There were two things I really wanted when I was growing up - a broken bone so I could have a cast and maybe even crutches, and braces. The only thing I broke was my big toe - which they just buddy-taped - no cast or crutches. And my teeth were freakishly straight and my bite was "perfect", so no braces, dang it. My friend, Debbie, and I would unfold paperclips and put them on our teeth so we would feel like we were wearing braces. I was so jealous of my friend, Sandy, because she had them. She would constantly tell me I didn't want them - but I did. I really, really did.
My brother was a daredevil. He was constantly falling out of trees, falling off his bike, falling off his skateboard, getting cut badly and doing other boy stuff that caused injuries. He had more broken bones and stitches and trips to the ER than I can count. My mom said he had over 50 stitches before he was 10 - and most of them were in his head (which explains alot, in my opinion, even though I adore him). He even knocked his teeth loose in a spectular bike crash and, you guessed it, got braces to hold them in so they could heal. My sister even got braces because "her teeth were crooked". Whatever.
Being a wimp, I was too afraid to ride my bike off of jumps - big or little, ride down the big hill in the woods behind our house on the back of a Tonka truck, try to ride a skateboard, climb trees to the very top during a wind storm or ride my bike down steep hills as fast as it would go - all of which would ensure broken bones, stitches and, apparently, braces. So it never happened for me - regardless of the many, many wishes on my part.
Fast forward a gajillion years and now I'm 50. I still have not broken anything other than toes and have needed no stitches. But...over the past year or so my bottom teeth have been crowding and in the past couple of months the crowding has been affecting my bite.
My new career happens to be dental assisting - which is getting better with time, by the way. One of the dentists I work for also does orthodontics. I discussed crowding issues with him and he gave me several options. The most straight forward and easiest option was braces. Inside and secretly, I was jumping up and down and screaming with happiness. In person, I was all business. You know, asking all the right questions, pretending I didn't want them and pretending I needed to think it over. Long story short, I got a mouth full of braces two days ago.
May I just say for the record - OMG! Sandy - you were right! I'm sorry I doubted you! Our lead assistant in the office had her braces put on six months ago. She warned me, too. Holy cow!! I can't wait to eat solid food again, be able to chew with my mouth closed, not need to take something for the pain, and not having gobs of wax all over my braces to protect the inside of my newly ripped up mouth. And, may I say, this is not a particularly attractive look for me.
So, because I can only eat very soft foods right now and I feel like I deserve chocolate AND to especially celebrate that my baby is coming home from college for the summer tonight, I am baking my soft and delicious Chocolate Crinkles.
My Grandma used to make these but added cinnamon and called them Mexican Crinkles. I wasn't feeling cinnamony today so left it out. Feel free to add it if you are feeling cinnamony. You are also welcome to add chopped nuts if you want. I know I usually like to use shortening, but the butter makes this cookie perfect. If you are a cookie dough fan, this dough is amazingly delicious. :)
I am a firm believer in wishes. I think they add a little magic and fun to our lives. I encourage everyone to make wishes - on stars, while blowing out birthday candles or just because - because it is fun. I just want to throwing a little warning - watch what you wish for because 40 years later it might come true. I am, by the way, recanting all of my wishes for a cast....
CHOCOLATE CRINKLES
1 Cup Butter, softened
1-1/2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
2/3 Cup Unsweetened Baking Cocoa
3/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
Powdered Sugar
(If you want to make Mexican Crinkles - add 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream softened butter and sugar until well mixed. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well after each egg is added. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt (and cinnamon, if desired) and sift together into a large bowl. (This is make sure there are no lumps. I use a fine metal strainer.) Add a small amount of the flour mixture at a time while the mixer is on a low speed. If it is going fast the flour mixture will poof out everywhere and make a huge mess. This is the voice of experience. When everything is well mixed, cover and refrigerate for about an hour. Scoop onto ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. You can squish them slightly with a fork if you want to. Bake for 8-10 minutes. The edges will be firm when done. Sprinkle hot cookies with powdered sugar and enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment