If Only We Can Be So Lucky
As you’re reading this, I’m probably in my little Volkswagon driving five hours North to visit Jean. Remember Jean? She’s my dear friend who, exactly one year ago, was hit by a car and killed while crossing the street in Brooklyn. I remember what I was wearing and doing and feeling the second I heard the news. I’ll never forget that sleepless night–looking back, I know I was completely in shock and the realization would only slowly sink in. Still today, every single time I drive across the Golden Gate Bridge I think of Jean. I’m not really sure why except maybe because of how much she loved the city and how she wanted to move here someday, have a family and settle down.
I debated for a long time about driving up and seeing Jean’s grave on the anniversary of her death. I’ve never gone to visit a grave and done the whole ‘bring flowers and hang out’ thing. I don’t really know what that looks like. I guess I’ll find out. I’m already stressed about what color flowers to bring and worried I may truly unravel. But Jean’s mom is there and her brother’s driving up, and I want to spend time there. Just being. Just sitting on her couch and chatting. I hear a rumor that we’re actually going to plant an illegal rhododendron bush by her headstone (apparently, digging in cemeteries is kind of looked down upon).
Last week, I was thinking about Jean–knowing September 28th was getting closer and closer. I hopped over to her blog, a place where she was exploring the person she was becoming after moving to New York: a writer, an explorer, a lover, a friend. The last entry on her blog was dated September 22: the same date I was sitting there underneath my covers starring at my computer screen…one year later. This was Jean’s last blog post–the last words she had on public record for all to read. And you know what they said?
“I live in special city, I have parents who love me despite my flaws, I have friends who know all of my misgivings and we can laugh about it openly. I know I’m not perfect, I’m flawed and selfish and downright goofy at times. But underneath all that, the person I see, is someone who is doing their best, who is honest, who is nice and also very caring. I am out there, loving and learning and at the end of the day, I can respect myself for that.”
Every time I read that I get chills. If only we can all be so lucky to have such understanding and gratitude towards the end of our lives. I wish that for everyone, and I thank Jean everyday for showing me what a life well lived really looks like. That girl knew how to take a risk and have a good time. She may have been messier than anyone I’ve ever met, she may have spilled bacon grease all over the stove and left uncountable trails of sunflower seeds wherever she went, but she lived the hell out of life.
So now…I’m on the road, cookies in tow. Because while I don’t really know what people do when they visit a gravestone, I do know that when you stay at someone’s house you should always bring a little something. Preferably, something sweet.
Homemade Oreos
- Yield: 20-24 cookies
- Prep time: 20 mins
- Cook time: 9 mins
- Total time: 29 mins
These are the perfect chocolate sandwich cookie: nice rich flavor from the cocoa powder, perfectly crisp cookies, and fluffy filling. I use Valrhona cocoa powder and don’t get caught up with whether one or another is dutch-process or not: just use the darkest, highest quality cocoa powder you can find/afford. For the cookies themselves, I adapted the recipe from Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It and experimented with a filling that I was happy with: not too firm and not too sweet. Just right.
Ingredients
For the cookies:
For the filling:
Instructions
Pour the sugar into a food processor and process for 30 seconds. Then add the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa and quickly pulse to combine. Add the butter and process very quickly just until coarse crumbs form. Blend in the egg yolks and vanilla and scrape the melted chocolate into the batter. Mix to combine.
Preheat the oven to 400 F and grease 2 baking sheets. Make sure the oven rack is in the center of the oven. Gather the dough together on top of a piece of parchment paper or wax paper and divide it in half. Shape each piece into a flattened rectangle. Set one disk aside and roll out the first one by covering it with a sheet of parchment or wax paper and rolling it into about a 13 by 15 inch rectangle. The dough will be 1/4 inch thick.
Cut out as many cookies as you can using a 2-3 inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom of a glass). Gather any remaining scraps and cut out more cookies. Bake for 7-9 minutes, or until the edges are very slightly darkened. The cookies may rise a little during baking, but flatten out again once cool. Since these cookies are naturally dark, it’s easy to over bake them, so be careful. Cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Repeat with the second half of the dough. If it gets too soft, put it in the fridge for five minutes. Cool all the cookies on a rack for at least 30 minutes before frosting.
