Week #12- Charles (and the chocolate chip cookies)

As you can see from the title of this post, the Give and Bake Project is up to week twelve so far.  For the most part, the people I've encountered have been very wonderful and pleasant and grateful for something to snack on.  There have been a couple of people who seemed a bit indifferent and not too interested in chatting, but so far no one's actually been rude.  That changed on Friday with a bit of an interesting encounter with someone who actually started off extremely friendly.

I had heard about a very happy and chatty homeless man who spends his days on the lower level of Michigan Avenue bridge and makes small talk with the regular commuters who pass him each day.  So on Friday after work, I headed that way armed with a batch of chocolate chip cookies and lots of questions.  It was about 4:00, so the bridge wasn't very busy yet as it was a bit before rush hour.  As I approached, the man flashed me a big smile and said "Hey there! How ya doing? I'm the bridgekeeper!" I was delighted by his enthusiasm.  I offered up my cookies and his reply was "Can you instead go to McDonald's and get me a fish sandwich?"  I nervously laughed, hoping he was just joking around with me.  I realized he was serious when he figured out I wasn't going to get him a fish sandwich, and his tune quickly changed.

I managed to ask the "bridgekeeper" a couple of questions, although it was clear he was becoming more annoyed with each one.  I learned his name was Charles, and that some nights he stays at a mission and some nights he pays for a hotel.  He used to be a valet parker which he felt was the perfect job for him because he is so "friendly," but now he is 58 and doesn't want to work anymore.  I don't blame Charles for wanting to spend his days on the bridge. It's a very picturesque spot with a sweeping view of the Chicago River flowing out into Lake Michigan, the occasional architecture cruise full of happy tourists, and at the top of each hour, a rainbow fountain framing the entire scene.  And on this gorgeous and sunny Friday afternoon, who wouldn't be in a good mood with such a view?  But when I asked Charles if he has pretty good luck in that spot, he angrily replied "Only if you go away!" And with that, he shoved me a bit and exclaimed "Go on now, GET!"

Charles spends each day on the bridge and it's clear he is well known.  Every person who walked by him waved and smiled; it was clear he is a part of many people's daily routines.  I wonder if any of these people who are so kind to drop Charles a few dollars now and then have ever stopped to actually talk to him; if they had, I don't think Charles would be a part of their daily routine for much longer.

I don't expect to always be warmly received through the Give and Bake Project, but even on the rare occasion when I come across someone who's not very friendly, I still think there is a lesson to be learned.  Many of the people I have met so far have at first seemed a bit sullen and off-putting, and after chatting with them, they turned out to be such warm and kind people with interesting stories.  And then every now and then, I'll meet someone who seems very kind at first, and turns out to be not exactly the nicest person.  So the whole "don't judge a book by its cover" philosophy can definitely hold true in either direction, and it's important to give people your time and conversation before making up your mind about them.  Just maybe from now on, I might give people my time and conversation before deciding if I want to give up my cookies. ;)




Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 3 1/3 c flour
- 1/4 c sugar
- 1 c packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 c butter, room temperature
- 3 eggs
- 1 5.1 oz instant vanilla pudding dry mix
- 1 1/2 tbsp vanilla
- 2-3 c chocolate chips
- 1 c chopped walnuts (optional)

Cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.  (A side note on the butter in all of my recipes... I definitely think room temperature works best; better than softening in the microwave.  So if you have the time, let your butter sit out for a few hours before beginning.)  Next beat in the instant pudding mix until blended.  Stir in the eggs and the vanilla.  Next blend in the flour and baking soda.  Lastly, mix in your chocolate chips.  Drop spoonfulls of dough onto ungreased cookie sheets.  If you want your cookies to come out nicely rounded, then roll the dough into a ball and slightly flatten it on the cookie sheet with the palm of  your hand.  Bake about 9 minutes on 350 degrees, being very careful not to overbake.  Let cool for several minutes on the sheet before removing.  Yields about 60 cookies, depending on size.

I've had several attempts before with chocolate chip cookies, and I don't know if it's this recipe or if I'm just getting a bit better at baking, but these turned out pretty well.  The pudding is supposed to help keep the cookies soft, and it sure worked here!

Week #11- Tracy and Shawn (and the chocolate cookies)

Everyone seems to come out of the woodwork during the summertime, and the city is bustling with all kinds of different people.  This includes the homeless as well; this time of year there seems to be not only more homeless people out on the sidewalks in general, but a more diverse group of people.  I think this summer could lead to some interesting Give and Bake stories, and I wanted to kick that off today by finding someone who really looked like they had a story to tell. I was pretty tempted to stop when I saw a man holding a cardboard sign reading “My girlfriend was kidnapped by ninjas- I need money for ransom.”  I’m sure this guy would have had plenty of stories to tell, but the problem is that I happen to be a fan of ninjas, so I can’t say I’d be on his side.  

