Cookies and sunscreen

A couple of you asked for the recipe to my LOST cookies. Here it is. It's from the Hershey's cookbook.

Secret Kisses Cookies

1. Beat 2 sticks softened butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/2 cup sugar until fluffy. Add 1 3/4 cup flour and 1 cup finely chopped walnuts. Beat until well blended. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

2. Remove chocolate kisses from wrappers. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Using 1 tablespoon of dough, roll one kiss into a ball. Cover the chocolate completely.

3. Bake 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set but not browned. Cool slightly on sheet then place on wire rack. While cookies are still slightly warm, roll in powdered sugar.

The recipe said this makes 3 dozen cookies, although I only ended up with about 2 dozen. Store in covered container.

The other topic of the day is sunscreen. You may have already heard the dire warnings about some sunscreens having an ingredient (retinol palimitate) that is linked to cancer. The good news is that while most sunscreens have this ingredient, it is relatively easy to find some that don't. The brand we have been using this year does not and we didn't even pay attention to this when we bought it.

The bad news? An even more common sunscreen ingredient is a chemical that mimics estrogen. Oxybenzone is one of the most common ingredients in sunscreen and has been linked to lowered sperm counts and endo (not to mention various forms of cancer and reduced birth weight). The Environmental Working Group has a list of sunscreens you can use, although the best guidance is to use hats, lightweight clothing, and shade to protect yourself from the sun.