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usadeepsouth.com Phil Bratcher's Recipes LACE COOKIES I've been cooking lace cookies for 25 years. If you like to cook, you should learn this technique. These cookies can be tricky, but they're really simple, and this is a straight forward recipe. I added the orange zest and flavoring. The cookies could as easily be lemon or vanilla. Take my advice and invest $20 in a Silpat. This is a silicone baking sheet from France; you'll use it for so much. Enjoy the cookies and be warned -- they're as addictive as potato chips and about as thin. Must be stored between layers of wax paper. 1/2 c (1 stick) butter, room temp or cold 1 c sugar 1 egg 1 t vanilla 1/2 t orange extract 2 t grated orange zest pinch salt 1 cup oatmeal, quick or regular 2 T flour 1/4 t baking powder Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Use nonstick baking sheets or line with foil, well sprayed and buttered. (Don't use parchment.) With mixer or hand, beat sugar and butter till fluffy. I'm not a butter snob--salted or unsalted is fine. Add egg, flavorings and zest. Beat well. Mix Oats, flour and baking powder. Beat into butter mixture. Drop by teaspoons on pan and bake 8 to 10 mins. Watch closely. Take out when browned and stay with them until they cool (2 to 3 mins) and ease off pan with a thin spatula. If using a Silpat, move it to a cool spot and check in a few minutes, and you can peel them off the mat onto rack or plate. Dough can be chilled and cookies baked when desired. I haven't tried freezing dough. Hold cookies up to the light and you'll understand their name. This recipe makes a small amount of dough that will make dozens of cookies. Reverend Phil Bratcher has been a counselor in private practice for over 10 years. Now in his 25th year of ministry, Reverend Bratcher has worked mostly as a therapist and spiritual counselor specializing in spiritual direction, the relief of depression, life strategies and career planning, long-term illness and relationship issues for couples. He is also trained in The Work of Byron Katie, teaching individuals and facilitating groups in the faith community and his community at large. Often a featured speaker, Reverend Bratcher is a volunteer chaplain for the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Upstate Coordinator for the South Carolina Global Warming Campaign for the Christian Action Council in Columbia, South Carolina, and is past Secretary to the Executive Board for Greenville Faith Communities United which seeks social justice and interfaith understanding. Reverend Bratcher makes his home in Greenville, SC, where he is a member of the Metropolitan Community Church and is their interfaith representative to GFCU and past chair of their outreach and singles committees. E-mail Phil at Peacefulstar@msn.com. _________________________________ To read Phil's poetry, click here: A Sampling Bratcher - II Bratcher - III Bratcher - IV And here are two more excellent recipes: Southern breakfasts! Want to leave a comment about Phil’s poems and recipes? Please visit our Message Board or write Ye Editor at bethjacks@hotmail.com. _________________________________ Back to USADEEPSOUTH - I index Back to USADEEPSOUTH - II index