I continued on my way, and came across two people who looked to be in their late 20’s asleep underneath the El on Lake Street.  They held a sign with the words “Homeless and Hungry” and had a picture of a small boy labeled as their son, Ryan.  I didn’t want to wake them, but figured they would probably be in need of some cookies, so I approached quietly.  They both quickly snapped out of their slumber and peered up with hopeful eyes.  I learned that their names were Tracy and Shawn.  They are married and came to Chicago recently from Florida.  They had a house and were paying a mortgage, but eventually realized the house was under someone else’s name and had to move out on the streets.  

Shawn suffers from bipolar disease. His doctor suggested that there may be more jobs in the Midwest, and bought the family bus tickets to Chicago.  Upon arrival, they unfortunately realized the job market didn’t seem very different.  Without insurance, Shawn’s medications cost nearly $700 each month, which he cannot afford.  And without medications to help control his disorder, he is unable to find a job.  Although she didn’t mention it specifically, from speaking with her, it seemed Tracy also faces similar challenges.  

At night, Tracy and Shawn ride the bus.  They said the trains are unsafe with a lot of drug and gang activity, and they prefer not to ride at night like other homeless people I have encountered choose to do.  I mentioned the free shelter a previous Give and Bake friend had told me about, but they said they try to stay away from the south side as they feel it is also unsafe.  They’ve been trying to get into the shelters on the North Side, but they are hard to get into.  

Tracy and Shawn have a two year old son named Ryan.  He was recently taken away from them by the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services, and they won’t be able to get him back until they can afford housing, which they won’t be able to do until they find jobs.  In the meantime, they are able to visit Ryan twice a week while he stays with a foster family.  They said the foster family seems to be a good family with a son Ryan’s age, so they are grateful for that.  

Shawn said he is willing to take any job he can find, but so far that hasn’t really been anything.  Hopefully something pulls through for him or Tracy soon so that this family can be reunited.  In the meantime, it’s so nice that there are people out there like Ryan’s foster family who step up to take good care of him until his mom and dad can get back on their feet.




Chocolate Cookies
-1 c butter (room temperature)
- 1 1/2 c sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 c flour
- 2/3 c baking cocoa
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- powdered sugar

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.  Beat in vanilla.  In a separate bowl, blend together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.  Gradually beat into the creamed mixture.  Refrigerate for an hour or until the dough is easy to handle.  Roll into one-inch balls, and place two inches apart on a baking sheet.  Flatten a bit with the palm of your hand.  Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 7 minutes.  Be sure not to overbake- it's better for this particular cookie to be on the soft/gooey side.  Sprinkle powdered sugar over the cookies immediately.  Let cool for a minute or two and transfer to cooling racks. 

This recipe yields approximately three dozen cookies.  I didn't love them at first, but I brought some to my softball team and they were even better received than the peanut butter cup treats, so I guess that means they must be pretty tasty!

Week #10- Dennis (and the snickerdoodles)

This afternoon I had to run an errand for work, so I thought I would make use of the mile walk back along Lake Street by searching for my new Give and Bake friend.  I knew I would find a lot of people in this area, so I wanted to carefully choose someone who looked like they had an interesting story to tell.  While there ended up being nearly one person for every block I passed (a bit of a sad realization), many of them tended to be asleep or ended up walking away as I neared his spot.  I was getting closer to my destination, and I found a man wearing a dark fleece top on this 95 degree afternoon.  This fella must have been having a rough day, so I wanted to see if I could make it at least a bit brighter.

My new friend's name was Dennis, and unfortunately it seemed homelessness wasn't the only trouble he has been facing.  Dennis wasn't able to chat with me very much or answer many of my questions.  I gathered that he had been homeless for about six months, and before that he had been in the hospital.  I couldn't understand what he said he was in the hospital for- he repeated it over and over and I eventually realized it was either a rash or psychiatric disorder.  Based on our brief interaction, it seemed to be the latter. 

Even though I couldn't get much of a story out of Dennis, I was very glad to see that he enjoyed the cookies.  He tore into them immediately and ate them so fast he ended up accidentally spitting some of the crumbs out onto me.  It was a bit of an interesting moment, but at least he realized and apologized.

