But first:
#57 Mock Apple Pie Bars 11/9/12
My sister got married - all four of us Larson kids are now married. Good news for Dad - no more weddings to throw. The gift opening party was held the day after and my Mom did all the baking and cooking for it (she bakes when she's nervous) except that she did ask me to contribute (you know the worry every good Swedish woman gets - that there won't be enough food). Even the morning after the wedding I almost made another batch of bars to bring just in case.
These are mock apple pie bars because though they taste just like apple pie, they're actually made with zucchini. I of course didn't tell anyone that until they already loved the bar. Mike even rated it four out of five, but once he found out it was made with zucchini, he didn't eat anymore, what's up with that?
#58 Butter Pecan Cookies 11/9/12
Though it was the wedding weekend, this was also mother-in-law's birthday weekend. Awhile back Mike saw this recipe in the book and reserved it for his mom, because he remembers that she used to buy butter pecan ice cream when he was little. Unfortunately, after making this batch is when I started to come to the realization that my oven is bad. Though I set the oven for the temperature called for, and I baked the cookies for less time than was called for, they were still burnt on the bottom. Fortunately my mother-in-law is a person who realizes it's the thought that counts. I did send them even though they were black on the bottom (though Mike thought I should throw them out). Sorry Patsy - Happy Birthday.
During the week I began to test my oven with an oven thermometer. It seems that the oven is always 25 degrees more than what it is set at. That I can deal with, but just as I have it figured out... I set the oven dial at 350 to bake my dinner at 375. My dinner got burned : ( The oven thermometer read 400, what!!?
#59 Cream Cheese Brownies 11/16/12
Old lady game night! I baked these brownies to accompany the cookies that I deem as truly old lady cookies. Old lady cookies are small cookies that are of course rather plain - wouldn't want to disturb the old digestive track. My goal with the brownies was to go for the wow factor - because though the old lady cookies look impressive, they are indeed old lady cookies. The brownies though good, did not get a wow. They're made with of course cream cheese, but there's hot chocolate mix in them as well.
I managed to get my oven to cook at 350 for these brownies. The 375 for the following cookies though proved challenging. I nudged the oven dial ever so slightly earlier (before the brownies) to experiment and the temp went from 350 to 375 - perfect - I can handle this. However, after the brownies baked, I nudged it again and it stayed at 350. Nudged it a little more - still 350. Turned it just a bit more and it jumped to 400. Time for a new oven.
#60 Raspberry Treasures 11/16/12
This cookie is why I've done a bad bad thing. I was at the grocery store this morning (I refuse to name the store as I don't want them to come and prosecute me) picking up my baking supplies, Thanksgiving supplies, etc. I also picked up a circle cookie cutter as needed for this recipe. I checked out, paid and began to bag my groceries, that's when I saw it. My metal - same material and color as the grocery cart - cookie cutter was still in the cart. I looked up, the clerk was already ringing up the next person in line and there were two more people behind that person. Keep in mind I was exhausted - the type of exhausted that only someone who has been pregnant understands (26 weeks now) - I did not have the energy to go back in line to pay for a .65 cookie cutter; I stuck it in my bag and walked out. I felt bad, I feel guilty, did I even out my karma by putting a dollar into the bell ringer's red kettle, I hope so. But alas, it is done.
After these cookies, I think I know how fortune cookies are made. These cookies were labor intensive. I made the dough, refrigerated it, rolled it out, cookie cut it, filled it with raspberry pastry filling, folded it into triads and pinched the three parts together, brushed it with an egg/water mixture and then baked it in my non-functioning 50+ year old oven. I think the only difference between this and the fortune cookie, replace the raspberry filling with paper and instead of triads - fold it in half and pinch the center together.
Normally I would be excited to do another project and get a new oven out of the deal, but in the last two months I have moved, replaced all the light fixtures, painted all the rooms, found a place for everything in the house, oh and have been growing a human - I'm exhausted. This oven project is not as simple as replacing an old oven for a new oven either. The oven I have is the 1960's small oven kind that is built into the cabinetry with the range on the countertop beside it. Getting a new oven means tearing out that whole area and losing cabinetry - I cannot fathom a new kitchen design at the moment. On the bright side, my new brother in law will be losing his house in the next few weeks and apparently will have a high end stove, dishwasher and refrigerator to "get rid of". I think I could store that for him : )
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