To make the frosting, place the butter and lard/shortening in a mixing bowl and gradually beat at a low speed, pouring in the sugar and vanilla as you go. Turn the mixer on high and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
To assemble the cookies, fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch tip with the frosting. Pipe teaspoon-size circles of filling onto the center of one cookie, and gently place another on top. Work all the filling evenly inbetween both cookies by pressing them lightly together. Can store at room temperature, in an air-tight container, up to 1 week.
Healthy Comfort Food
Thai Carrot, Coconut and Cauliflower Soup
People describe raising young kids as a particular season in life. I hadn't heard this until we had a baby, but it brought me a lot of comfort when I'd start to let my mind wander, late at night between feedings, to fears that we'd never travel internationally again or have a sit-down meal in our dining room. Would I ever eat a cardamom bun in Sweden? Soak in Iceland? I loved the heck out of our tiny Oliver, but man what had we done?! Friends would swoop in and reassure us that this was just a season, a blip in the big picture of it all. They promised we'd likely not even remember walking around the house in circles singing made-up songs while eating freezer burritos at odd hours of the day (or night). And it's true.
Oliver is turning two next month, and those all-encompassing baby days feel like a different time, a different Us. In many ways, dare I say it, Toddlerhood actually feels a bit harder. Lately Oliver has become extremely opinionated about what he will and will not wear -- and he enforces these opinions with fervor. Don't get near the kid with a button-down shirt. This week at least. He's obsessed with his rain boots and if it were up to him, he'd keep them on at all times, especially during meals. He insists on ketchup with everything (I created a damn monster), has learned the word "trash" and insists on throwing found items away on his own that really, truly are not trash. I came to pick him up from daycare the other day and he was randomly wearing a bike helmet -- his teacher mentioned he'd had it on most of the day and really, really didn't want to take it off. The kid has FEELINGS. I love that about him, and wouldn't want it any other way. But, man it's also exhausting.
Cheesy Quinoa Cauliflower Bake
I just finished washing out Oliver's lunchbox and laying it out to dry for the weekend. My favorite time of day is (finally) here: the quiet of the evening when I can actually talk to Sam about our day or sit and reflect on my own thoughts after the inevitable dance party or band practice that precedes the bedtime routine lately. Before becoming pregnant for the second time, I'd have had a glass of wine with the back door propped open right about now -- these days though, I have sparkling water or occasionally take a sip from one of Sam's hard ciders. Except now the back door's closed and we even turned on the heat for the first time yesterday. The racing to water the lawn and clean the grill have been replaced by cozier dinners at home and longer baths in the evening. You blink and it's the first day of fall.
Stuffed Shells with Fennel and Radicchio
I'd heard from many friends that buying a house wasn't for the faint of heart. But I always shrugged it off, figuring I probably kept better files or was more organized and, really, how hard could it be? Well, I've started (and stopped) writing this post a good fifteen times which may indicate something. BUT! First thing's first: we bought a house! I think! I'm pretty sure! We're still waiting for some tax transcripts to come through and barring any hiccough with that, we'll be moving out of our beloved craftsman in a few weeks and down the block to a great, brick Tudor house that we wanted the second we laid eyes on it. The only problem: it seemed everyone else in Seattle had also laid eyes on it, and wanted it equally as much. I'm not really sure why the homeowner chose us in the end. Our offer actually wasn't the highest, but apparently there were some issues with a few of them. We wrote a letter introducing ourselves and describing why we'd be the best candidates and why we were so drawn to the house; we have a really wonderful broker who pulled out all the stops, and after sifting through 10 offers and spending a number of hours deliberating, they ended up going with ours. We were at a friend's book event at the time when Sam showed me the text from our broker and I kind of just collapsed into his arms. We were both in ecstatic denial (wait, is this real?! Did we just buy a house?) and celebrated by getting chicken salad and potato salad from the neighborhood grocery store and eating it, dazed, on our living room floor. Potato salad never tasted so good.
Smoky Butternut Squash and Three Bean Chili
If your house is anything like ours, last week wasn't our most inspired in terms of cooking. We're all suffering from the post-election blues -- the sole upside being Oliver's decision to sleep-in until 7 am for the first time in many, many months; I think he's trying to tell us that pulling the covers over our heads and hibernating for awhile is ok. It's half-convincing. For much of the week, instead of cooking, there'd been takeout pizza and canned soup before, at week's end, I decided it was time to pour a glass of wine and get back into the kitchen. I was craving something hearty and comforting that we could eat for a few days. Something that wouldn't remind me too much of Thanksgiving because, frankly, I can't quite gather the steam to start planning for that yet. It was time for a big bowl of chili.
