A Great Cause
A couple weeks ago, my friend Amy from Very Culinary asked me and some of her food blogging friends to participate in a video spot to promote the very worthy Cookies for Kids’ Cancer cause. And although I’m camera wary, who could turn down such a meaningful and special charity? Several of my friends and family are currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer, colon cancer and invasive melanoma skin cancer. Cancer invades each of us when it invades someone we love.
Of course, children who don’t have the fortune of years suffer even more; it seems that much more unfair and tragic– that much more outrageous and unnecessary. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a non-profit organization that supports pediatric cancer, the number one cause of death by disease of children in the US.
They have announced a call to action for 700 bake sales in May and Glad has stepped forward to match all money raised, up to $225,000!
Want to help? You can, by hosting a bake sale. For more information, go to www.cookiesforkidscancer.org
An Awkward Vanna Video Moment
I enlisted Rich’s help and we shot our first cooking video in our artificially lit kitchen on a cloudy day. When my cookies finished baking, I noticed that they could use a little golden tint on top, so I placed them under the broiler for a few more minutes. Oops. You know this amateur move?
Yes, they were scorched! Crispy and toasty cookies! I stomped around and pouted like a prima dona until I decided to flop the poor things over and take another shot. So in the video, you’ll see me smiling and pretending the cookie sheet I’m holding up isn’t full of burnt and flip-flopped, upside-down cookies. Ha! Apparently, my cookies are not ready for their close-up, Mr. DeMille.
That’s me in the first frame– lavender t-shirt/crispy, straight(ened) hair.
Please visit Very Culinary for a list of all the participants and their fantastic cookie recipes! Here’s Amy and Paul’s (of Very Culinary) completed video:
A Healthier Oatmeal
This recipe, adapted from one found in ‘Pon Top Edisto (Edisto Island, SC–The Trinity Episcopalian Church cookbook) uses McCann’s steel-cut Quick Oatmeal as a replacement for rolled oatmeal. Here’s the truth: steel-cut oatmeal may be healthier and make you feel like you’re making better-for-you cookies, but when you’re throwing a whole cup of butter in any recipe, pretending to care about healthy is just pretending. So next time I’ll save my McCann’s for my warm and cranberry filled morning bowl of goodness and stick with traditional rolled oats.
Oatmeal Cookies with Walnut Chunks
Yield 6 dozen small cookies or 3 dozen large
1 cup Butter
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 t Baking Soda
1/4 t Baking Powder
1/2 t Salt
1 t Vanilla
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
2 cups Steel-cut, Quick Cooking Oatmeal
1 cup Raisins
1/2 cup Walnutsbroken into large chunksCombine all ingredients, mixing well. Roll into balls and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on cookie rack.
Pingback: Video: Cookies For Kids’ Cancer — very culinary
Amy
Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for participating. For not hesitating when I asked. For not asking for anything in return. For making time. For seeing the value in this. For helping to spread the word. For being my friend. Thank you.
p.s. Why camera wary is beyond me. You’re gorgeous – that smile lights of a room, my friend.
Kim
It’s been quite a week Amy! I HONESTLY did not expect such a big beautiful reaction to these children! I am touched and thrilled and overwhelmed. So many people have emailed and messaged me about helping with a bake sale– so we’re having one- sometime in May. I’ll figure out the details and we’ll keep everyone involved.
I probably haven’t mentioned this today, yet, but you’re one cool girl. ; )
Amy
*mwah mwah mwah*
Jackie
Love, love, love the video — your friend Amy did a fabulous job putting it together! That rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow is my favorite recording of my favorite song — that, combined with the “Cookies for Kids’ Cancer” cause makes my eyes mist over every time I watch it. So, when are we going to schedule our “Cookies for Kids’ Cancer” bake?
Kim
Thanks Mom. She did, didn’t she? And of course that song brings back such good thoughts of Hawaii, too. I know I’m supposed to be getting ready for our shopping trip this morning, but I really want to thank everyone on here first. So thank you! Yes, let’s bake!
Rebeca Mueller
How wonderful, you! I agree Jackie on all points, especially about the ‘Over the Rainbow’ song. Also agree with Amy that you’re simply gorgeous on camera! Let me know when the Bake Sale might be. xx
Kim
I knew you’d be in. You are a superstar volunteer!! You give and give and give and now you bake. I love you my sista!
Christy
Kim, I watched you in this video and I could only cry. I have never seen you look so much like Jackie! Beautiful, genuine, a great smile, and so much love to give. As you know, the cancer I had predominantly affects children and teenagers. I held many little hands (that gave me support)during my treatment at the peds clinic, right there in Columbia. But my greatest support was your sweet and loving Jackie& your family. Jackie and Carl helped me through the hardest time of my life. I lost so much when I was sick–and your Mom gave me hope and love. Now, I see that love in YOU–you’re passing it on and sharing with the world–what a blessing! great cause!–there are so many kids suffering–and increasing awareness is so important(so many people still don’t know that kids can have cancer!) The scorched cookies don’t matter at all! great video! love to you..
