The Story of Stir Me Nots as Told by Sandy Williams

Stir Me Nots were always part of my household.  Mom was always in the kitchen during her most special events like her bridge parties or a lady’s luncheon and the sweet smell of chocolate, sugar, butter and coconut always would fill the air as the wooden kitchen table was always a clutter with chocolate chips and granulated sugar.

It wasn’t until I went away to college that I found I both missed and craved the chocolatey delights. So, it was always a comfort when I returned during the short college breaks I would find them waiting on me on the same wooden kitchen table – just as they were all the years before.  And with each first bite, I exhaled – always knowing I was truly home.

As the years passed and my own family traditions began to form, the familiar tastes of my mom’s kitchen table slowly began to fade.  It wasn’t until I began to sort through the recipes did I find this gentle hug of home with the reminder of the smells of the kitchen I had forgotten to miss.  

Today, I share this simple recipe with my own granddaughter.  As she grows, we will for sure spill sugar, scatter coconut and drop copious amount of chocolate chips.  We will giggle, just as I did with my mom so many years ago.  I will share stories of her great-grandmother’s love for her kitchen table.  And perhaps many years down the road, these little stir me nots will be waiting on her when she finds her way home on college breaks – sitting at a wooden table – ready to give that same gentle hug.

Stir Me Not Recipe

1/2 cup – melted butter

1 1/2 cup – graham cracker crumbs

1 cup – shredded coconut

1 package (12 oz) – semisweet chocolate chips

1 can (14 oz) – sweetened condensed milk

1 cup – chopped nuts (pecan or walnut)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour butter into a 13 x 9 inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs over the butter; then the shredded coconut, then the chocolate chips. Pour the condensed milk over all and top with the nuts. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool, cut into squares, and serve.