Some of our favorite family memories include food. Grandma’s fried potatoes, ornate Christmas cookies, the special stuffing that Mom made every Thanksgiving, Dad’s secret chili spice…just the smell can take us back to treasured time with loved ones.

Seven Stones is featuring recipes to remember over the next few months, and we would love to include yours. Maybe it’s one that a loved one always made, or maybe it’s one that you always made for a loved one. Please send us your special family recipe, plus any stories or photos that go with with it, at info@discoversevenstones.com. They’ll appear in future issues of the Notebook, as well as here on our blog.

Our first is a recipe from a loved one recently lost. Irene Shelburne was Grandma to Julianne Will, our director of communications. She passed away in October at 92, after a lifetime of loving service to her large family and her community. Irene was known for creating wonderful dishes from the abundant produce in her lush garden as well as the berry bushes and fruit trees around her home. She also liked to bake for her 32 grandkids and many great-grandchildren, especially Oatmeal Chippers. Irene’s daughter and Julianne’s mom, Sue, uses this recipe often, too, and Julianne is determined to give it a try instead of eating the chocolate chips from the bag.

Oatmeal Chippers

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 pkg chocolate chips

2 cups oatmeal

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine butter, shortening and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until light. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Stir into sugar mixture until combined. Stir in oatmeal, chips and nuts (if using). Drop by rounded teaspoon on baking sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes. Makes 7-8 dozen.