To Talk Porridge
Porridge is not the sexiest of breakfasts, it's true. It doesn't have a stylish name like strata or shakshuka, and it doesn't have perfectly domed tops like your favorite fruity muffin. It doesn't crumble into delightful bits like a good scone nor does it fall into buttery shards like a well-made croissant. But when you wake up and it's 17 degrees outside (as it has been, give or take a few, for the last week), there's nothing that satisfies like a bowl of porridge or oatmeal. It's warm and hearty and can be made sweet or savory with any number of toppings. The problem? Over the years, it's gotten a bad rap as gluey or gummy or just downright boring or dutiful -- and it's because not everyone knows the secrets to making a great pot of warm morning cereal. So let's talk porridge (also: my cookbook comes out this month! So let's take a peek inside, shall we?)
Maddie
Megan, this post has me wiping away tears from the corner of my eyes here in my cubicle, and I didn't even know Jean. I can't imagine how hard this is for you, but I'm glad you'll have Oreos and Jean's loved ones to accompany you on your visit.
How reassuring to know she was at peace with herself and her life, even if that was taken from her much too soon.
Joy
Thinking of you today on your trip. I grew up with a culture that visits our loved ones' graves at least once a year. Friends and relatives meet up there, we bring flowers food, and smiles, and stories. We are there as if our dear departed were there with us. The first few years were with tears, as expected, but there was always a certain kind of peace that we were all there for them. I'm sure Jean would love to have all of you together there. Big hugs. The oreos look great! What a treat for the family!
kickpleat
What a beautiful tribute to a great friend! Thanks for sharing. On Friday it will be my mom's birthday - the first birthday where she won't be around anymore. There isn't a grave for me to visit nor am I flying home to be with my brother and dad, but maybe I'll bake my mom a cake.
shannalee
What a sweet friend you are!
Sarah
Visiting graves is kinda funny, and I can understand that you debated going. I still feel strange when I visit my father's grave, but I've been going anyway. It is good to just go and 'be' there. I'm sure you'll find it to be the same visiting your late friend.
Nice work on the recipe too. Food is always the sweet and constant healer of all life's wounds.
Dana
Thinking of you honey. What a terrible thing to lose a friend. I have been extraordinarily lucky in my life - no loss yet. I hope this will bring some healing for you and the family.
SouffleBombay
Your friend must have been an awesome person to get a friend like you. Sorry for your loss, true friends are priceless.
Kasey
Love and strength to you, Megan. Losing a friend is excruciating--I went through it in college--but what better way to remember someone than through their own words. Hugs!
Mimi
A lovely tribute to your friend.
I never new Cemetery culture existed until my parents died and people started telling me all the crazy and fun things they do when they visit the cemetery.
Mimi
Janet
Oh, Megan. I didn't realize that's why you were headed up north this week. I'm so sorry. I hope you're doing ok and that it's comforting to be with her family. How wonderful that she'd written that post, not only because she felt that way, but because it let her friends and family know that she felt that way. If only we can all be so lucky, indeed.
I'm thinking of you and everyone who loved Jean today.
Also, those are some damn good cookies, lady!
MomGordon
I was sitting here alone in the house worrying and wondering about my "little" girl up in Eureaka. Then I read your post. I'm not worried anymore- that "little" girl is going to be just fine.
Pop Gordon
Your comfort in sharing so eloquently is one of the reasons folks, and your parents, love your writing. It's a good thing you're doing by traveling to Eureka, spending time. These are easy things to intend to do, one's better for having done them. Travel safely and don't eat too many "Oreos".
Melody
Hey Cookie - Best Oreos I have ever tasted! And so glad to learn the 'back story'. Keep on keeping on - and like I said, I would totally pay good money for that cookie - so where's the farmers market pop-up?
Carra
Lovely words. Hope your time spent with jean's family brings you joy & peace. Also, wishing you a cathartic visit with your dear friend. Perhaps you should share an Oreo with her as well. Xoxo. Perhaps I'll run into you around town.
Mary
What a gorgeous tribute to Jean. And what a Summer Day it is - just like the poem. May we all be more like your friend.
