A Special Cookie for Mother

Have you ever heard of benne seeds?   How about sesame seeds?  They're the same thing!  Sesame seeds comes from the benne plant, which slaves from Africa brought to America.  These delicious treats have become popular, particularly in South Carolina, and worldwide, for their nut-like flavor.   While there are all kinds of recipes for cookies and candy, here is my favorite. Oh, the alcohol will bake away and leave behind only its flavor. Treat Mom with a homemade batch of these goodies served on a pretty plate wrapped in a new tea towel and tied with a bow. She'll love them and love you. Well, she already loves you. :-)

     Enjoy, 

  Jane Marie

You'll Need:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds to taste, more or less

Cream sugar and butter together well.

Slightly beat the eggs and add them to the creamed mixture.  Mix well.

Add the brandy and flour.  Mix well.

Roll out the dough and evenly sprinkle it with sesame seeds.

Press the seeds into the cookies and cut out circles (or other shapes) or roll up the flattened dough and slice off 1/4 inch circles.   Place slices or shapes on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 300°F for 4 to 8 minutes or until golden.

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Goodbye Lie Diaries (and scroll down for VIDEO):

Late1800s

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida 

Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow

                          Carolena's story                                                    

Carolena Dunnigan

 Carolena Dunnigan writes: As I think back to my--turbulent visit to Charleston, the way the chilled air crept beneath my skirts to cover my body like an icy shroud--Never mind that. It was miserable cold. When I eventually warmed due to the --Never mind that, either. What I will say is I certainly know the meaning of gluttony when it comes to anything benne.  I've never had a cookie recipe like Jane Marie's, with the brandy, but I'm willing to give it a try. So long was benne seeds are involved, it, for certain, will be wonderful. 

WATCH Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow Video HERE:

Carolena Dunnigan is the lead character in Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow, an historical novel packed with mystery, suspense, romance. She leaves the safety of her beloved Amelia Island and travels to Charleston in 1889. Lie upon lie drives her to Johnstown, Pennsylvania and into the great flood on Decoration Day of that year. Danger, Dread and Drama...   

The Goodbye Lie, Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow and Amelia Island's Mark of a Man are available in ebook and paperback at book sources everywhere. 

A Special Gift

Dear Jane Marie,
   I tried to think of some way to let you know how very much I enjoyed your Goodbye Lie series.  Just saying so isn't enough, so I arranged and rearranged your novels, trying to make a pretty picture for you. I turned on special camera features and the attached photo is the result.  I hope you like it.  Thank you for bringing Breelan and Carolena and Pat and Marie and Peeper and Aunt Noreen and all of the wonderful people from Amelia Island to life for me.  
         -Mary W., Dallas, TX


I am touched, Mary, and proud to share your art with the rest of the world.  Thank you,
                                                                               - Jane Marie

Oklahoma City Remembered, 20th Anniversary

On a visit to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we paid our sincerest respects to the victims, survivors and rescuers of the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. While we walked the grounds of the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, a sad serenity blanketed that memorial. There was no need to feel rushed as we wandered because it is open 24-7, all year long.  The  Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, right beside, has an entrance fee.  For detailed information, you can call 405 609-8859, 405.235.3313 or 888.542.HOPE . Also, please  visit their website at  https://oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/visit/.

Gates of Time at each end of the reflecting pool.  One gate is marked 9:01, the other 9:03. "The Gates of Time forever frame a moment of destruction and tragedy. The 9:01 gate is a symbolic reference to the last minute of innocence for our nation in regard to domestic terrorism.The 9:03 gate is a symbolic reference to the first moment of recovery, the moment when grieving, and healing, began. The time of 9:02 a.m. stretches between the two, presenting a tragically long minute in which citizens were killed, survived and changed forever." -taken from Nation Park Service, Oklahoma Memorial at http://www.nps.gov/okci/sitefaqs.htm.

