Choir Cookies

I have renamed my traditional chocolate chip cookies Choir Cookies in honour of their success at a recent fundraiser for said choir. When I touted them to potential customers as the "finest chocolate chip cookies in the land" one lady replied that she made the "finest chocolate chip cookies in the land". Instead of coming to blows we accepted our individual claim to the title and marveled that we should meet under such circumstances.

These cookies have a nice, soft cake-like texture.

3/4 C of softened butter
1/2 C sugar
3/4 C brown sugar (lightly measured, do not pack)
2 eggs
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2-3/4 C flour
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
A cup or so of chocolate chips.
1/2 C of chopped pecans (optional) with milk chocolate chips
1/2 C of chopped walnuts (optional) with semi-sweet chips

Blend the butter and sugars
Add eggs and vanilla
Sift dry ingredients once and gradually blend into butter/sugar mixture
Add chocolate and nuts (if desired)

Roll about a tablespoons amount of cookie dough into a circle and pat flat (not too flat) on cookie sheet.

Bake in pre-heated 325 degree oven for 15 minutes. If your oven is anything like mine, you can lop a minute of each succeeding batch. Makes about 4 dozen delicious Choir Cookies. Enjoy!

For more treats on this blog check out:
Clare's Black & White Squares (December 14, 2009)
Robert Golden's (R.G. Armstrong) Chocolate Chip Cookies (April 7, 2009)

Upcoming for the Etobicoke Centennial Choir

The Big Sing, November 28th at Roy Thomson Hall
1000 voices of combined choirs accompanied by organ and brass ensemble

Our annual Sacred Traditions

An exciting evening of sacred music from the African, Jewish and Christian repertoire. Our special guests will be Nutifafa African Performance Ensemble and High Park Children's Choir. Traditional Christmas favourites and a carol sing as well!

Saturday, December 4 at 7:30
Humber Valley United Church
76 Anglesley Boulevard

Having Fun

I haven't been blogging much of late. Inspiration and fun has come to me from another source, the Etobicoke Centennial Choir's presentation of a concert performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance on May 28th and 29th.

This concert concluded my second season with the choir and I was quite chuffed to be in G&S land. While the choir repertoire is new and wonderfully challenging, my background is in theatre and musical comedy and now, I felt, was something in my wheelhouse. Straight away I auditioned for "Ruth", a role I always wanted to get a crack at. However, it appears my bottom notes are not all I thought them to be. No matter. Straight away I auditioned for "Kate" or "Edith" or anyone else who might fall under the category of "one of the others". "Kate" it was, and I was very pleased for she gets a few pithy lines and I'm a gal who likes to get her laughs.

My approach to the part was totally from an acting perspective because although I'm in a choir, I don't yet comfortably think of myself as a singer. I have learned a lot, but have a lot more to learn. I wanted to act the role and hoped the singing would be pleasant. It has been ten years since my last play (Aunt Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace) followed by a prolonged battle against cancer and a resultant unreliable body. I was excited about once more releasing my inner ham.

I don't have a picture in my "Kate" get-up, but here I am in full-on chorister mode.

Folks always have a good time with G&S and ECC's concert was no exception. Our group featured some wonderful professional lead performers and the choir really cut loose and filled the hall with beautiful singing.

I was the best one.
According to my family.
Well, of the supporting players.
Who are female.
Who they are related to.

I was the recipient of some lovely compliments and - oh, how I wish we were doing something like this again soon.

Esther Howard as "Mrs. Kraft", Born to Kill

One of my character actress idols, Esther Howard, was also a singer. She played naughty Clothilde in the 1928 - 29 Broadway production of Sigmund Romberg's The New Moon. What's needed now is for someone to write a musical version of Born to Kill or maybe Murder, My Sweet. After all, Sunset Boulevard worked. Can't you just hear Jesse Florian's big aria in Murder, My Sweet?

I told ya...I told ya, copper
I don't know anybody...I told ya'...anybody
By....the....name....of....Moose!!!

Caftan Woman, chorister

What do you think of my David Tennant glasses? I think they make me look clever.

Janet: How was rehearsal tonight?
Me: Well, I wasn't kicked out this week.

In my former life I studied music and theatre. My free time was devoted to community theatre. Life, kids and illness...mainly illness, has kept me from doing what I loved to do. I missed it. I missed music in my life. I actually bought a book to teach myself the harmonica. I am sorely grieved that there is something Jim Belushi can do that I can't.

Last September there was a notice in the paper announcing an Open House for the Etobicoke Centennial Choir, entering its 42nd season. Why not? I should be able to manage one rehearsal a week without my body falling apart. In that former life I mentioned I was usually placed in the lower section of the chorus. A proud alto or sometimes a mezzo with delusions. At my audition, the choir director and I had a good chuckle over my sight-reading and he placed me in first soprano. I actually tried to argue with him. The guy knows what he's doing. I felt comfortable vocally, but strange personally. You can't spend your life giving sops dirty looks and then all of a sudden become one.

The Christmas concerts were a success and I achieved my first goal which was not to screw up. Tonight we begin rehearsals for the Easter concert. My new goal is to relax and enjoy the challenge, the learning experience and the sense of accomplishment.


Check out: etobicokecentennialchoir.ca

Photo courtesy of Maureen Nolan
check out: monolan @ flickr