Operation Attitude Gratitude

It's that time of year. Peeps are everywhere. I've eaten more than my share of chocolate bunnies, ears first. And I just finished making a batch of Matzo Crack (recipe following post). Yes, indeedy, spring is in the air, so that means it's time for thanksgiving . . . as in gratitude, not the turkey feast.

I'm not a huge non-fiction fan, but a book I've stuck my nose into and haven't wanted to pull it out, even to smell the Easter goodies baking in the oven, is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Her writing is so beautiful, it makes me want to weep -- and I'm of stoic Norwegian roots, so you know her prose is dang good. Granted, it's not a quick read and it's not for everyone, but if you appreciate a poetic slant, this is the book for you. Here are some examples:

"He gifts with seeds as small as moments, grace upon grace, and the unlikely here and now, it shall sustain you, feed you. Do not disdain the small. The promise of feast is within the moments. Our enough is always in the now, because He never leaves us."

"The hard discipline is to lean into the ugly and whisper thanks to transfigure it into beauty. The hard discipline to give thanks for all things at all times because He is all good."

"The only way to see God manifested in the world around is with the eyes of Jesus within. God within is the One seeing God without."

"How we behold determines if we hold joy."

The whole premise of One Thousand Gifts is to be thankful for the mundane, to see God in everything, everywhere. Her challenge is to start your own list of a thousand things to be grateful to God for.

And what better day to start than on Good Friday?

Now then, as promised, here is that recipe, because whoa baby, I am surely grateful for this little gem.

Motzo Crack

6 squares matzos
3/4 cups pecans, walnuts or sliced almonds
1 cup butter
1 3/4 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350. Arrange matzos in large baking pan in one layer. Spread nuts evenly over matzos. Place several sheets of waxed paper on the counter or on another baking sheet to use later.

2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter & brown sugar. Stir and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring often.

3. Pour hot butter mixture over matzos. Immediately place in oven for 10-15 minutes and bake until matzos begin to brown and caramel is bubbly.

4. Remove matzos from oven. Take off of baking sheet and put onto prepared wax paper. Scatter chocolate chips over the top. Allow the chips to melt, then spread over the top with a knife.

5. When cooled, break into pieces and store in a covered container.

You can NOT eat just one piece of this yumminess. Nope. Can't.