9:03

These chairs are placed where each of the 168  loved ones fell, representing the empty seats at the tables of the families.  They light at night to honor the bright spirit  of each of those lost. The smaller chairs represent the children taken. The Survivor Tree elm is in the background.

Written on the wall of the building beside the reflecting pond, which would be turned into the
Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

Look closely to see the cross in the pattern on the wall surrounding the statue of Jesus, below.

 Located on the corner across from the memorial, a statue of Jesus was erected at St. Josepeh's Old Cathedral. This church was almost complete destroyed.  The sculpture is entitled 
 And Jesus Wept.

As we were about to leave, my brother, Bob, pointed out this robin.  Thinking how we all should never forget those innocents gone from us, this bird represented the hope for 
a peaceful future for us all. 

Gracious Decorating Ideas

If you love the beauty of antiques, as I do, little touches will add color and bring the pretty past into your home.  In this case, I have framed floral wrapping paper and centered sheet music from 191l on top. Covered with glass for protection, I chose this particular image because it is romantic and delicate and simply lovely.  I had the frame, the wrapping paper and sheet music from my husband's grandmother's gramophone, so it cost me nothing to assemble.  Any sheet music, old or contemporary will work, of course.  It's all about what you like since it will be hanging in your home. 

Goodbye Lie Diaries-Peeper's Dare to Wear

Our little Ava drew the picture showing the girl wearing different earrings. -jmm

1880s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Grandmother Peeper writes: You know I have many, many children.  They come in all sizes from big and old and tall ta wee little babies, with lots of in-betweeners, too.   It wouldn't be right ta say I like one over another. It would hurt feelin's and I don't care ta do that unless it's Aunt Noreen's feelin's 'cause she don't have none, really she don't.

Peeper

    So I had a idea and I'm adoin' it right now.  Since everybody has birthdays, or else they wouldn't be here, I thought I could show my love, ta two of my children at time, by wearin' different color earbobs that repersent the month they was born in. Every day I reach inta a bowl of simple jewels folks has give ta me over all my years and pull out two colors ta put on.  There ain't no pattern or reason ta which ones I wear.  Some fancy folks might get ta laughin' at me fer being a crazy old lady.  I may be crazy and I guess ya kin say I'm old, too.  It makes no nevermind, so long as I show my children they is each special ta me.

*******

Present day
Fernandina Beach, Florida

Jane Marie writes: Peeper, what a wonderful idea!  I love it.  In fact, I love it so much, I have two different earrings on right now!  Because I wear smaller studs, none of my friends noticed until I  pointed out what I was doing.  And yes, they laughed at me, but it was all in good fun.  I can be pretty wacky anyway.  I hope you're proud of me for not worrying what others think.  My plan is to get costume jewelry for the birthdays of the months of family members I don't have, and still not not break the bank.  It's fun, as you said, to randomly change them out. It reminds me to think special thoughts about a particular person each time I look in the mirror and see them.
   You know, too, you could wear the birthstones of your immediate children or just your grandchildren or, maybe, on an anniversary, wear your birthstone and your husband's. And they don't have to be studs.  If you like dangles, wear those in different colors.  Why not?  Let your ears tell the story of those you love.

Peeper is one of the most beloved characters in the Dunnigan family from the historical Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie Trilogy. By the way, she doesn't like to be called Grandmother Peeper, just Peeper, but for clarification purposes to those who are new to this blog, we sometimes address her as grandmother.

Bunny Breakfast

I saw this on Facebook, lost the image due to my flying fingers, and did a Google search until I found it again. I want to give complete credit to www.thelittlestylefile.com
for their sweet creativity as shown through their bunny photo. 

Make different sized pancakes for the head and body, a couple pointy pancakes for the ears, use coconut for the tail, banana slices for the pads of the feet and I'm not sure what the little dark rounds are for the toe pads, but pieces craisins, raisins or whatever you have that is similar will do.  Serve with fresh berries and syrup and you and the kids have made a fun and fabulous Easter breakfast treat.

He is risen!  He is risen, indeed!