Everybody Eats: Gratitude starts with a chocolate chip scone

I'm not a fan of New Year's resolutions. I'm all for a fresh start, but in my mind, a resolution set to begin on the first day of a new year is restrictive. If there's something we want to change, we should start when the urge is strong, not when a calendar says it's OK.

That being said, I do set a theme every new year. Once I have my theme, I do things throughout the year that fall within the subject. For instance, 2012 was my Year of Adventure. That was the year I went sky diving, white-water rafting, rock climbing and horseback riding in the mountains of Wyoming.

(It was also the year I broke my hand sledding. The emergency room staff appreciated the irony.)

The next year was my Random Acts of Kindness Year. My kids and I made a point of doing one random act of kindness each week. These varied from shoveling the neighbor's sidewalk after a snowstorm to leaving quarters in the candy machines at the mall.

Last year was the Year of Creativity. I spent less time watching television and more time writing. I read books I'd been meaning to get to for years, visited art museums and participated in a drawing challenge.

Someone asked me what 2015 will bring. The answer came after a 60-minute phone call with a customer service representative who talked me through activating my kids' first smartphones: gratitude.

The woman I spoke to was kind, patient and confessed that she called customer service to activate her phone. What started as a frustrating process ended in laughter. I tweeted my thanks to her company; the quick reply made me realize they probably don't get many 'good job” comments this time of year.

It took less than 140 characters to show my gratitude, but I hope it made someone smile a little longer than that. We rarely learn what impact kind words have, but we know how it feels when someone shares them with us, even if it's something as simple as 'Thanks for dinner; it was good.”

The Year of Gratitude begins today with the delivery of chocolate chip scones to my neighbor who watched our house while we were out of town. I have the feeling chocolate chips will play a key role in my acts of appreciation all year. If the grocery store decides to have a sale, I'll be grateful.

CHOCOLATE CHIP SCONES

2 cups Original Bisquick mix

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup whipping cream

3 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

Additional whipping cream

Additional sugar

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray or grease with shortening. Stir Bisquick mix, chocolate chips, 1/3 cup whipping cream, 3 tablespoons sugar, the egg and vanilla in medium bowl until soft dough forms.

Pat into 8-inch circle on baking sheet (if dough is sticky, dip fingers in Bisquick mix). Brush circle with additional whipping cream; sprinkle with additional sugar. Cut into eight wedges, but do not separate.

Bake about 12 minutes or until golden brown; carefully separate. Serve warm.

Source: 'Bisquick to the Rescue: More than 100 Emergency Meals to Save the Day” by Betty Crocker (Betty Crocker; March, 2011)