I wished Dennis well and continued on my walk.  The next block, I found a very jovial homeless man singing to passerbys and dancing around a bit with a cane.  I was dying to know this man's story, but would have felt bad approaching him without anything to offer.  Hopefully I can find him again another week, but if not, today of all days has proved that there unfortunately is a seemingly endless number of homeless people in this city.  And even though Dennis may have not been the most chatty character, you definitely don't have to be talkative to need some cheer.  As my mom always says, "It takes all kinds!"




Snickerdoodles
- 1/2 c butter, room temperature
- 1/2 c shortening
- 1 1/2 c white sugar
- 2 3/4 c flour
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Cream together butter, shortening, sugar, the 1 1/2 cups of sugar, eggs, and vanilla.  Next mix (by hand) in the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt until a well blended dough forms.  Shape the dough into balls, roll in the cinnamon and sugar mixture, and place 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake on 400 degrees for about 8 minutes and cool for a minute before transferring to cooling racks.  This particular recipe yields approximately four dozen cookies. 

Week #9- Jessie (and the peanut butter cup treats)

Last Friday I set out on my weekly mini-adventure to find a new Give and Bake friend.  When I bake treats, I usually bake extra and bring them into my office.  The peanut butter cup treats were definitely the most popular of everything I've baked so far, so I felt like I had to find an extra special new friend this week. 

Outside Garrett's Popcorn on Randolph, I found a man holding a cup and smiling at passerbys.  This poor fella had been standing there all day, inhaling the delicious scent of rich caramel and cheesy popcorn.  I'd probably only make it 10 minutes before busting through the door and diving headfirst into the giant tubs of popcorn goodness, so I decided he was absolutely deserving of some goodies. 

Jessie has been homeless for about three months.  A year ago, he lost his job as a cashier at a grocery store when the store went out of business (I forget the name of the store- that's what happens when I wait three days to write things down).  He collected unemployment for six months, and then about three months after that ran out of funds and had to move out.  He's been searching for jobs steady for the past year, but hasn't been able to find one yet.  He visits Harold Washington Library every day to search and apply for postings online, and also visits the unemployment office twice each week to see what's new on the job board there.

I asked Jessie where he stays at night, and he said there is a free homeless shelter on California Ave.  I'm going to have to do some research on this one and potentially share it with some of my Give and Bake friends- no one I have come across before seems to have heard of it.  Most people either save up the $20 for the shelter downtown, or they ride the train all night at the risk of being arrested.  Jessie echoed others sentiments in saying that the shelter downtown is not a good place to be.  In addition to the bed bugs, there is also a major theft problem.  I'm so glad he Jessie is savvy enough to have found a safe place to sleep.

Jessie said he doesn't have any family, and also doesn't have any friends.  He said he is a loner and has never been good at making friends, which shocked me a bit as he has terrific people skills.  He was very friendly with everyone who walked by, and even ran out of his way to open the door for someone in a wheelchair.  You'd think that would be common courtesy for anyone, especially those hoping to collect loose change, but you'd be surprised.  Some of the people I have met through this project stand idly by while watching others struggle to open the door with a baby in a stroller, etc.  That's why it seemed strange that this kind gentleman would have any difficulty at all making friends or even finding another job.  But persistence and patience always seem to pay off, so if he keeps at it, I'm sure his personality will keep shining and eventually an employer will recognize what he could offer their organization.


A quick update on Linda from last week- I chatted with her briefly again on Friday.  She remembered me immediately and gave me a big hug.  Linda's been a busy beaver in the week since I last talked to her! She told me that she found an apartment on the south side for $79/month.  She's $20 shy and asked me for it.  I felt terrible saying no, but I think it's probably best not to give my new friends money until I'm 100% sure that it's going towards something legit.  It's not that I don't trust her, but I just know I can be quite a gullible one. So I instead asked her if she has gotten her ID yet.  She did actually get her birth certificate, so now she is ready to get her state ID.  I'm going to meet up with her sometime this week and we'll go together to get her an ID and hopefully on her way to a job. 




Peanut Butter Cup Treats
- 1 3/4 c flour
- 1/2 c white sugar
- 1/2 c brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 c peanut butter
- 1/2 c flour
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp milk
- Approx 40 frozen mini peanut butter cups

Cream together butter, sugar, peanut butter, and brown sugar until thoroughly mixed.  Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and milk.  Add in the flour, salt, and baking soda- beat until well blended.  Shape into balls and place into mini muffin tins (balls should be a bit smaller than the tin size).  Bake for approximately 7 minutes on 375 degrees.  While they are baking, unwrap the peanut butter cups.  When the treats are done baking, let cool for a minute or two (this will help prevent cracking) and then press one peanut butter cup down into each treat.  Carefully remove from the pan- I've found the best way is to gently pop each one out with a butter knife.