Give the Gift of Being Present

Dark Chocolate Ginger Cookies  This is a family favorite.  Absolutely decadent served hot out of the oven.  These cookies have a lot of antioxidant rich spices, and dark chocolate as well, with just enough sweetness.  We love to serve these with a bit of vanilla bean ice cream, and fresh raspberries.  They also make great Christmas cookies to serve at your holiday gatherings or to deliver to friends and neighbors--if you can keep from eating them all yourself first! 

Sift together:
1 1/2 Cups + 1 Tbs Whole White Wheat Pastry Flour
1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1 Tbs Cocoa

In a separate bowl, create a cream using a hand mixer for about 4 minutes with these ingredients:
1/2 Cup Butter
1 Tbs Fresh Ginger, Grated

Gradually add to the cream mixture, one at a time, beating continuously:
1/2 Cup Sucanat
1/4 Cup Blackstrap Molasses
1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 1/2 tsp hot water

Reserve for the end:
2/3 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

Combine half the flour mixture to half the cream mixture. Beat, and then repeat using what is remaining.  Stir in the dark chocolate chips.  The batter will be a bit tough.  Put the batter into a plastic zip bag, and press it flat to the edges.  Place in the fridge for at least 2 hrs. or longer if more convenient.  When you are ready to serve your cookies, remove the dough  in portions and roll into 1 inch balls.  Place 2 inches apart on an un-greased baking sheet.  Bake at 325 F for 12-15 minutes.  (The shorter cooking time will make softer cookies.)  Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.  Serve while they are hot out of the oven, (the best!) or store in an airtight container once cooled.  Make a double batch of dough in advance, and take the dough out of the fridge as needed when guests arrive.

The Gift of Being Present~

"Look towards the future, but not so far as to miss today" ~ Author Unknown

"Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, God gave us today--that's why it's called the present."~Author Unknown

Most of us have heard these quotes that have been floating around for years.  They are repeated because they are meaningful, and so easily forgotten.  Often we live preparing for tomorrow, or regretting the mistakes we might have made in the past.

One morning, I woke up exhausted from the day before.   I had been absent from home all the previous day due to my employment, and errands--again.  The house was a wreck.  The kids were sick.  They really needed baths.  I couldn't find any clean dishes to make breakfast with let alone have a bowl of cereal.  I felt ornery, and my children were whining out of impatience, and hunger, and the neediness was too much for me.  I was supposed to fulfill other outside responsibilities as well that day, and have my children and me looking fresh a neatly dressed by what seemed like an impossible hour.  Digging through the dirty laundry to find the clothes I wanted to wear, and not having a clue how I was going to make a decent meal for company we'd be having later, I became overwhelmed.  I realize now that much of this was my own created perception, but it was very real at the time.  I kept thinking, "If I had been here yesterday, maybe things would be better today."  "If only I could be here always," I thought.  "I'm never here when I should be, I'm not here with my children enough."  In a way, I was sending out a prayer.  In fact, it did bring me to my knees.  The answer that came to me then was this:

"You are Here Now."

What an obvious thing.  It was simple, but so profound.  I wish I could say that I pulled up my bootstraps, wiped away the tears, and went on as chipper as could be after that, but the truth is, it took time to take this idea to heart.  I still have to remind myself everyday of this.  A great deal of stress can be alleviated by staying focused on the task at hand, and enjoying it, rather than thinking about what is coming next.  Also, the faster we forgive ourselves and others for the things we would have liked to avoid, the sooner we can move on.   As priorities come into view, it's easy to let the unnecessary things go.

Live with sincerity towards those who cross your path. 
Give your time to those you are with, while you have them with you.
Give the gift of being present this year.