Friday, September 23, 2011

Practical Magic Blog Party 2011 - Welcome!

Oh Practical Magic….how I love thee!  Whether book or movie, one of the best stories that I have ever had the pleasure of encountering! I saw the movie first and was completely and totally moved by it. 
I felt the love Sally and Gillian had for each other, and wished I had more of it with my sister….my heart soared when Sally and Michael were brought together and I grieved with her when she lost him. I knew how Gillian felt when she found herself in love with a bad man and understood Sally’s confusion when she met the man her own magic had called to her. I still want a greenhouse like the aunts had and a little room to keep my magical supplies and goodies in, though sadly I will never have either on such a grand scale, nor will my gardens be so productive and pretty.
At my wedding, my bridesmaids and flower girl walked down the aisle to Alan Silvestri’s “Practical Magic” and the last dance at the end of the night was to Stevie Nick’s “Crystal”. After 9 years of marriage, I sometimes still hear in the back of my head Faith Hill’s “This Kiss” when my husband kisses me.
Although there were numerous memorable lines in the movie, one that always stuck out to me is Sally’s memory of Michael and the mint oatmeal shaving cream…”We were going to open a botanical shop. Where Mike would get all the ingredients and I'd make the stuff. He really loved my mint-oatmeal shaving cream. He couldn't stop eating it”.
It’s a good memory…some people think that “making memories” is about going places and doing things, and taking pictures so you can look back and say “look at all we did”…but my idea of a good memory is just something that happens every day. Maybe because it’s something that happens over and over or maybe it’s just something that happened in the midst of regular old good day that made it special.  Either way, it’s special…and these are the moments that I look out for the most in my own life.
In honor of the movie and in the hopes that we can understand why Michael kept eating the shaving cream….I give you….mint oatmeal cookies! This recipe is adapted from an uncredited recipe at  the http://www.cooks.com/ website.
INGREDIENTS: ½ cup of butter, softened, 1 cup granulated white sugar, 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 3 cups old fashioned oats, 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, i pkg of Andes chocolate mints.
Mix together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then blend in eggs and vanilla.  Add in remaining ingredients except the mints and mix well. Shape the dough into two 12 inch logs and wrap in wax paper.  Freeze for several hours or overnight.
For an extra bit of *practical magic*, remember to focus your energy and intent for love, luck and prosperity into these goodies as you mix them together
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut each roll into ¼ inch slices and bake on ungreased cookie sheet or parchment paper (I recommend the paper) for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned.  Immediately place ½ of an Andes mint on each cookie and spread to cover the whole cookie as it melts. Cool on wire racks. The number of cookies you yield varies on now thick you cut them. 
Feel free to give the cookies a little extra enchantment before serving them as well….I know in my house, a little extra anything is always welcome! Here’s what I came up with…
Oats, mint and chocolate, together in this tasty treat
Bring to my family vibrations of love, luck and prosperity.
Make us happy and make us complete
As we spend time together in our family retreat.
With cookies in hand, it’s time for fun
With harm to none, this spell is done.

Well…I’m off with my plateful of cookies to the family room to watch the movie, have a glass of wine and do a little blog-hopping!  Thanks for stopping by!  Bright blessings to all!  

34 comments:

  1. Thank you for the recipe! This should be delicious! Happy Fall!!

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  2. Love that recipe!! Thanks for posting!

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  3. Mmmmmm! I'm visiting from the Practical Magic party!! I can't wait to try these cookies! They sounds delicious. I have an autistic son who LOVES mint. If you know any autistic people you know how hard it is to get them to eat anything, and any recipe with something he likes is a blessing!! Thank you for posting.

    *´¨)
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•`*SANDI

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  4. Cookies sound wonderful! Can't wait to try them :)

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  5. Beautifully written. I agree that memories are made in moments.
    I enjoy oatmeal cookies - have never tried them with mint.

