79, 79, Oh How Wonderful to be 79!!!

I am so happy to utter the phrase, "Happy Birthday, Mom!!" How wonderful is it to be celebrating a birthday as special as the big 7-9!! Well, Miss Margaret is truly experiencing this occasion. Her birthday was April, 4th. And, "yes", she celebrated her 79th year of making her mark on this earth. She is always blessing us with her very unique presence.

As this week approached, I knew that I would want to write a special post, just for her... I wasn't sure of what bake, but I knew it would all be in the honor of her birthday. The flowers pictured below are pure, white, fragrant, and oh so bloomed. It is the perfect flower for a woman who has lived all of her life opening herself up to the world.

Mom, this is blog is for YOU.

So, as this day approached, I knew that I wanted to do something special for her. Jamie and I had already decided to treat her to a special dinner in a fine restaurant. This left no room for serious baking. So, I decided to surprise her with her most favorite cookie - the famous "Spiced Raisin Cookie". This cookie...sigh...this cookie...sigh...IS utterly, most divinely, delicious. I promise.

How could that be, it's just a cookie, you ask? How can a cookie be described that way? It doesn't have a drop of chocolate in the batter? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Where is your faith?

This cookie, dare I say, does NOT need chocolate!

Well, my mother loves these cookies. If you want to see a 79 year-old woman light up like a Christmas tree, then present her with a plate of warm Spiced Cookies. That is all that you will need to put a big smile on her face.

Spiced Cookies With Raisins
originally from http://www.epicurious.com/, adapted by Renee

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar1/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup chopped raisins
Optional: 1 cup chopped walnuts (about 4 1/2 ounces)

Beat butter and both sugars in large bowl until creamy. Beat in milk, egg and vanilla. Stir flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and salt in medium bowl. Add to butter mixture; beat to blend. Stir in raisins and walnuts. Cover dough and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours (dough will be sticky).

Preheat oven to 375°F. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto heavy large baking sheets, spacing evenly. Bake until cookies are pale golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to racks; cool 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks; cool. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.) Makes about 75.