Things Are Working Out | Lemon Coconut Cookies

Hello friends. My mind is full and cluttered today, so rather than fill your screens with my typical mutterings, I thought I would share a passage from a book I’ve been enjoying lately. If you’ve never heard of Melody Beattie’s Journey to the Heart, you should check it out. Journey to the Heart is a book of daily meditations – lovely and inspirational words to guide you on the path towards spiritual growth. If you just rolled your eyes, and spiritual growth isn’t your thang, keep scrolling for a wicked recipe. If you’re intrigued, keep on reading.

Many of my yoga instructors routinely read passages from this book, and during one particular class I connected so strongly to the passage that was shared that I approached the instructor afterwards to ask her what she was reading from. I picked up a copy of the book not long after that, and I’ve been slowly working my way through it. If you like what you hear, you might wish to get your hands on a copy too.

Things Are Working Out (Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul, HarperCollins, 1996, p. 255-256):

Right now, this moment, things are working out. We natter away, trying to control, shape, and form. Trying to figure things out. We back off, then come closer. We worry and wonder. But things are working out. Things are working out as beautifully and Divinely as possible. The dance of life is taking place in sync with the rhythm of the universe.

Everything is working out, moving forward, evolving. There is a rhythm, an energy, a life force that continues, that shapes, that grows. You do not have to fight, resist, control, or even understand it. All you need to do is be – be present for your life, your love, yourself.

Your soul will lead you on. Your inner voice, your heart, is leading you on. Quiet your mind and trust that where you are and where you’re being led is perfect.

You don’t have to try to get it all together. You don’t have to strive to “have it all.” You already do have all that you need.

How many times have you been through an experience, fretting and fearful about the shape things were taking, only later to exclaim, Oh, I see now. Things were working out all along! Learn to say and believe that now.

Let your mind see what your soul already knows: things are working out perfectly. 

Sometimes it’s easy to worry and over think where we are at in our lives – are we doing enough? Are we doing too little? Relax. Breathe. Everything is working out, let’s enjoy the journey.

Be present. 

And now, a delicious, sweet, tart, chewy cookie for you to enjoy on this spectacular, overwhelming, complicated journey that is life. Lemon and coconut lovers, this one’s for you. As well as those who are curious about what would happen if a macaroon and lemon cookie had a lovechild.

Lemon Coconut Cookies (from Hershey’s Kitchens)

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

Zest from 2 lemons (about 2 tsp.)

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup shredded coconut

Powdered sugar, for rolling

Preheat your oven to 300°F. Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the eggs and lemon zest, and beat until well mixed. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in the coconut. Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least an hour (or overnight), until the dough is firm enough to handle.

Roll the dough into 1.5-inch balls, roll in the powdered sugar, and place two inches apart on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 16-18 minutes until the edges are set. Move the cookies to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

The last two photos in this post were taken with Instagram, an iPhone app. If you are an IG user and want to follow my daily foodie (etc.) life, you can find me at @onceuponarecipe. 
Now go make these cookies!

Comments

  1. They certainly look totally wicked :D. I do love it when things work out 😀

  2. Great post, I love those words. I think I will get that book…….oh AND bake those cookies, they look delish 🙂

  3. Those words are so very true……start by being content with where you are, accept, and life as it is supposed to be, will follow

  4. I love lemon desserts so these sound wonderful to me! Love the photos too 🙂

  5. I have a total weakness for lemon cookies and lemon bars… thanks for sharing! 🙂

  6. Love the messsage and those lemon cookies look insanely delicious!

  7. Thanks for sharing 🙂 🙂

  8. Hello wonderful – SO I actually read this post days ago but didnt have time to comment.. and whats more I actually found this post super profound (bet you never heard those words tomorrow) and actually had a long convo with my mum about the message. I love it!! I also looooooooove lemon desserts. I just made some lemon poppyseed muffins (for um myself) for my bday. Have a great weekeend lovey! xoxo

    • Thanks love! Sounds like you and your mom had a great discussion. Next time, invite me over and I’ll bring over a batch of these cookies. 😉 I could talk about this stuff all day. Trust in the universe! Oh, and I suggest that you make yourself a belated birthday gift and whip up a batch of these. As a lemon lover you will not be disappointed. I still need to try your latest cookie recipe! Have a fabulous weekend!

  9. Gorgeous passage and gorgeous hair! I love the cut, lady! xx

  10. I’m craving everything lemon lately, and these cookies will have to go on my lemon list. Yum!

  11. Reblogged this on Hendribs2000's Blog.

  12. Finally have picked up the things I needed and going to try to bake these cookies today. I’ve been thinking about them all week since seeing them on your blog. I love a nice chewy cookie and this is something different than my usual chocolate or spice cookie.

  13. Oh my goodness! I must try making these and write a post about them!

  14. light and fluffy with lemon could be my next favorite combo. These look amazing.

    Stay in the Lines

  15. Wonderful post, just on time! Now I have to buy the book and make the cookies. Glad I found your blog (via A Sweet Spoonful), it´s amazing.

  16. These cookies are a work of ART Amanda 🙂 Forgive my baking ignorance but what exactly is lemon “zest”??

    • No prob Z, lemon zest is the rind or peel of the lemon. It is easy to get at with the small side of a grater, or my favorite tool, a microplane zester. Whatever you do, don’t leave the zest out of these cookies – they really amp up the lemon flavor!

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