Published: July 01, 2009 11:29 pm         

Giving thanks on America's birthday

How will you celebrate our day of independence? Think about it.

When I was a kid, we called it �the Fourth of July,� but grownups may have called it Independence Day.

The main thing is we celebrate and honor our freedoms and privileges we enjoy by living in this great country. We are so privileged to have freedom of worship and speech. We can vote as we choose, we can live as we want to and have every opportunity to succeed.

Back in the olden days on the Fourth of July, we did not do any work beyond our regular chores. It was a day of rest. We did the milking, morning feeding and watering of the livestock so we could dress in our red, white and blue outfits and have a day of fun.

In the evening after regular chores were done, we went to town. A carnival was set up on the courthouse lawn. We got to see the sights and sounds of the activities. We saw many old friends, acquaintances, cousins and family, too. During the day there were three-legged races, sack races, watermelon spitting contests, balloon volleyball, turtle races, frog jumps, yodeling contests, hollering contests and many other activities.

By evening when we went to town, things had somewhat settled down and people were milling around visiting and waiting for the fireworks. We bought an ice cream cone for a nickel at the drug store. Ice cream cones were a treat back then and lasted quite a while. There weren�t as many flavors then as now, but we still had a choice of strawberry, chocolate, black walnut and vanilla. I usually oped for black walnut.

Our Fourth of July picnic always consisted of fried chicken, potato salad, tomatoes, bread and butter sandwiches and sliced cucumbers and onions. Our dessert was watermelon or that ice cream cone from the drug store. Usually we had lemonade but sometimes got a bottle of pop. Snow cones were a treat, too.

The best part of Independence Day was the fireworks. It was just not a celebration without them. We sat on the courthouse lawn on old quilts and waited for them to start. We ooed and ahhed when they boomed and burst into bright lights right over our heads.

In all our celebrating we talked about what the day meant to us, why we were celebrating and what this great country meant to us. I am still grateful for this country and my many freedoms and blessings.

The way we celebrate now is by going to Pawnee to my brother�s ranch and enjoying the great outdoors. We usually cook outside and make ice cream. The kids play ball and play in the water. The grownups play horseshoes. We have a wonderful celebration.

Things have not changed that much from the celebrations of my youth. We still are as patriotic as ever, if not more so. We fly the flag and salute it every time we see it. We remember our servicemen who fought and are now fighting to keep our country free and safe. We never take for granted we are able to worship as we please. We live under a democracy and not a dictatorship. We can complain about our government if we want to and not worry about being shot for our opinions. We must never take these things for granted. We are free. We are blessed. We are Americans.

I enjoy making these filled cookies. They take a little time but are well worth it and will add to any picnic. I just acquired a wonderful cookie cutter/crimper so it makes the job so much easier than before. If you don�t have a handy dandy cutter/crimper, then cut the cookies in large rounds, fold in half and crimp the edges together before baking. They will taste just as good.



Old-fashioned Filled Cookies



Make this filling first:

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

1/4 cup golden raisins

2 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons finely chopped nuts



Cook a few minutes in microwave until apricots are tender. Allow to cool.



Now make the cookies:

11/2 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

pinch salt

6 tablespoons butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla



Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. In large bowl mix butter, sugar, vanilla and egg. Stir in dry ingredients until mixture is smooth. Pinch off two pieces about the size of an egg and roll between wax paper. On one cookie, place a tablespoon or two of the filling. Place other cookie over it and cut with cutter/crimper, or fold over and seal edges with fork. Place on cookie sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees.



Give thanks that we live in this great country and celebrate its birthday.



Send your comments to: Peggy Goodrich, Food For Thought, P.O. Box 1192, Enid, OK 73702.