Hello Cookie Lovers,

The “Cookie Lady” has retired!

From work, but never, ever from baking!

Barbara Gordon of Newark, Ohio, USA has been baking cookies since she was 8 years old. After the passing of her husband, she continues baking especially to deal with grief and to keep his memory alive.

Her homemade cookies usually accompany her to work and many places that she visits such as churches, medical and dental offices, even Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants.

June 30, 2011 was Barbara’s last day at work. Her co-workers certainly missed her and her homemade cookies.

Happy retirement, Barbara!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. What a Cookie Baker Should Know About Wheat Allergy and Gluten Intolerance
  2. 10 Uses of Baking Soda
  3. Baking Cookies – A Means to a Productive Life


What Cookie Bakers Should Know about
Wheat Allergy and Gluten Intolerance

Both wheat allergy and gluten intolerance refer to adverse reactions to wheat, specifically the proteins albumin, globulin, gliadin and glutenin. It is still unknown as to why the body rejects these food proteins.

Wheat allergy is uncommon and can often be outgrown if it develops in childhood. Gluten intolerance, however, is a common life-long disorder in Western countries, most prevalent in Sweden and Denmark. It is a hereditary disorder of the immune system, causing damages to the lining of the small intestine.

Symptoms of wheat allergy are hives, swelling, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Symptoms of gluten intolerance are more severe. Toddlers between 6 – 24 months may experience intestinal mal-absorption, impaired growth, abdominal distension, abnormal stool, muscle wasting, poor muscle tone, poor appetite. Symptoms in adults include weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, flatulence, cramps.

Currently, the only available treatment for both wheat allergy and gluten intolerance is a complete removal of gluten from daily diet. That simply means avoidance of wheat and wheat-containing foods.


10 Uses of Baking Soda

10. Freshen stuff animals.

9. Tenderize meat, but must rinse it off before cooking.

8. Add to laundry to enhance the effectiveness of your detergent.

7. Dissolve in a lukewarm bath to sooth the pain of sunburn and the itch of poison ivy.

6. Keep cut flowers fresh longer.

5. Eliminate all kinds of odors.

4. Polish stainless steel and chrome.

3. Remove any residual that hair styling products leave behind when use along with your favorite shampoo.

2. Reduce the acidity of tomato sauce and coffee.

1. Leaven cookies while baking.

When use in food, a very small amount is suffice.


Baking Cookies – A Means to a Productive Life

Casey Torman of Largo, Florida, USA loves baking cookies. She’s been on many television news stations like ABC, CNN, FOX to promote her company, Casey’s Cookies.

Her parents, Barry and Cindy, set up the company for her less than a year ago because they were concerned about the quality of her life in the long run. You see, Casey is 22 years old, and has Goldenhar Syndrome, deformities of the face and spine, not to mention some mental challenges.

Regardless, Casey and two other workers just like her bake cookies from scratch, under the supervision of her caretaker and volunteers. They make four varieties: sugar, Vermont maple white chocolate, cinnamon chip oatmeal raisin, and five chocolate chips.

To Casey, baking cookies means being independent and learning the value of team work. To the rest of us, baking cookies may be a simple task, but not to be taken for granted. Keep on baking and I’ll check back with you in September.

Until next time ……..


Published date: July 15, 2011

Copyright 2011 by Trinh Lieu. All right reserved