The Healthiest Response To Life Is Joy!

Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
Hans Christian Andersen

The healthiest response to life is joy.
Deepak Chopra

One of my simple pleasures beyond taking a few moments to bask in the sun, send up a thank you for our incredible freedoms (yes, even in our economic difficulties these days), and appreciate nature’s beauty, is to find my moments of joy.  There are so many potential opportunities to respond to any given situation throughout each day with joy.  Just as you deposit funds into your financial accounts, collect your moments of joy with gratitude.  Guard your “Joy” account well from overdrafts.  Know what steals your peace and joy and do not allow the withdrawals from your “Joy account”.   You deserve to enjoy the healthiest responses to your life with great ”Joy”!

One of my recent small moments of joy was to be successful in my pursuit of tracking down two very old Watkins recipes for one of my wonderful customers who lost the cookbook in which the recipes resided.

It filled me with joy to actually find them as I occasionally get this type of request and it is not always an easy discovery.  But here are the recipes to share with you to make your holidays magical.  It gives me great “Joy” to share her recommendation!  “EnJoy!”

Angel Sugar Cookies
1 cup margarine (or 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup margarine)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup oil (Sandy would use Watkins Grapeseed Oil, Original Flavor)
1 tsp. Watkins Lemon Extract
1 tsp. Watkins Vanilla
1 tsp. soda
4 1/4 cups flour (may require 4 1/2 cups)
1 tsp. cream of tartar

Cream margarine and sugars; add remaining ingredients.  Roll dough into small balls.  Press balls down with bottom of a glass.  Bake 10 - 12 minutes at 350o.  These may be dipped in colored sugar for holiday baking.  Nuts. Dates, raisins may also be added for variety.  Yield: 8 dozen cookies

Chocolate Cookies
1/2 cup melted butter
4 squares chocolate, melted
2 cups sugar
4 eggs (add one at a time)
2 tsp. Watkins Vanilla
2 cups flour  (heaping and unsifted)
2 tsp. Watkins Baking Powder
Powdered sugar

Combine ingredients and mix; chill dough at least one hour.  Roll into ball; roll balls in powdered sugar.  Place on lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350o for 10 minutes (do not over bake) Yield: 4 - 5 dozen cookies