I can hear!

There's been a lot of opportunity for cookie baking this past month or so.  Because of numerous cabin weekends and a trip down to Indiana, the mixer has been on quite a bit.  This has led to Joey's new trick; he has learned what his ears are for.  I was making batch number 152, when Joey just stood by the counter looking up at the mixer.  He put has fingers in his ears (he likes to point out his body parts now - ears being one of his favorites) and then took his fingers out again.  He repeated that several times and got a big grin on his face; so darn proud of himself.

#151 Toffee Oat Cookies
Since Mike was going to the cabin for Poker weekend with the guys which is a little silly because all they do is play bridge and they were up there Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, so not even on the weekend.  Anyways, and he was going to be fed by my Uncle and Dad, I figured sending a batch of cookies was the least I could do.  Plus, I kind of neglected Father's Day, so this counted for that too.  
I'm not sure why I felt obligated, it really should be Mike who should feel he should do something, but it seems like guys aren't like that.  Just like he always says I can just buy something to bring to a potluck - I feel that's a cop-out - I really should make something to bring.

Anyways, I sent this batch up.  I heard the guys at the cabin almost called to have my bring some more up since this batch was gone by the first night.

#152 Peanut Cookies
I tried a new system.  I'm too picky when going through to decide which cookie I should make.  I told Mike to pick a page number - and then I'd pick a recipe from that page.  His page number was 139 - which of course was a recipe from the shaped sensations chapter (usually a bit more work).  So we ended up with a peanut butter cookie shaped to look like a peanut.  I'd put a picture up, but I forgot to take one.
The system worked well though.  We went to the cabin with all the nieces and nephews and such - the 7 dozen batch was gone by the third day.

#153 Raspberry Walnut Shortbread
We tried the system again (but this time, limited page numbers so that I'd bake a bar), however the recipe we picked from page 240, called for frozen or fresh cranberries.  I could not find cranberries anywhere - sure, they're not in season, but you'd think I'd be able to find them in the freezer section.  I overruled Mike's selection and ended up with something I had all the ingredients for in house - I'm glad I made this one at the cabin - I got rid of a recipe that I only ranked as a 1 smiley face.  Too dry of a crust; though I've never been a shortbread fan.

#154 Chocolate Topped Peanut Butter Spritz and #155 Toffee Crunch Grahams
Another trip down to Indiana to see the in-laws - fourth of July weekend - plus a family reunion in Ohio.  The weekend was full of burgers (really full of burgers, I'm fine not seeing another burger or hot dog all summer), games, family and sitting around doing not much of anything.  However, Mike and I got a little criticized for being too hard on our rating system.  Mike's cousin Amber specifically, thinks that family should get to overrule some of our ratings.  Mike and I only rated the toffee crunch grahams a 3.5 and a 4 - the cousins and Uncles are outraged - it should absolutely be a 5 - according to them.  I kept pointing out however, they have not tried all the different recipes, therefore what they think might be a five, once they taste some others, they might rate lower.  We did concoct an idea about the March Madness style cookie contest (when I finish the whole project) - the bracket will have categories (like March Madness has the West, and East or whatever they have) - we'll have the non-chocolate category, chocolate, and maybe two more.  That way we can determine the best cookie in each category and then come up with the best one overall.

BTW, the toffee crunch grahams - by far - the easiest batch I have made.  Just brown sugar and butter melted together and poured over graham crackers with almonds sprinkled on top.  However, the MIL wanted to again change the recipe and sprinkle pecans over it.  I thought chocolate chips sprinkled on top would also be excellent.  The peanut butter spritz - oh so good the first day or two, after sitting out in heat and humidity - oh so not good.  I must be craving peanut butter or something, if you notice - two peanut butter cookies in this batch, one in peanut form, the other pressed out of the cookie press (with chocolate drizzled on top - told you it was good).

Look for another post in about a week - should have two or three more batches done what with another cabin weekend and potluck coming up.  Speaking about potlucks - quick poll - are they called potlucks - or carry-ins.  Whose even heard of carry-ins?  Comments?