Day 6: 12 Days of #HopeforHeidiAllen

Today's recipe: Chocolate Mint Cookies

6 days into this adventure and I'm praying the YouTube lives are going better. If you are watching live, I have the comments on so you can say "Hi". 

My comfort level and jam is in my Facebook group, Keeping it Real Cooking with Lisa. It isn't as comfortable as it is in my YouTube channel YET! 

In school, we teach and try to model the "Power of YET". After my first YouTube live I told hubby, "I'm not as comfortable on YouTube and I am in my FB group." and felt like I let you, my readers & viewers down then my quiet husband in wisdom reminded me, "You aren't there YET!" I love this guy, don't tell him I said that.

So hopefully as you are reading this, this week's lives have a flow to them and more of you are able to jump on live. Regardless of when you watch, thank you. 

May you laugh at my YouTube learning curves, pray for Heidi's return, and learn the importance to cherishing your family as you make memories. Tomorrow is not a guarantee, don't let your eyes ever close with a regret. Life is short, enjoy it!

Chocolate Mint
Cookies
Page 57 ~ Creator Unknown

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Ingredients
1 pkg. mint morsels, divided
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Directions
1) Put water in 1 pan and place another pan into this. Put 1/2 the morsels into this pan. Heat water, but not to boiling.

2) Stir till smooth: remove from heat and cool to room temperature  

3) In small bowl: combine flour, baking soda, & salt - set aside

4) In large bowl: combine, butter, sugar, and vanilla. Beat until creamy.

5) Add melted morsels and egg and beat well.

6) Gradually blend in flour mixture

7) Stir in rest of morsels and nuts.

8) Drop by rounded spoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 for 8 -9 minutes
Allow to stand before moving - cool completely.

Chocolate Mint
Cookies
An Epic Alternative

Ingredients
1 pkg. mint morsels, divided
1/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions
1) Use the Epicure Multipurpose Steamer, to melt half the morsels until smooth. - add 1 tsp. oil and microwave 1 1/2 minutes with no lid

2) Remove steamer and stir morsels until smooth, if needed, reheat 30 seconds at a time. Allow to cool to room temperature  

3) In small bowl: combine flour, baking soda, & salt - set aside

4) In large bowl: combine, butter, sugar, and vanilla. Beat until creamy.

5) Add melted morsels, egg & beat well

5) Gradually blend in flour mixture

6) Stir in rest of morsels and nuts.

7) Drop by rounded spoons onto Epicure Sheet Pan Liner, on Sheet Pan. Epicure also  offers a 1/4 sheet pan and 1/4 liners - these come in a set of two.

Can use the Epicure cooling racks for final cooling of cookies.

Bake at 375 for 8 -9 minutes
Allow to stand before moving and cool completely before enjoying.

Today's flashback takes us way back and is still one of my favorites. Yes it is because we are little and cute with the traditional Christmas backdrop. 

We are old enough to have a little personality show in photos. When I look at this one, my sister's smile stands out. This smile and ability to make others smile was a characteristic her friends will tell you she still had in high school.

It breaks my heart to think that when she took her last breath, she did not have this beautiful smile on her face. Heidi was kidnapped, and presumed dead. Her death, as described in court documents based on witness statements and how others believe she died have induced more than one panic attack over the years.

I'll cherish this photo for my lifetime.

---

​I choose to remember Heidi's smile.

Heidi suffered a painful and tragic death she didn't deserve. Rather than looking back and asking myself the "What if...?"s, I will remember her smile.

Her smile, laughter, generosity, selflessness, and love for life is her legacy and those who were blessed to know her are better because she was in their lives. 

I know I'm better for having her as a sister. I can't say 100% what her last words were or if she was able to force the smile BUT I know this, she smiles now!

Heidi's smile is eternal as she is held in the arms of Jesus, waiting until we see her again and I know with certainty, this day will come in God's time.

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"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus...
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you...
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials,
for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character,
and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV; Numbers 6:25, NLT; Romans 5:3-4, NLT

Do you have a chocolate mint cookie recipe to share?
If so, leave it in the comments for all of us.