Subtly dressed as the Irish flag, our 85-year old neighbor Connie invited us to her house last weekend to eat pizza and shake shamrocks on her super fantastic molasses cookies.
“I’m Catholic, I’m Irish and I’m senile,” she announced cheerfully as we ducked under the large St. Patrick’s Day banner that hung outside her door.
Inside, we found a Gaelic wonderland and an octogenarian ready to party, not surprising as this particular octogenarian is always ready to party.
Take, for instance, an expensive plumbing incident she recently experienced. Most homeowners would grumble about the cost and inconvenience. Connie turned it into a party.
“We had hors d’oeuvres at about three. Then I served pizza and ice cream at five. We had a ball,” she said.
That’s right, Connie fed and entertained the team of plumbers as they dug through her basement to replace her pipes.
She entertained us as well. Proof of the former Connie Murphy’s proud Irish heritage greeted us from every corner of every room and we spent a sweet afternoon noshing and enjoying Connie’s refreshing view of life, told with a leprechaun twinkle in her eyes and an impressive wit.
Irish legend says that she who kisses the blarney stone is blessed with the gift of gab. Add to that a generous heart, a quick mind and a spiritual soul and you have Connie.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Molly and Me. May God hold you in the palm of his hand until we meet again. And may you hold one of these delicious cookies in the palm of your hand one day soon. Sláinte!
Connie’s Super Fantastic Molasses Cookies
3/4 Cup Butter Crisco
1 Cup Sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup dark molasses
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cloves
2 tsp. cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix all ingredients. Form dough into little balls. Press down with a glass dipped in sugar.
(This is the end of the recipe she gave me. I will tell you to bake 10 minutes until the edges are crisp. Cool and frost with the super secret frosting.)
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