Volunteers needed at Big Meadow Campground this Saturday

Shenandoah National Park is looking for help this Saturday, April 12, 2014. They owe much to the many volunteers who have dedicated their time and efforts to preserve and protect the park that we all love. Now is a chance to help! This Saturday, April 12, the park will be hosting an ash clean-up and campsite restoration event at Big Meadows Campground. The event will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Interested volunteers can meet up at 10 a.m. at the Big Meadows Campground.

For additional questions, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 540-999-3500 (extension 3181). Thank-you for all that you do!

Baking Wednesday ... Laura Bush's Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies

Laura Bush's Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies

What's not to love about former First Lady Laura Bush's Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies? These big yummy cookies are chocked full of goodie ingredients that make them perfect for an occasional indulgence.

During the 2000 presidential campaign, Mrs. Bush's cookies beat out Tipper Gore's gingersnap cookie recipe when readers voted for their favorite in a contest in Family Circle magazine.

During the years while President George W. Bush was in the White House, I often baked these and carried them to our local GOP headquarters to share with volunteers. Today I doubled the batch and made two pans of bar cookies to share with neighbors plus drop cookies for home. A word of warning: doubling the recipe makes a big batch of dough so be prepared to have a large container (I used a deep dutch oven pan), long-handled big spoon, and plenty of arm power to dig and stir to adequately mix all the ingredients.

The good thing with these cookies is you can add or omit according to what is in your baking cabinet. Today I left out the coconut because there was none here and not worth a trip to the store. I stirred in two cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, two cups of dark chocolate chips, and three cups of butterscotch chips. Instead of pecans (because I didn't have any), I used three cups of sliced almonds that were left over from Christmas. Delicious!

Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies
Laura Bush

Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter (room temperature)
1  1/2 cups granulated sugar
1  1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2 cups pecans, chopped
2 cups sweetened flake coconut

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in bowl.
3. In mixer bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about one minute. Gradually beat in sugars; beat to combine, about two minutes.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Add vanilla.
5. Stir in flour mixture until combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and pecans.
6. For each cookie, drop one tablespoon dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing them three inches apart.
7. Bake in 350-degree oven approximately 12 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Remove cookies from rack to cool.

Yield: 8 dozen cookies

Note: For larger cookies, increase baking time to 15 minutes.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Shenandoah National Park: volunteers needed Saturday

Shenandoah National Park has put out a call for volunteers on Saturday, May 4, to help remove invasive garlic mustard.

On Saturday only, be a Garlic Mustard Buster! Volunteers will pull up this exotic plant that is taking over native habitat in many areas of the Park. Litter bags and gloves will be provided. No garden tools are needed. Arrive dressed to work outdoors (long pants, closed-toe shoes, hat, sunscreen). Bring water and a snack.

Meet at one of the following places:

- Stony Man Nature Trail parking area (mile 41.7). Registration is 8-9:00 am, and activity will take place from 9-11:00 a.m.
- Milam Gap parking area (mile 52.8): Registration is from noon-1 pm. Activity will be from 1-3:00 pm.

To Register:
You must be registered to participate, and may only pick garlic mustard in the company of the park volunteer coordinator on designated hikes. Call Leslie Velarde to secure your park entrance information: 540.999-3500 (ext. 3181).