TRAVELS (and more) WITH CECILIA BRAINARD: The Burnt Chocolate Chip Cookies of Mother's Day

I promised to bring dessert for the Mother's Day Celebration at my in-law's place (Wendy and Billie Rae Curran), and I had in mind making leche flan. However, I ran out of time, and late Saturday I declared we'd buy dessert on our way to Eliso Viejo where they live.

Sunday morning, I had a change of heart and decided to bake chocolate chip cookies. I did, but I burned the bottoms of quite a lot of them. They weren't so bad and so I buried those in the tin can in which I packed the cookies.

Early afternoon, off we went on the trip down crowded 405 Freeway. I suppose other folks were driving to be with their families.

In the Philippines, my family didn't celebrate Mother's Day in a big way. I remember getting flowers in school to give to our mothers on Mother's Day, but there was no rabid commercialism about that day.

Here in the US, Mother's Day is a bigger event. As a mother, I don't mind getting the cards, flowers, and gifts, but sometimes I do think it's too commercial. Still, the nice thing about Mother's Day is that families do get-together, as my husband's family does.

So, there we were in the home of Wendy and Billie Rae, with the relatives of both Wendy and Billie --- a lot of people.

The children spent a lot of time playing in a giant inflatable trampoline; the grownups were clustered in different parts of the house and garden. There was an assortment of hors d'oeuvres, followed by lasagna, hot dogs, chicken, salads, fruit, and when dessert time came, there were homemade pies, lemon bars, cakes, and my chocolate cookies. From across the room I saw Wendy select one chocolate chip cookie -- and I could see that its bottom was burned.

I went to her and said, "I'm sorry Wens, some of the cookies got burned."

"These are my favorite!" she said as she squirreled away some burnt cookies.

Later, I saw Wendy's sister Kim holding another burnt cookie and hurrying to find her sister Paula. "Paula, looked burnt cookies!" she said, happily.

Apparently burnt cookies are beloved by these young women!

My chocolate chip cookies disappeared very quickly!

Well, that was a revelation to me. I had no idea people preferred burnt cookies. I myself eat burnt cookies, but I don't necessarily rate them as more desirable than non-burnt ones.

Very interesting. Now I know what to prepare for the next family holiday.

I'm sharing some pictures taken at the Mother's Day celebration.Up above is Lauren and me, followed by Lauren and his mom. There are pictures of children throwing themselves around in the trampoline, a selfie of both of Wendy and me, people hovering around the kitchen and den, a trio picture of Wendy, me, and Swapna, Kim and Mom, and Swapna and Drew.

Wendy served a fabulous Kale Salad and she'll be sending me her recipe soon. I'll post that once I get it. It's one of my favorite salads, and it's also very nutritious, so stay tuned, dear Readers.

In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful week.

And Wendy, Billie Rae, and Jessica, thanks for your hospitality! We had a great time.