This recipe is from a lady in my hometown who lived to be 103-years-old.  I think I’m going to continue baking with butter.  It must be good luck!  She gave this recipe to our favorite local bakery many moons ago and these were my favorite treats.

• 2 sticks butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs – separated
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until well combined and then add egg yolks and vanilla.  In separate bowl, combine flour and salt.  Slowly stir in the flour mixture into the butter mixture until well combined. Chill dough in refrigerator (30-60min).  Form into balls, dip the sides in the egg whites and roll in the pecans, use thumb to indent the middle for the icing.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Cool completely on rack before icing.

Icing:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine sugar, milk and vanilla.  Place in a plastic bag and slightly snip the end and drizzle the center of cooled cookies.  Makes approximately 4 dozen.

Three of my closest childhood friends met me in Ohio to do this shoot.  We stayed up all night, ate our favorite childhood cookies, and reminisced about our crazy-beautiful experience of being raised by nuns. That was one of the best nights of my life.

Ohhh, where the hell do I begin.  Maybe that they left their homes as far away as the Philippine Islands to teach, love and nurture us? Maybe that peeps are always a bit shocked when I can “drop it like it’s hot” on the dance floor as a result of dodging too many flying erasers by frustrated nuns?  Maybe the fact that at 8-years-old we were allowed to leave school unattended for lunch?  Maybe I should mention the unconditional kindness they showed me after my mom died? Maybe I should mention they played dodgeball and kickball with us in full habits?  Yes, I said dodgeball.  Maybe I should mention they weren’t scared to paddle a kid that misbehaved and absolutely weren’t afraid of our parents?  Maybe I should mention we were forced to learn Latin and sing at all of the funerals?  Maybe I should mention they had no tolerance for any shade of hate?

Though I no longer consider myself Catholic, to all the nuns out there I say, “namaste”.  May the divine in me, honor and respect the divine in each of them.

Biggest thanks to Brenda Roach Thompson for shooting pics of one of the best weekends of my life. Thanks a million to Ms. Yvonne Dekay for being the most fabulous nun for a day.  Big, big thanks to Phil Defalco and his daughter Ruby for spending their Friday night at my place shooting pics of cookies.  I am blessed.

Exactly one year ago today, I saw the movie Visual Acoustics; the story of my absolute favorite photographer (Julius Shulman).  My website was something I wanted to do more than anything but was terrified down to my core.  The movie inspired me to take a chance on what I truly wanted to do.  I decided to step waaaay the hell out of my comfort zone and go for it.  I now know this is what I’m meant to do and I want to stop and thank the other great photographers that made my dream a reality.  They are all friends just help’n a sista out!!  I am blessed.

Maureen and Adam are my dear friends who were willing to help me out in any way possible. They snapped the shenanigan, “Fishnets and Cherries.” They continue to educate me on all things involving alcohol and their dinner parties continue to inspire me something fierce. Big Smooches!

Mary Farnham shot Big Hair and Disco. I’ve never told her this, but she has a little Annie Leibovitz in her.  She can capture a side of people that no one ever sees. She’ll find the secret-silly-side, to even the sexiest of men.

Rich Pencek shot “Poppy Seeds & Oz.” He is a mad scientist by day and bad ass photographer by night.  The Del is his favorite place to shoot, so I was stoked he was game for my Coronado shenanigan.  His girlfriend Cindy helped tremendously. It was a luxury to have her as a stylist.  They are two of the kindest people I’ve ever met.

Besides being the most ahhhmazing cook I know, Tom is a kick-ass photographer. He’s like family to me. I’m waiting to post his picks in 2011, because the recipe is gonna blow the socks off the food snobs out there. I’ve been working on it for a looong time. Stay tuned!

Brenda is my friend from childhood who gave me the recipe for the “2 Good 2B True” post.  When I entered Junior High school, I didn’t know a soul.  I was a shy, quiet dork and she was a popular cheerleader. She didn’t care that I wasn’t cool. She welcomed me with open arms. She is why I surround myself with only fantabulous people.  When I’m around someone who is catty, I think about my Jr High experience.  If I didn’t have to put up with bullshit then, I’m sure not gonna put up with it now.  Besides having killer recipes, Brenda is a professional photographer and a full-time English teacher.  She shot my most heart-warming pics that I’ll post this year.

Phil Defalco is a friend and a professional full-time photographer who has snapped the majority of my shenanigans for the love of the art. He arranges his schedule to shoot any crazy, ridiculous idea I may have in any part of town I want to go.  I think he deserves a purple heart or something?  Happy New Year everyone!

Exx Ohh Ex Oh,

Jenny