As I write this, I have just received notification from Alexa that we are now under a tropical storm watch for our area thanks to Milton. Since this is a cooking column, let me just say, “Stick a fork in me, I am done.”

 I know that experts predicted that this was going to be a higher than usual hurricane season, but why did it have to hit all at once? While I’m looking at Milton, I glance over and see Leslie over there still trying to make a name for herself. Hey…don’t make a spectacle of yourself Leslie and join Milton. We’re not in for a perfect storm. No more duos this year. We’ve already had the 1-2 punch (sorry, I didn’t mean for that cooking column pun. It just slipped.) I must admit that when Helene was coming through, it was the worst I have ever heard for winds. I was very thankful that I am a praying person because I don’t think I would have made it through the storm (sanely) without it. The power went out around 1:30 Friday morning and I at once made the call to the power company to let them know. I had not even looked outside. I just knew I was going to be without air conditioning, and they better know it, too. I finally fell asleep around 6:00 and woke up again around 8:00. We were so blessed that we did not have the damage that so many people had around us, neighborhoods, or towns.

However, I didn’t have power. I did have a rechargeable fan, and I read a book. I also had a husband that is seriously ADHD…I mean…poster child ADHD. He could not sit still and could not understand what I found so interesting on my iPad. I had to turn it around to show him I was reading a book. I opened windows trying to find which direction the wind was coming. No power. Then I heard trucks. I would run to the window. I’d give them the evil eye because it would be regular guys in their diesel trucks sounding like the power company. Saturday night I went outside and complained to God. I told Him I just didn’t understand the lesson I was supposed to be learning, that I just may be a slow learner. I looked up into the sky to talk to God more and I heard my DAD’S voice.

My dad showed me so much about stars and constellations when I was little. I heard him say, “Libby, count those stars.

Those are your blessings…too many to count.”

I then saw the Milky Way. It was the first time in a long time that I had seen it so vividly. I dreamed of my dad and my grandmother that night. There were more messages in the dreams. The Milky Way?

That was my grandmother. Milky Way candy bars were one of her favorites. One of her favorite sayings to us in any bad situation was, (always said with a smile and a tilt of her head), “It could be worse!”

Sunday afternoon, I was so over it. I was hot. I was in day 2 with cold showers, but thankful we had water. Then Jimmy came running in like he and his team had won a state basketball championship: “THE POWER TRUCKS ARE HERE!”

Y’all. I’m telling you. I don’t know if he was excited that much for himself getting power or for his wife getting air conditioning. However, he did say that the first thing he was going to do when he got power was to make something good to eat.

As many of you know, I’m originally from North Carolina so when I saw the devastation that occurred there, I was totally heartbroken. I had just been texting my sisters days before about a “girls trip” to Boone or The Biltmore House and those places were hit. Never put off things for too long and don’t think you have control over Mother Nature! I do hope that you will find it in your heart to help those that are in need, whether it’s in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, or North Carolina. There is a lot of love that needs to be spread now! Please take care of yourselves and be prepared. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. We plan for the worse, and pray for the best.

This is a cooking column, you say? You betcha! In memory of my grandmother, here is a recipe for MILKY WAY bars.

Make a batch and take them to your friends, neighbors, or even to some of the linemen. They are my new heroes!

Milky Way Bars

(Ma Ma’s favorite candy bars were Milky Ways, 3 Musketeers, and Snickers.

You can use any of these in this recipe ~ or all three if you’d like!)

2 16 oz. rolls chocolate chip cookie dough

4 large Milky Way Candy Bars, cut into inch Caramel topping, optional Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lay a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of a 9x13 casserole. Cut cookie dough into one inch pieces and arrange on bottom of pan, sides touching. Bake for 15 minutes.

While the cookies are in the oven, cut the candy bars into small pieces. Remove the cookie from the oven after the 15 minutes and lay a piece of candy bar on the cookies.

Using a teaspoon, gently press the candy bar into the cookie.

Drizzle lightly with caramel topping.* Return to oven and bake for an additional 12-15 minutes, until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly.

(*Topping can be added at this time or after final cooking stage. This is great served warm or cold. If served warm, serve with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and don’t skip that caramel drizzle!)