NORMA'S POTATO CHIP COOKIES AND THE BIRTHDAY THAT JUST GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND..................

Before I share my friend Norma's recipe for  cookies made from the ingredients pictured above (the closest thing to crack cocaine I'll ever know...seriously!), I just want to express my absolute love and gratitude and appreciation for birthdays that continue on for weeks, not just days. Why, just the other day I went to my little post office box in town (we don't get mail delivery here in the sticks), and lo and behold......a surprise gift for me, from my dearest friend Lisa in California AND her mama, Sandy! This is what they made, just for me, all by hand....the prettiest table topper, EVER, in all of my favorite colors: mustard yellow, burgundy and sage green.....how did they even know that I've been looking for just the right thing for my little nightstand table for soooo long? Eerie, really. Here's a peek at their handywork.....

I think these two women need to go into BIDNESS, lickity split, don't you? They'll surely make a mint!

Right before my birthday last week, I told Big Daddy that I would really really like some new eyeglass frames for myself.....I seem to get new ones every single year, as I am easily bored. He said sure, so off I went to my favorite eyewear store....doncha know that I wasn't in that store but two minutes when it dawned on me that what I really wanted for my birthday this year were some new everyday dishes and maybe a new rug for our living room?  Heck, isn't it a woman's perogative to change her mind, and often? Big Daddy is pretty used to my fickleness by now....if I'm happy, he's happy! So here's what I came home with........this new handmade braided rug.............

And these awesome new garden-ey dishes from Macy's..............

I know what you're thinking.....GREEN dishes????  But green truly is my very favorite color , and I think food just pops against these. Sooooo very happy! Hey, what is it about getting something new for my home that makes me want to freshen up every other thing around me? I've had these Williams Sonoma French country placemats for ions, and they've been stashed in a closet until I brought home these new dishes..... now I'm just loving them! Sisters, you know me and my roosters..............

I think the mustard yellow looks terrific against the deep green of the dishes. And while we're on the subject of decorating, check out this new burlap pillow I just finished, with a little french country pig stenciled on it....we're boning up on our french around here in anticipation of our spring 2012 trip to Gay Pareeeeeeeeeeee...........

That's right..."cochon" means pig in French! Not sure if it's Le Cochon or La Cochon, however......

Now onto my friend Norma's Crack on a Plate....ahem, I mean Potato Chip Cookies! Norma was one of my beloved Omaha neighbors (oh, how I wish I could take you on a tour of her lovelier than lovely old home, before she moved!), and that woman knew her way around a kitchen. Here's what I love love love about these cookies.....they've got that darned SWEET and SALTY thing going on. And they're really buttery. And, every single time I've made them and given them away (and I ALWAYS give them away....you absolutely do not want these babies just sitting around your kitchen unless you need to put on a few pounds, and fast!) I received nothing but glowing comments. And recipe requests--they're that good. To start with, cream brown sugar, white sugar and butter together...........

Beat into mixture eggs and vanilla, then stir together (in a separate bowl) flour and baking soda. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture, and DO NOT do what I did because I was lazy and short on time and didn't put my flour guard onto my stand mixer bowl, thus spreading flour ALL over my kitchen counters, dishwasher and floors, necessitating some cleanup time that I didn't have time for in the first place!.................

Seriously, it was much, much worse than it looks.......

Eat some chips to steady your nerves, then roll the rest in a ziploc baggie until they are coarsely smashed............

Fold the smashed chips, butterscotch chips and chopped pecans into cookie dough.......check out this bowl full o' fun!................

Drop cookies onto ungreased cookie sheets by the tablespoonful................

Bake for 12 minutes, remove from pan immediately and place on cooling rack. Place on a pretty little dish, pour yourself a glass of milk, and ENJOY!!! You deserve it.

Here's the recipe............

NORMA'S POTATO CHIP COOKIES

(Makes 5-6 dozen)

Cream together:

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

Beat into mixture:

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Stir together before adding to creamed mixture:

2 1 / 3 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

Fold into mixture:

6 oz. pkg. butterscotch chips

1 cup chopped pecans

2 cups coarsely rolled potato chips (Lays Classic are the best--don't use ripple of any kind)

Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets by small tablespoonfuls. Bake in 375 degree oven for 12 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and place on cooling rack.

TODAY I'M SO THANKFUL FOR.....

**Butter, sugar and vanilla!

**Black Eyed Susans--their sunny yellow color is just so cheerful!

**All of the positive, sunny people in my life.