Home for the Holidays
When I am showing homes to clients, I try to see the home from their perspective. It isn’t my home we are looking for, it’s theirs. They may not have any interest in a basement, couldn’t care less about a cul de sac, and have no need for an oversized lot. So, in my process, I tailor all the options down to the wants vs. needs of the family. We can always add things back in as the process progresses.
The one exception I hold is for the kitchen- especially for clients that have an already growing family. I am not the oldest or the wisest mama on the planet, but I do know how a kitchen should operate for that mama and her family. If a kitchen doesn’t lend itself to a smooth-running cycle of meals, it may not be the one! (I am kidding here, there are so many factors in picking a home for your family.) I feel strongly about the kitchen and its value to the family unit because it is where so many memories are made like storytelling while making Mimi’s apricot compost. Or learning the best way to make pie crusts for holiday baking. And, the time spent after school making Mom’s cookies. All of these wonderful memories were made in the kitchen.
Your kitchen does not have to be perfect, huge, or have chef-grade appliances. It needs heart, hospitality, and humor. These quality ingredients are what we bring to the table. The heart of your home is those you love, not the countertops or backsplash. I would like to leave you with a recipe that holds some of those memories for me. These cookies make great gifts too! From my home to yours, enjoy!
Molasses Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients:
¾ cup softened shortening
1 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
¼ cup molasses
2 ¼ cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
Instructions:
Mix shortening, sugar, egg and molasses. Stir in remaining ingredients. Chill dough. Heat oven to 375. Roll dough into balls the size of walnuts, dip tops into sugar. Place sugar side up on greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with 2-3 drops of water each for a crackled surface. Bake 10-12 mins. Yields about 4 dozen.
-Kasey Owens
Realtor, EXIT Realty Cahaba
205-913-6368
