Nanna of the Week-Patricia from Arkansas

Please give a warm welcome to Nanna Patricia from Arkansas!

1.     What do your grandchildren call you and did you choose your title or did they?

They call me Nanna, (that’s 2-n’s, not one :-), because I chose the name from my middle name (Anna, which means “Grace”) that never has been used. I love the name Anna and the meaning behind it. My prayer has always been that as a “Nanna”, I will always be a “gracious” grandmother.

2.     How many grandchildren do you have and how old are they?

I have four: Jacob (almost 10), twins, Madison (almost 9) and Emma (almost 9), and Samuel (almost 3).

3.     What is your favorite thing to do with your grandchildren?

Cook! and play games outside.

4.     How do you communicate with your grandchildren? Phone, Facebook, twitter, text?

They live only about 5 minutes away, so we communicate mostly in person. We occasionally chat on the phone.

5.     What do you wish you could do with them but haven’t gotten to do yet?

I would love to take all four of them on vacation to Disney World, but the expense is prohibitive!

6.     If you could change one thing about the world your grandchildren live in, what would it be and why?

I’d like to see them live where God’s peace reigns over all the earth. It’s scary to think what they may have to face with all the wars that are going and may yet spring up in the future.

7.     What traits or characteristics do your grandchildren have that you recognize from their parents?

Jacob is very loving and patient like his dad. Emma is tall, slim, red headed and sensitive like her Nanna (and her dad) always was when growing up. Madison is shorter, more focused and good natured like her mom. Samuel is friendly, outgoing, and very loving like both his parents.

8.  What do you like best about being a grandparent?

I’ve enJOYed getting to rock all four of our grands while singing them to sleep. I love having rocking chair times with all of them.

9.     Where do you live and what do you like best about living there?

I live in central Arkansas. I love living here because the schools and colleges in our town are great for growing well-prepared kids. I also love living here because of the natural beauty all around us in this state. We always have somewhere we can go and involve the family.

10.    What’s your grandchildren’s favorite foods (please include a recipe!)

All four of them definitely like my homemade Peanut Butter Cookies. Here’s the recipe (which was passed down from my mama, because it was one of my favorites):

Pat’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

2 ½ Cups all purpose flour

½  tsp. soda

½  tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 stick Blue Bonnet margarine, softened to room temp.

1 stick REAL BUTTER (no preference on brand)

2 Tbsp. Crisco solid (plain)

1 Cup granulated sugar

1 Cup moist brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs, beaten slightly

1 Cup smooth peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla flavoring

Directions:

Sift flour, soda, and baking powder together and set aside. Using electric mixer, cream sugars until well blended. Add softened margarine and Crisco and blend well; then add eggs, peanut butter and vanilla. Mix thoroughly until smooth and fluffy.

Do not use electric mixer for remaining steps.

Use spatula to combine flour mixture only long enough to form a smooth dough.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees while placing dough on cookie sheets. Using a cookie dropper or large tablespoon, dip rounded balls to UNGREASED cookie sheets. Press cookies in a criss-cross fashion with tines of a fork dipped in flour. Bake 10 to 12 minutes (depending on your oven—Mine takes about 11 minutes for a perfect cookie.) You’ll want them to be very lightly golden. Remove and allow to sit on cookie sheet a minute before removing to countertop (aluminum foil or waxed paper) to cool completely before storing. Makes about 6 to 7 dozen. (depending on how large you make them, of course!)

NOTE: For variation, try tossing in 1 package of Nestlé’s Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Swirled Chips into the dough. Drop on baking sheet with cookie dropper, just as you would for regular peanut butter cookies, but don’t press with a fork. The cookie will flatten and “crinkle” on top as it bakes.

If you or someone you know would like to be Nana of the Week, contact me at teresa@nanahood.com

Nanas rock!