Eating Cookie Dough

I used to make homemade chocolate chip cookies a lot, especially growing up.

My favorite part has always been eating the batter... I have fond memories of Dad and me scooping out spoonfuls of cookie dough to eat. Raw eggs? Salmonella? Never caused a problem. Last night, I made the original Nestle Toll House recipe that's been printed on the back of the bag for probably as long as Nestle has been making chocolate chips.

I got out the Kitchenaid mixer from my childhood... the beige one (1970's or 80's) that Mom gave me.

One of the challenges from The Artist's Way this week was to do something you enjoyed doing as a child. I know this task is designed to help me reconnect to my inner artist child. It worked. It really did work.

While I was adding and mixing ingredients, I found myself wander back to the Stanford house.

I remember exactly where I stood in the kitchen and baked my heart out.

I can see my big glob of cookie dough on the spoon and headed for my mouth

To my left is the bright green porcelain sink

Over to the right is the beautiful old brick surrounding the stove

Hanging on the bricks is the hand painted clock I bought for Mom in Switzerland

Uncle Tom and Aunt Edna's photo sits to the left of the cooktop

Behind me is the Mexican tiled backsplash

Above are the gorgeous antique leaded glass cabinets from England

I can feel the texture of the built-in cutting board

I hear the cowbell jingle as someone comes in the kitchen door from the porch---doors half-dressed with a yellow floral print

The rocking chair is there by the door

Next to it is "Mom's table" for two covered with books, magazines, devotionals, the Bible...all of her daily reading materials ready for her touch

Our kitchen was one-of-a-kind. Our house, oh our home... so uniquely its own, unlike any other, and while it no longer exists in its original form, it stands present and detailed in my childhood memories.

I don't bring out the creative child in me

I didn't realize that I could until I tried

It barely took an effort...just a bag of chocolate chips and a few ingredients

BOOM

There she was... right there The little girl me isn't lost. She's still very much a part of me.

She and I made cookies last night

We had the best time

Baking

Remembering

and

Eating cookie dough by the spoonfuls