Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Christmas Cooking/Baking (not recipes) (10/16/08)
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TITLE: Grandpa's Cookies | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mary Ginty
10/22/08 -
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Every year, at the end of November, my Grandfather, Joseph Mangino, a retired New York City Policeman, would begin his holiday baking. Grandpa was a big man with broad shoulders, a loud booming voice, chubby cheeks a big smile and a twinkle in his eye. Everyone loved his baking and looked forward to it. Then one year something happened and everything began to change.
“I don’t know Franny,” my grandpa says to his daughter who is my mom. “I don’t think I am going to be able to send cookies out to everyone this year.”
“Why not?” Asked my mom.
“I just don’t feel up to it,” he said with a sigh. “I don’t think I could get it all done.”
I couldn’t imagine Christmas without Grandpa’s baking. It was a part of who he was and a part of what made Christmas.
“We’ll help you make them,” said my mom. “You can teach the girls. They need to learn anyways.” So the baking lessons began.
The thing about Grandpa’s baking lessons was that it doesn’t matter if you already knew how to bake. When you are in HIS kitchen, you do things HIS way! After putting all of the dry ingredients in a bowl, I got out the hand mixture to blend it real well. I plugged it into the wall then stuck it into the bowl, which was on the kitchen counter.
“Uh, uh,” said Grandpa. “Stick the bowl in the sink and then begin mixing it. This way if any of the flour comes out it will go in the sink.”
“Okay Grandpa,” I said. Next I got out the eggs and began cracking them into the bowl.
“Uh, uh,” said Grandpa. You gotta get a separate bowl and crack each egg individually to make sure the egg is good. Otherwise if one egg is bad it will ruin the whole batter.”
“Okay Grandpa,” I said. I began rolling the cookies out and putting the lumps on the cookie sheets.
“Uh, uh,” said Grandpa. “Those cookies are way to big. Make them smaller.”
“Okay Grandpa,” I said with a sigh.
When I would get something right Grandpa would nod his head in approval.
“Atta girl, atta girl.” Then when I would take the cookies out of the oven and they were just right Grandpa would smile. “Beautiful, beautiful,” he would say taking a bite.
So became our tradition that each year at Christmas time, my mom, my sister and I would take turns on different days baking cookies with Grandpa.
“You gotta get this right” Grandpa said to me one year as I baked. “I might not be here next year to show you how to do it.” I was startled to hear him say this.
“Don’t say that.” I said looking up from what I was doing. I couldn’t imagine him not being here.
“Well you never know,” said Grandpa. “Everyone dies some time.” I didn’t want to think about it.
Then one day it happened. Grandpa died.
As Christmas time comes around I remember what he said to me. I think; Don’t worry Grandpa. I promise, I am gonna get it right!
I start mixing the ingredients in bowl on the counter. Then I remember and put the bowl in the sink. I pull out a separate bowl for the eggs and hope that the cookies aren’t to big.
As I take the cookies from the oven I know if Grandpa could see me he would be smiling. Nodding his approval, satisfied in knowing that his cookies are still being baked. If I listen closely as I take a bite of a cookie I think I can hear Grandpa. “Atta girl, atta girl.” I take another bite and savor the taste. “Beautiful, beautiful!”
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Reminded me very much of my grandfather, who's been with the Lord for many years now. I have one handwritten recipe from him, for Microwave Peanut Brittle, which he perfected himself. One day I turned it over and he'd written many of his special "hints" to me on the back.
Thanks for bringing back sweet memories for me, with this story!
There were a few missing commas and other minor grammatical errors, but those are easy to fix, and they didn't detract from the story.
I think it's great that your grandfather's legacy lives on in you. Keep on baking his cookies, and keep on writing. :)