Left Behind - With Lemon Sugar Snap Cookies

This morning I awoke with a feeling of being left behind.

A dear friend is heading back home.

A young man is going to high school.

And here I am, in my little farmhouse, with the Italian Mobster roosters crowing, Phyllis clucking, and me, vacuuming.

Oh, don't get me wrong - it's all good.

It's all right, and the way life should be.

The reality of me with time on my hands is starting to sink in.

I like it.

I've always thought it easier to be the leaver instead of the leavee.

When you are the leaver, your mind is occupied with your trip ahead, you are busy thinking about all that needs to be done when you get home.

When you are the leavee - you are left with a bit of emptiness and forlornness that needs to be filled.

With Cookies.

Lemon Sugar Snaps

1 stick of soft butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1 t lemon peel

1 T lemon extract

3/4 cup of flour

1/4 t salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Add egg yolk, zest and extract.

Mix well.

Add the flour and salt and blend on low speed until all ingredients are blended.

Place teaspoon size balls on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake until very lightly colored around the edges.

Cool five minutes on the sheet.

Eat.

I've not had luck doubling this recipe - it seems to lose 'something'.