And yes, I’m talking to you. You know who you are, faithful reader #1.
Somewhere around a year ago we started making the attempt to no longer buy mass produced, store bought snack foods.
It had to do with Peter receiving the book, Food Rules, by Michael Pollan, as part of a Christmas gift, from Krystal’s husband, Dustin. Somehow, I suspect K had something to do with this, but that’s beside the point…… It is a super quick, easily read, thought provoking book that will stay with out and revisit you, often. Anyway…….. this book really makes you think about how and what you eat, as he always does.
This gift made us especially ponder rule
# 39 Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself. ……eat all these treats as often as you’re willing to prepare them~chances are good it won’t be every day.
Okay, we are willing to cook everyday, so I know we shouldn’t entirely take him literally…… You get the point. If we aren’t willing to make french fries or potato chips regularly, we won’t eat them, regularly. Doughnuts are not easy, they are a rarity. Now cinnamon rolls, I know how to make 7 pans at a time, I just need to remember to get them out of the freezer……. Same with homemade apple dumplings, dozens upon dozens at a time, we make………. Still…….
Other rules that ring a bell and make me continually question what we are putting in our mouths…..
#2 Don’t eat food your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.
#3 Avoid foods products containing ingredients than no ordinary human would keep in their pantry.
#7 Avoid food products that a third grader can not pronounce.
#11 Avoid food products advertised on television.
#17 Eat only food products cooked by humans.
#19 If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t.
#43 Have a glass of wine with dinner. Yay! I really do like his thinking!
For this night’s pigging we picked Ranger cookies. We haven’t made them in a really long time. Have you ever experienced Ranger cookies? All I know is that I had a very good friend, from the 3rd grade on, we’ll call her Carla, who regularly brought these in her school lunch and they were good! Not sure why she would have ever shared them…. If my mom had baked them, for me, I wouldn’t have. I know that…. I suspect we also had them when it was her turn for the Girl Scout treat container to visit her house…. Yes, goody, good, very, tasty good!
Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes. They should seem a tad bit undercooked. They should be crispy and chewy!
When I was first thrown a wedding shower, eons and then some years ago, a family recipe was requested from each guest. This is the only recipe to survive the almost 33 years. The recipe box even survives, with the oldest, of all, recipes, others are stored in lots of different places, but if you want the really old ones, this is where they are kept.
The germs have aged well, I think, don’t you?
And tell me you, also, have some disorganized, can put your finger on any recipe, in seconds flat, sort of place, too…. Don’t lie, I know you do.
So, thank you, Patsy, for allowing Carla to pass this recipe on. I think of the whole darn family, each and every one of you, and all the good times of growing up, in a small town, with every bite, every time, I enjoy one. I’m just glad the recipe makes a lot and I don’t have to cook treats *every* night, LOL!
And thank you Michael Pollan for saying homemade treats are okay and encouraged. I like the way you think. My great grandma would have liked you, too.
August 1956 Family reunion, at “Mama’s”, I was told. GGrandpa Roy Bryant and GGrandma Bertha with their children. In the back, Hobart, Rayford, Reatha, and Geneva. In the front, Grandma Floye, Freda, and Jeuletta.
Sewfrench 
Great post Mom!! I keep saying that I am loosely basing my senior project on Pollan’s rule #2! . And my other favorite rule is #39. I will need a copy of that family picture too!
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We think alike!
Grandma Bryant would probably have used lard in this recipe. Feel free, if you must. LOL! I know how you feel about lard….
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I remember GGrandpa & GGrandma Bryant, their apartment always smelled like tobacco for some reason and Grandma had real long hair like mine was back then, only hers was in a bun. I remember asking how they took care of Grandma’s hair for her when she was very old. They told me it was combed everyday with a fine tooth comb and when needed a little baby powder. I thought it was pretty cool that I had long hair like her. I also remember when they were both gone and helping to clean out the apartment, funny what you remember and don’t………I don’t remember either ones funeral.
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Well, Grandpa Bryant chewed and spit tobacco and Grandma, may have, also….
I remember Grandpa Bryant’s funeral, we had the dinner at Grandma and Granddad’s, at their house, over on the highway. Born 2 June 1889
died 15 August 1972. I remember spending weekends with cousin Vicki Ragins at Grandma Bryant’s after Granddad died. Grandma taught me to make Macaroni and tomatoes ; ) I don’t remember her death, I remember people discussing someone getting all her quilts. I do remember her bright red sofa, I think that was an Uncle Hobert thing, LOL! She was born 29 December 1894, died ? November 1974.
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Lori, you are correct in that Roy chewed tobacco (plug tobacco…carved off a chunk with a small Case pocket knife). His spittoon was a 1/2 gallon milk carton with the top cut off. I even think Bertha had a dip of snuff from time to time. They were both from the hills up near Grassy, MO. Grandma (Floye) Ellis said there probably were no written records of most of their family.
Aside from the family digression–great info on healthy snacking.
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Yes, Grandma dipped snuff, I remember that, too. I did not remember the Case knife, but I’m guessing you tried to get your hands on it. I didn’t.
I just spotted one of their ancestral files and it has Grandma dying Nov 28, 1969, obviously the wrong year. It has Rudolph as the only child listed, born in Marble Hill, which is where Uncle Edward (Bryant), Roy’s younger, I believe, brother was a preacher…. I have several pictures of him and his wife. Another record lists Grandma Bryant dying in 1967…… Wonder where/who this info came from. We need to fix it.
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Well, it’s so true that you never know where your name will pop up in cyberspace.
VERY COOL! I have made it. Anyway, what an informative blog and useful source of information. I am going to read the book and maybe change my life style.
Thanks so much Lori.
Pam
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; )
And if you work on oven fries every day, you’ll have them perfected for *your* oven, in no time! LOL!
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Lori, I love your blogs!
This one as very good info. I’m having to make some changes as I’m having problems with allergy…..foods that have mold in them. Will have allergy test next week.
Also love the family history!!!
What kind of Oats do you use in this recipe, old fashion or quick cook?
Sue
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I use whatever oats, I have, Sue, quick oats usually.
Thank you for the compliment. I’m learning and evolving this blog, as I go, it’s tougher and more time consuming than I dreamt!
I sure hope you can easily and quickly figure out what is causing your food issues. Allergies are so hard to deal with.
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How did you know? I was just thinking about baking, so I’ll try your cookies!
AND it’s all your fault that I too can now cook cinnamon rolls (but w/out maple syrup as we can’t get it over here) and apple dumplings!!!!
You and that pioneer broad are no good at keeping the inches off!! LOL!!!
But like the book says, if it’s home-made at least it’s better for you!
😀
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Hee Hee!
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I use to make Ranger cookies eons ago…loved them too. Enjoying your blog..
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Lori,
Valerie and I discussed making Ranger cookies at Christmas (discussed – not made). Just didn’t have the time during her short visit. Mom really enjoyed cooking when we were growing up. I think she considers herself retired from the kitchen now – except on special occasions. I have shared this blog with her, I’m sure she will enjoy it. Thanks for the post.
Gwen
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Awww, Gwen, I’m glad you shared with your mom. She was a special part of my life, growing up, as was Carla and especially you, in later years, still growing up years, mind you…… LOL!. I wasn’t sure if Ranger Cookies were something you carried on and made later on or not…….
And there is *never* ever enough time when the kids come home. Never, ever…. ever.
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