One of the fondest memories of my childhood is when my maternal grandmother, Nonny as we grandkids called her, would come and read to my class in elementary school.
A gifted storyteller, she would bring characters in the form of stuffed animals that she herself made to help act out the stories.
While this was definitely a highlight of these visits, one thing that stood above all of the rest was the platter of tea cakes that she brought with her, an after-story treat made from her own personal recipe, that paired rather well with the Kool Aid she also brought.
These sweet little discs were a huge part of my childhood, and I would not hesitate to request them at family gatherings, although I would alternate the selection between them and her chocolate pie, but that’s a story for another column.
Now though, they are nostalgic. Nonny lost her battle with cancer in July 2020, but she left a legacy behind in her recipes.
My mother has her tea cake recipe, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
My mom learned to cook from my grandmother, and she learned well, so it makes for a delightful combination.
I love to sink my teeth into one of these cookies not only for the delectable taste, but now, for the memories attached to it.
Nonny and I were always close, and she actually babysat me for the first few months of my life while my mother worked.
As I grew older, I maintained that relationship with her, and I was even the one who gave the eulogy at her funeral.
I say all of this to say, these are more than just cookies to me, they are a memory, one that can’t be forgotten as long as there is a recipe to follow.
TEA CAKES
1 Cup softened butter
1 Cup sugar
1 Egg
1 Tsp vanilla flavoring
3 Cups self-rising flour
Directions
■ Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
■ Cream the softened butter and the sugar together.
■ Add in the egg and vanilla flavoring and mix well.
■ Stir in the self-rising flour.
■ On a floured surface, roll out the dough to approximately ¼ inch thick and cut into the desired shape.
■ Bake them on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes (Cook times may vary).
■ Cookies are done when they are slightly brown around the edges.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.