Andrea
I was on the edge of tears, reading this. I don't really know what it is to lose someone that close to me and I hope it's a long time before I find out, but I guess we have to appreciate the moments we have with one another and live in the present. I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope this one year anniversary is full of memories and laughter, instead of sadness and wishful thinking.
Lori
Dear Megan, How lucky Jean was to have you as a friend to remember her and to keep that memory alive. How lucky Jean's family is to have a friend like you who doesn't push the grief and pain away but instead shows your devotion to Jean's memory. And how lucky are you to be such a compassionate person who can experience all of this and capture it so beautifully. I know these times can be extremely difficult, but I also know the heart knows no calendar and that there are days where her loss is felt greater than others. On those days, I hope your spirits will be buoyed by the love and support of your family and Jean's. Drive carefully.
Dana
Megan,
I'm very sorry to hear about your friend. It really sounds like she was a gem, and people like that are hard to lose, especially in such a sudden way. It will be hard to drive up, and hard to be there, but at the same time, it might be very theraputic.
I know just how hard it is when those dates, birthdays, a year from passing, start to creep closer. I'm happy you decided to be there, maybe being with all of her most important people will help in this tough time.
Dana
Chez Us
Megan, I am so sorry to hear what happened to Jean. I imagine she will be looking down at you, with a smile on her face and happy to see you there with cookies in tow! Enjoy the peace and remember the love!
Jessica
Megan, that was such a beautifully written expression of love and care for your friend Jean. I was moved to tears reading this. You are a truly gifted writer and I'm sure Jean is looking down on you now with love in her heart. I hope the trip was a good experience for you and I'm sure her family so appreciated you being there. xoxo
Jess
El
I'm so sorry you lost your dear friend. I hope you find comfort in spending time with her family. I'm sure the cookies will help (they really do look good)
Adriana from Baking Powders
wow... intense, i can't deny there are tears in my eyes. i'm really sorry for your loss, it's obvious that jean is remembered and loved. the cookies look delicious
A Canadian Foodie
What a beautiful tribute to your dear friend on the anniversary of her death. What beautiful cookies. I know she will be touched. I am. Deeply.
Valerie
Denise | Chez Danisse
Reading Jean’s last blog post is a reminder of the fragility of life. Really, I'm sitting here sort of frozen, thinking of it all. I hope your journey was a good one.
megang
Joy: Thank you for sharing your nice words about the way your family commemorates lost ones. Really nice to hear.
Jeanette: I'm really sorry to hear about your mom. You know what they say about time...I love the idea of a cake!
Sarah, Kasey, Jessica, Denise, El Janet, Carra, Mary, Melody, Dana: Sweet comments, ladies. Seriously kept me going reading them throughout the few days I was up there.
redmenace
What a terribly sad story, but you seem like a lovely lovely friend. Your cookies, too, look wonderful. xo
Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite
Megan, I am sorry I am just catching up on blogs but I wanted to jump in here and say how special YOU are. Anyone who calls you their friend is incredibly lucky.
Anne
I, too, am catching up on blogs today. I hope your visit to Jean's grave went okay. Did you find it comforting, being there with her family? Your post was very moving--I'm crying for someone I never met. She sounds like a great person. Just like you.
kamran siddiqi
Jean was very lucky to have such a great friend. I know that she is looking down and is smiling at her great friend. I wouldn't worry about how appropriate the flowers are, as from what I've read- Jean wouldn't mind . . . She'd probably be glad that you were there and brought her a heartfelt gift.
Take care!
BTW, those oreos look absolutely lovely!
sk
How sweet you are. Reading this post gave me chills!
Kristen
Beautiful post, Megan. Losing a friend is one of the hardest things to go through. Thank you for sharing this story :)
Kasey
After talking with you yesterday about homemade oreos I now cannot stop thinking about them. Just looking at that picture makes me want one right now!
Julie
I came across your post after seeing a link to your oreos on The Kitchn. I wanted to let you know how touching it was for me to read your post about your friend Jean. We also lost a friend at a very young age and although it was 5 years ago it seems particularly difficult this year. Your post was very moving and comforting to me. Thank you for being brave and sharing her story.
megang
Thank you so much for your sweet comment Julie. I do think the grief travels in strange waves, and seems stronger around the holidays, no?