Javascript is required to use this website.

Grandma bakes happiness in every cookie

Phyllis Coulter
Mar 7, 2019
Mar 7, 2019 Updated Mar 14, 2019

Cheryl Durdan with cookies — Cheryl Durdan, of Grand Ridge, Ill., is known for her cookies. She bakes cookies at least three times a week. With more than a dozen grandchildren, plus other family, friends and fundraisers, there’s always a reason and always somebody in the kitchen to taste a fresh-out-of-the-oven cookie.
Photo by Phyllis Coulter

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

GRAND RIDGE, Ill. — When you enter Cheryl Durdan’s home, you will most likely be met with the pleasing aroma of fresh-baked cookies from her cozy kitchen.

kAm“$96 32<6D 2E =62DE 6G6CJ @E96C 52J[” D2JD 96C 9FD32?5[ q@3[ H9@ :D 2 72? @7 96C 4@@<:6D 2?5 A:6D]k^Am

kAm$96 @7E6? >2<6D 4@@<:6D E9C66 E:>6D 2 H66<[ 7@C q@3[ E96:C 7:G6 49:=5C6? 2?5 `c 8C2?549:=5C6?[ 3FE 2=D@ 7@C 49FC49 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 7F?5C2:D6CD @C 7@C 7C:6?5D]k^Am

kAm$96 >2<6D EC25:E:@?2= 72G@C:E6D[ =:<6 49@4@=2E6 49:A[ 2?5 D@>6 5:776C6?E 4@>3:?2E:@?D =:<6 A@E2E@ 49:A 4@@<:6D] w6C C64:A6D 2C6 62DJ E@ 7@==@H]k^Am

kAm“|J A@E2E@ 49:A 4@@<:6 @?=J 92D 7:G6 :?8C65:6?ED[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$96’D >@56DE 23@FE 96C 4@@<:6D 2?5 D2JD D96 5@6D?’E C62==J <?@H H92E >2<6D E96> DA64:2= — >2J36 :E’D 96C DA64:7:4 EJA6 @7 3C@H? DF82C @C G2?:==2 2 7C:6?5 86ED 7@C 96C] }6G6CE96=6DD[ E96D6 4@@<:6D 2C6 2 G2=F23=6 4@>>@5:EJ] p 82==@? ;2C @7 49@4@=2E6 4@@<:6D D@=5 7@C Sc__ 7@C E96 vC2?5 #:586 G@=F?E66C 7:C6 56A2CE>6?E 7F?5C2:D6C]k^Am

People are also reading…

Screwworm spreads into 4 more counties
Cereal rye smothers weeds
Revamped program offers one-year contract for cover crops
Beet stands come through cold, windy spring
Montana Department of Livestock and MSU Extension issue guidance after New World screwworm detected in Texas
What can I do about drought, minerals, and fly control for cattle?
Downpour floods fields in south-central North Dakota as farmers finish planting
What cattle producers need to know about New World screwworm
From the Fields: Sarah Pfaff-Cavadini
Nitrogen prices spawn interest in fertigation
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Manage small acreage pastures before, after drought
Monitor water sources to protect herd health
Lewistown native shares his passion for agriculture
Farmers make replant decisions

kAm$96 :D 4966C7F= 2D D96 32<6D[ H:E9 DF? 4@>:?8 :? E96 H:?5@HD @? 2 3C:89E 3FE 4@=5 H:?E6C 52J] $96 =:?6D E96 4@@<:6 EC2J H:E9 A2C49>6?E A2A6C 367@C6 5C@AA:?8 E96 4@@<:6 5@F89 @? :E]k^Am

kAm“x =:<6 E@ 92G6 E9C66 32<:?8 EC2JD 8@:?8 2E @?46[” D96 D2JD]k^Am

kAm%96 @77:46 7@C 96C 72>:=J’D 6=64EC:42= 3FD:?6DD :D =@42E65 :? E96:C 9@>6[ D@ D96 @7E6? 92D D@>6@?6 4@>6 :?E@ E96 <:E496? 7@C 2 E2DE6 H96? E96 2C@>2D 62D6 E9C@F89 E96 9@FD6] ~? E9:D 52J[ 3@E9 96C 52F89E6C[ r9C:DE:6[ 2?5 D@?[ !2F=[ H9@ H@C< :? E96 3FD:?6DD[ 2AA62C65 7@C 2 BF:4< E2DE6 367@C6 8@:?8 324< E@ H@C<]k^Am

Cheryl's husband, Bob Durdan, loves her cookies, but also says she makes great pies.
Photo by Phyllis Coulter

kAmp3@FE `d J62CD 28@[ q@3 DE@AA65 72C>:?8 E@ 56G@E6 9:D 7F== 2EE6?E:@? E@ sFC52? 2?5 $@? t=64EC:4] w:D 3C@E96C 2?5 EH@ ?6A96HD 72C> E96 =2?5 ?@H[ 2?5 r96CJ= DE:== 92D 2 3:8 82C56? @? E96 CFC2= vC2?5 #:586 72C>]k^Am

kAm%96 4@FA=6 :D 2=D@ <?@H? :? E96 {2$2==6 r@F?EJ 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C 42E6C:?8] q@3 D2:5 96 =62C?65 D@>6 @7 9:D D<:==D 2D 2 4@@< :? E96 pC>J #6D6CG6] %96J C@2DE A:8D :? 2 4@?G6CE65 2?9J5C@FD E2?< 2?5 >2<6 7C:65 49:4<6?] p?5[ @7 4@FCD6[ r96CJ= H:== >2<6 D@>6 4@@<:6D E@ 8@ H:E9 E96 >62=]k^Am

kAm%96J 2C6 2=D@ 3:8 32D632== 72?D 2?5 6G6? 92G6 E96:C @H? 32== 5:2>@?5 — “(C:8=6J u:6=5 (6DE]” %96C6’D 2 C68F=2C 5:2>@?5 7@C E@FC?2>6?ED 2?5 2 %\32== 5:2>@?5] xE 2== DE2CE65 H96? E96J H6C6 7:CDE >2CC:65 da J62CD 28@ 2?5 E96 ?6:893@C9@@5 <:5D H2?E65 2 32D632== 4@249[ q@3 D2JD] $@@? E96J H6C6 5:D4:?8 5@H? 2 7:6=5 E92E 6G6?EF2==J 3642>6 E96 5:2>@?5]k^Am

kAm“%96J ?66565 2 A=246 E@ A=2J 2?5 :E 8C6H 7C@> E96C6[” D2:5 q@3 @7 E96 5:2>@?5 E92E ?@H :?4=F56D 3=62496CD 2?5 2 4@?46DD:@? 3@@E9]k^Am