    Please visit me as well http://dogsmom.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/could-the-witches-next-door-be-neighbors-too/

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  6. I can't wait to try the recipe, thanks for sharing. Now I'm off to see what else this party has to offer. Enjoy your day.

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  7. Now you made me hungry !!
    ;-)

    Fly by when you get the chance...

    http://comeawayhome.blogspot.com/2011/09/broom-fell.html

    xoxo
    Karen

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  8. Krista: Thanks for the lovely posting. I am anxious to try the cookie recipe. Thanks for sharing and thanks also for coming to Practically Magickal and visiting. Enjoyed this. Oma Linda

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  9. A beautiful post! The cookies sound delicious!

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  10. Hi Krista,

    It's nearly 2.30 am and now I am craving cookies thanks to you... ;) Great recipe -- and even greater extra enchantment!

    Oh, and -- I love that you had music from Practical Magic at your wedding. :)

    Magical Times,
    Birgit

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  11. Lovely post, thanks for the cookie recipe!

    Blessings,

    Victoria from Brushstrokes via the Practical Magic Blog Party

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  12. Lovely post! I 100% agree with you about the memories... some of my best memories are the "everyday" ones. "This Kiss" is definitely a great song. Thanks for sharing, Michelle

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  13. All the food posts make me want something SWEET!
    I swear I can smell all these aromas...

    cassandra
    http://monkeycstars.blogspot.com/

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  14. A great blog post!! i'm going to have to try those cookies! Have a great evening!
    http://thewanderinggypsie.blogspot.com/2011/09/midnight-margaritas.html
    Stop By if you get the chance ;)

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  15. This is so original that you thought about that, yet so PM! :) I saved the recipe and will try it later, thank you!

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  16. I am definitely going to indulge my new baking-bug and try that cookie recipe - with the mint factor it might well be perfect for the warmer summer days ahead here in Australia!

    Thanks for sharing it with us!

    Charlotte :)

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  17. oh my gosh those sound fabulous! thanks for the awesome post! go check mine out if you get a chance!

    http://awmylifeasiknowit.blogspot.com/2011/09/practical-magic.html

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  18. lovely post and thanks for the awesome recipe!
    Happy Mabon!!
    be well and be blessed,
    Susan

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  19. Loved your post and can't wait to try the cookie recipe. 2 things I love oatmeal cookies and mint. Thank you for swinging by my PM party.

    Blessings,
    K. Michele

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  20. I cannot wait to try these cookies, as well as the spell! Mmmmmmmm.......

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  21. Those cookies sure do sound yummy! I will have to try them...SOON! Thanks for sharing!

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  22. Making memories with the kids is great fun. I love to watch their faces while they absorb everything in.

    Happy PM day...
    Sylvia

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  23. You are so right about making memories. :) Thank you for sharing the cookie recipe, they sound yummy!!

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  24. I love this! Great post! Love the quotes and the music too! The cookies sound amazing - love mint and oatmeal - will definitely try this!
    Kathy

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  25. Such a wonderful heartfelt post. I love the fact that you still hear music in your head when your husband kisses you, soooo romantic. :-)

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  26. Thank you for the wonderful recipe and the very sweet post. Hope you can stop by for some Pm cookies at my enchanted oven.
    Hugs,
    Lisa

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  27. Thank you for the wonderful post. Have a magical day !!

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  28. Ooh the cookies sound yummy, thanks for the recipe, Happy Witching :)

    frith
    J x

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  29. What a sweet idea - that was always one of my favorite lines as well! These sound amazing and definitely a must try.

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  30. I like your idea of a memory not needing to be outstanding to be special. This movie, more than many others, definitely embraces that concept.

    Can't wait to try the recipe!

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  31. Stopping by for the PM party. The cookies sound delicious! Blessings, Lisa

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  32. Woohoo! A delicious recipe complete with a tasty spell!

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  33. Thanks for the recipe!! Looks delish!!

    ♥ Melissa @ Melissa's Meanderings

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