. It looks like something Nells would serve the cookies on. Barb I typically bake 10-15 different types of cookies over the holidays and I’m always looking for a cookie that will bring a new colour, texture, flavour or shape to the mix. I want to make these too because they look festive with the cherry in the middle, but they also sound really delicious.
lovely story of your grandma..she would be so proud that you are still baking them. I love the cherry in the centre of the cookie. It makes it so pretty.
What a lovely story Smidge! And the cookies look so beautifully delicious. Love your new picture. Beautiful!
These are a little Christmas teaser 🙂
I can believe this is unlike other sugar cookies! Just looking at them I can see that, particularly with the little cherry in the middle. They’re very special, and somehow knowing the story behind the recipe makes them all the more appealing. What delightful family stories, Smidge!
Maybe it’s the addition of brown sugar? Mom likes them cooked longer to caramelize.. otherwise I thought the ingredients were similar to others I’ve made. They do “puff up” as well. Thanks 🙂
Smidge what a beautiful story about a very special lady and a fabulous recipe!
🙂 Mandy xo
I love that you are sharing memories with us! And I love the new look of your blog 🙂
Raising 14 kids! My head is dizzy just thinking about that! I am sure this recipe was her sanctuary and I sure she hid her own stash of cookies for those super dreadful days when all of the 14 kids were on her last good nerve. Beautiful melt in your mouth sugar cookies. Like your new theme. Everytime I visit something new…
Delightful Smidge! I think I would still eat these mouse like, nibbling away at the edges 🙂 And your words ” Loved ones, in our memories, still hover over us.” is simply beautiful. And now I nee dto save this recipe, looks like what I’d call a biscuit, and we like those with a cuppa (tea) as a treat
I loved it, and also you captured them so nicely too. Thank you dear Barbara, love, nia
Hi Barbara!
Your memories must be so special and that u share your grandmothers recipe is so sweet of you. your sharing your soul with us!
I d love to try the cookies but baked a bit longer, I like mine crunchy. Thanks for sharing! =)
Yummy! Did you re-do your site’s design, Barbara? It looks really beautiful! (Or perhaps it’s just those scrumptious sugar cookies? :P)
haha.. yes, I redid. I love fiddling around with stuff like this:)
My first memory was at the age of 4. My middle sister came home from the maternity ward and i had a really nasty earache. Will always remember that one!
What a special recipe to share with all! 🙂 I love sugar cookies and their delicious simplicity.
Smidge, you may have Nell’s hands but I think you must have a bit of her heart too. My sense is that she must have dusted you as a wee girl with a bit of her sugar … maybe even doing that still. And you’ve utterly sold me on these pretty as a picture mouse-nibbly cookies! I know just the mice to bake them for! xxo
How sweet, Barb. Your Grandmother must have led a fascinating life. It’s too bad that you weren’t mature enough to really get to know her before she was taken from you. It is a pleasure, although rare, to be able to speak with previous generations “eye to eye.” What stories she could have shared with you! My Dad once told me that his parents both came from huge families. I guess we have that in common : we’re descended from overworked women. 🙂
These cookies look wonderful. With 14 hungry mouths, I wonder just how large a batch she’d have to make to ensure all of the kids got one. ANd mil. How much milk did she need to give them all a glass with their cookie?
Love that touch of cherry in the middle
What a beautiful memory you shared with is. Your grandma must have been a remarkable woman – as were so many who brought up large families back then without all that we have now. Beautiful cookies and I´d have eaten them the same way too!
The story definitely makes this cookie. A recipe from Newfoundland before it was even part of Canada? That is a true Canadian story…. and eating a couple of these cookies while hearing it would make it unforgettable!
🙂
V
Just beautiful cookies.
I just love the stories that come along with your recipes. I always feel I’m being handed something a members of your family to keep… this are going on the pinterest ‘to make’ board!
Such beautiful cookies, and a lovely heartfelt tribute to your grandmother. I think these sugar cookies would be wonderful on the Christmas dessert table.
[…] Nell’s Sugar Cookies (the pretty cookies with the cherry in the middle) are thanks to Barb over at Just a Smidgen (one of my favourite bloggers who, by the way, has received two 2012 Canadian Blog Awards. Way to go Barb!) I knew that I had to make these cookies when Barb posted them a few months back. Simple, with a comforting old fashioned appeal, one bite of these cookies takes me back to my own grandmother’s kitchen. They are sure to be a new favourite this year. […]
Little delicious jewels!
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