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Published on May 5, 2020 Special memories of mom on this Mother’s Day And, mom's 'good-for-you' candy recipe God could not be everywhere, and therefore, he made mother - a quote from Proverbs. I wonder what my Mom would have thought of this coronavirus crisis. She probably would have handled the “new normal” well. I can remember a time during a particularly bad flu epidemic when my baby sister was 3 or 4 and had to be hospitalized. All the family had the flu - the other three of us kids were sick, as were Mom, Dad and Grandma. I remember sitting around the kitchen table waiting until we could take our next meal or dose of medicine, such as we could keep down. Mom still prepared the soups, hot tea and dry toast we all ate. She took care of us all. She gave birth to me and my three siblings while she was in her 30s – a bit unusual during the 1950s. We never had a bunch of extra cash as she helped Dad run the family woodworking business. But she always had time for her kids. She was a homeroom mother numerous times. She made holiday-themed treats for all the kids in the class. I remember one time she wanted to make Halloween witches, black cats and jack-o-lantern cookies for my class. She couldn’t find cookie cutters she liked, so she drew patterns on cardboard and cut them out. Then she used them to cut each cookie out of the dough using a knife. She loved us. I guess I owe my love of cooking to my mom. She taught us all how by letting us help her in the kitchen. So, to honor her and other Moms, I thought I would add a recipe that you may want to try. It’s “good for you” candy – if there is such a thing. It contains Cheerios, the original “finger food.” Chocolate Cherry Clusters 2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips In a medium bowl, microwave chocolate on high for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave 1 more minute until nearly melted. Stir until smooth. Quickly stir in cereal, cherries and nuts until well-coated. Using a tablespoon, scoop up the mixture and make clusters on a baking sheet. Refrigerate 2 hours, until no longer sticky. Makes 24 clusters. Mom also made a point of introducing us all to Mother Nature. She took us outside every spring, teaching us plants and showing us each year’s rebirth. While you are celebrating your Mom on her day, let’s not forget to celebrate Mother Nature as well. She gives us the entire Texas coastline, the fish, shrimp and crabs that feed our bodies as well as our souls. She gives us the watercolor sunrises and sunsets that fill our minds’ art galleries. She gives us the migrations of wildlife and the blooming flowers, showing us “the beat goes on,” even in a COVID-19 pandemic. That’s one of Mother Nature’s gifts of love to all of us. Sunday is a day to celebrate your Mom! Time to bring her breakfast in bed and crayon-inscribed Mother’s Day cards. Treat Mom to lunch, give her flowers and enjoy her company on the holiday designed to pamper her. Moms are special to us all, and it’s once again time to appreciate them for nurturing our lives and souls and making our world a better place to live in. Maybe so even more this year, as the COVID-19 virus has turned our world upside down. Happy Mother’s Day everyone. (Write Jan in care of The Bulletin. Email: john.bulletin@gmail.com. Snail mail: The Bulletin, PO Box 2426, Angleton TX, 77516.) |