The Apron

As I am now officially "old"  the time has come to remember things that make me smile. The apron being at the top of my list.  I have just started wearing an apron when I cook which I should have worn all my years in the kitchen!  More clothes have been ruined with grease spatters,  that's it no more.  I started looking for aprons to buy and must admit there was no way $15 - $35 was coming out of my wallet for one apron.  Thank you google search!  I found lots of patterns and headed to Joanns for material (cheap).  Going straight to the discontinued and discount section was a BINGO!  Beautiful spring and summer designs and some for only $2.00 a yard.  My time, maybe an hour.  I used two different materials so they are reversible.  $4.00 an apron with material left for scrappy quilts, pot holders, etc.

The $4 apron saving my top from bacon grease spatters.  Needed the drippings in a pan for German Potato Salad.  I would rather bake the bacon!

When thinking aprons I decided to do some research about them.  One thing for sure, there are some beautiful poems about aprons.  I know what my mom used them for besides protecting her "dresses".  She used her apron to gather eggs, vegetables from the garden and put clothespins in the apron pocket when hanging clothes on the line.  There ia a good chance I will being wearing aprons outside.


The cookie and glaze recipe below is wonderful and quick to make.  If you don't have walnuts or maple flavoring that's ok they are just as good!  I have made them both ways.

Maple Drop Cookies

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup of dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon of maple syrup (Grade B preferably)
• 2 cups of all-purpose flour8
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts

1 Cream the butter and sugar together at medium speed for three minutes or until light and fluffy.

2 Add the vanilla extract and egg and mix until well incorporated. Add the maple syrup and mix until well incorporated.

3 In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just incorporated. Fold in the walnuts. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for thirty minutes.

4 Preheat the oven to 350F. Drop spoonfuls of the cookie, about 1 inch balls, onto cookies sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for a minute or two before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Maple glaze frosting:    

3-TBSP butter
1/2-cup brown sugar
1/4-cup milk
Melt in pan together til brown sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat and stir in 2-TBSP of maple syrup, 1-tsp maple flavoring and enough confectionery sugar to make a glaze.  Spread on warm cookies.

This batch is leaving for California Monday.  Back with "Flat Matthew" to rejoin Matthew McDermott and his 2nd grade class.

I found this poem while reading about aprons, enjoy and "Pass it On"  if you like.

 Why, Granny? By Jane-Ann Heitmueller

“Why do you wear aprons, Granny?” I asked her one day,
as I nestled on her lap, while resting from my play.

“Mercy child,” she replied, “it’s just a part of life. It’s as
valuable to me as Grandpa’s pocketknife.

When I wrap it on each day it makes me feel complete. I’m
prepared to face the day… whatever I shall meet.

Sometimes it’s a wiping rag to dry my dripping hands.
Sometimes it’s a holding cloth to grasp the boiling pans.

Now and then it dries a tear or wipes a runny nose. It’s a
part of all I do, wherever Granny goes.

Carrying potatoes or the hens’ eggs from their nest.
Snuggling baby kittens close and warm against my breast.

Wiping up the drips and drops that splatter on the floor. Oft’
times used to dust the table and there’s so much more.

On a rainy day it’s used to shield my head from rain or to
take the horses lots of tasty, yellow grain.

Sometimes it’s a help to open stubborn lids I grip. It can
hide a dirty spot or shield a jagged rip.

It’s been known to shine a shoe or dry a puppy’s fur or to
clear a mirror when the steam has caused a blur.

Best of all though, precious child sitting on my knee, it’s
a place to nestle you and have you here with me!”