Kim
Christy, oh Christy. As I said earlier in my text, I was hoping you’d see this post. As we were filming the video and as I was writing the post, you were the child on my mind. I remember well how much love my mom (and dad) poured out to you– this teenager that my mom would come home and tell me about. And when I met you, I understood why they’d grown so close to you. I understood why they’d adopted you into their hearts. I probably never understood how very sick you were, but I’m so glad that you made it– that you lived to write your own story.
For others reading this, I’ll try to recreate a small bit of Christy’s story: Christy was diagnosed with bone cancer (osteosarcoma) when she was 17 years old and a senior in high school. Christy was very fortunate, for although she was forced to sacrifice one of her legs to cancer, she survived– (a true miracle!) –a frightening and horrific series of chemotherapy treatments. As a 17 year-old, she saw and experienced life from a hospital bed in ways none of us can imagine. She was tutored and studied through the sickness as she missed her friends and family, who lived hours away. But, as I said, Christy was lucky. So many of her friends in the hospital didn’t make it. To me, it seemed like she was losing a friend every week. As an answer to all of our prayers, Christy went on to graduate from high school and college. She’s now a wife and mother (another miracle according to her doctors) of an incredible young man, who will soon be a teenager. And she works as a nurse– continuing to care for others and share her love.
Well, that’s the short of it, (and Christy or Mom please correct me where I’m remembering wrong) but so few words can only hint at what you’ve been through. I am a mess writing this. Tears seem to be the way God let’s us express our deepest feelings when we’re at a loss for words. You’re right, this is a great cause. And we’re going to bake some cookies and raise some money and help some kids just like you. And if we’re really lucky, we’ll get to meet some of these kids. I know the day my mom met you was a lucky day for us all. It set our lives on a joyful course.
I love you Christy. Thanks for coming home.
Amy
*sob*
Grapefruit
You look wonderful & what a worthy cause. Like so many others, my life is not untouched by cancer so I’d love to contribute to this in some way. Am checking out the link you posted to see if I can organize something at my sons’ school next month. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Kim
This sent chills up my arm when I read it. I am so touched how we are extending each others’ lives with sharing food and now goodness and giving. Please tell your son how PROUD we are of him, too.
I’ll keep you update on what’s going on with our sale. Please do the same.
Anne
Hi Jackie! It’s Anne from A Good American Wife. I’m featured holding my cookies following the person following you. Does that make sense? My hair is pulled up and my cookies are chocolate. So happy I found your blog through our shared project.
I never noticed your flipped cookies, just your sweet smile. If it makes you feel any better, check out the dented cookies in my shot. They’re on the upper right of the pan.I hit the rack above and ruined them.
Anne
I meant to say hi Kim, not Jackie! Bah.
Kim
Trust me, it’s all good! If only I would grow up to be Jackie!!! Anne, I’ve looked to see your cookie dents and thank you for that! I swear I choke under pressure. It’s not easy to film yourself, is it? That gets the Bah!
I have had a crazy week, but I’m coming to visit today!
christy
well, first of all-I brainwashed Anne into calling you Jackie (sorry Anne)–but it’s really not a big goof-and quite a compliment-she’s truly “the mother” of all this great cooking, entertaining, creative inspiration!
Thanks Kim for your reply. My only correction is that there was no luck involved. I’ve always said God brought you all in my life for a reason. I thought it was to help me then–all those years ago..(and you all did)..but now–you are all helping me again (and again+). This post was perfect timing, huh? Maybe we can meet those kids together?
I just hope one day that I can do something for each of you! Your parents,Tray, you, and Rich have been a gift to me. love to all of you.
by the way, I don’t think most people on this blog were checking you out in the video–althought, you looked great, they were in envy of that awesome stove!!
Kim
Christy, that stove sold me on the house. I didn’t notice much else on my first visit! I just wanted a big, warm kitchen. We need to get you and Simon back here rolling fresh Pizza dough! I have a feeling you two have been cooking up a storm since you were last here.
Grapefruit
I did write to the school with the idea right away & now just waiting for them to get back to me to let me know if they’re interested. I’ll let you know if they agree to host an event & will blog about any baking I do for it.
Grapefruit
Update: some people at the school got together and hosted a small-ish bake sale that raised about $200 for the cause. They did this while I was away in Paris so I didn’t get to bake for it, but thought I’d let you know!
Kim
WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO! That is too cool! I’m so happy to hear this. $200 dollars is wonderful!!! I know the Cookies for Cancer folks are going to be thrilled. And, I cannot wait to read all about Paris on Needful Things. Oh, how I miss her.