Dilemmas

I really feel like I need to make the best cookies when I'm making them for other people, but then again, if I'm giving them away, don't I want to give away the ones that my kids, husband and I won't like as much.

#262 Chocolate Maple Cookies
  My husband gave this batch 4 smiley faces (out of 5), but I didn't think they were as good - much too soft.  It honestly felt like a pancake to me.  I gave these away to my co-worker who won cookies for a year (from me at our silent auction) - so I really feel like I should give him great ones, but I think I fell short this month.

However, I tend to be my own worst critic as well.

#263 Orange Crispy Cookies
This batch I don't feel guilty about giving away.  It was a so-so cookie that I brought to a playgroup.  Kids love all cookies; they're not harsh judges.

A short cut creation that used cake mix, orange peel, orange extract and rice cereal.

When my youngest kiddo asked for a go-go - even the adults thought that sounded excellent.  Go-go means cookie in our household (as the 18 month old has deemed them).

#264 Pecan Pie Bars
Ohhh, this is a good one - and I didn't feel guilty about giving them away as they are full of pecans and I can't digest nuts so well.  However, my husband was a bit sad to see them go.  I gave them away at my teacher meeting.  As Mike felt - I wouldn't be able to bring any back because teachers eat everything and annihilate it.  He's not wrong.  I did manage to save him his own dozen bars.

(you can cut this recipe in half - this amount makes the two pans that I had)  Also, this recipe calls for 2 -  15 X 10in pans.  However, I found that the crust is rather thick and my filling was too much for that.  I would do an 11 X 17 pan and a 15 X 10 in. pan.

6 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

2 cups cold butter, cubed

Filling

8 eggs

3 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

3 tsps vanilla

5 cups chopped pecans

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Press onto the bottom and up the sides of two greased 15 in. X 10 in. X 1 in. baking pans.  Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes or until crust edges are beginning to brown and bottom is set.

For filling, combine the eggs, sugar, corn syrup, butter and vanilla in a large bowl.  Stir in pecans.  Pour over crust.

Bake 25-30 minutes longer or until edges are firm and center is almost set.  Cool on wire racks.  Cut into bars.  Refrigerate until serving.  

#265 Cinnamon Almond Crescents
Another one that I thought might be only so so (or one that the older generation really would like), but alas, another one that is pretty good.  These are being brought to the crafty women retreat where most of the crowd is in their 60's plus.

1 cup butter, softened                                   Topping:
1/3 cup sugar                                                 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla                                                 1/2 cup ground cinnamon
1-2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup finely ground blanched almonds

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine the flour and almonds; gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Roll into 1 inch balls; shape into crescents.  Place 2 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until set (do not brown).  Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.  Roll the warm cookies in cinnamon-sugar; cool on wire racks.  

disconnected

I've been a bit disconnected lately - figuratively and literally.  We came home from Labor Day weekend to find we had no internet.  After CenturyLink finally was able to come out (15 days later) - they realized they had cut our outside wire thinking it wasn't being used and hooked up a new customer.  It only took them another 3 days to fix that.  And I'm one of the few people in this world that does not have a smartphone - yep, I still got me a flip phone.  So no instagram or facebook or social media for me.  Hence, I have no pictures of these cookies.
Furthermore, I have now been working full time for a month; it blows.  So finding time to make cookies is a challenge.  So I repeat, disconnected in all realms of life.

#257 Chocolate Oatmeal stars
Still baking cookies for my co-worker who won cookies for a year at the school's silent auction this spring.  This month's cookie: Chocolate oatmeal stars, except I didn't have a star shaped cookie cutter  so he got Chocolate Oatmeal Mickeys.  I thought they'd be great, but in reality, kind of hard and crunchy. Sorry David.  Next month's will be better, I promise - however my Mike (husband) is getting a bit exasperated that I keep giving away all the five smiley face cookies.

#258 Chocolate Pinwheels
I found a way to win over my students for the entire year - bake them cookies.  We have a strict no food policy at my school, unless it is somehow related to the curriculum.  Well.... - we're doing getting to know you activities and "Who I am" activities.  So, acrostic name poems (where you use the letters of your name to tell about who you are).  I teach 2nd grade ELL and 2nd graders need a lot of modeling and practice - so COOKIE acrostic poem as a group.  What did we get:
C- chocolatey crunchy cookie
O - oh so good
O - oval shaped
K - kitchen made
I - I love it, I like it, I gotta have it
E - everyone wants more.

#259 Cereal Cookie Bars
Thank god - 3 day weekend.  That's all I have to say about that.  The bar - so-so - like a fancy rice krispie bar.

#260 Honey Maple Cookies
So these sound great -and I've been waiting for the fall season to make them - but they're not as amazing as I thought they would be.  They flattened out too much and are very soft - with the maple syrup already in it along with honey - it tastes like a chocolate chip pancake with the syrup baked in.

#261 Peanut Butter Chippers
It's been a bit of a rough start as far as the school year goes - not the students - they're great.  As you read from batch 258, I already one those kiddos over.  No, our enrollment is down this year and the district came in and informed us that they were cutting 1 EL teacher from our school and moving them to a high school in the city (on the opposite side of the city and a school that growing up - was my rival).  Unfortunately, the way our district works - the person with the lowest seniority gets moved, which is me - by about a week - unless of course someone volunteers to be transferred.  Over the course of 12 days from when we were first informed, to the following week where the district was considering just cutting .5 (which would mean I would go back to 1/2 time - yay), to the district deciding nope, they're transferring 1, to each EL staff member getting to decide if they want to take the position; it's finally over.  One of my co-workers decided to take the position.  It was 12 days of torture for me, but I'm so thankful that I get to stay where I am.  So I made these 5 smiley face batch of cookies for her.  Here's the amazing recipe - Thanks Pat Doerflinger from Missouri for submitting the recipe to this cookbook.

6 tbs butter, softened
1/4 cup peanut butter    -- do not use generic or reduced -fat - seriously - it's a cookie - do it right
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk chocolate chips

In a small bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 11-14 minutes until golden brown.  Remove to wire racks.

Friends

3 of the 4 batches in this blog were all made for friends.  And the same 3 out of 4 batches received 5 out of 5 smiley faces.  Conclusion - I'm a good friend to have.

#253 Peanut Butter Blondies
I seem to have a theme with the latest batches of cookies -chocolate with a hint of peanut butter.  There's nothing better.  This blondie type brownie with chocolate frosting and peanut butter chips were a hit with my son and mom.  Me - it was a surprising texture - soft blond brownie.

#254 Frosted Cocoa Cookies
So question - you have a "new friend" over to the house for a playdate - and your kid kind of acts like a brat - what do you do.  My 3 year old did not want to share with the 1 year olds and when we got them distracted with a toy - then the 3 year old had to play with that toy.  Well, at least the cookies were a hit.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this cookie as there was no picture - they were chocolatey goodness - like a brownie - but a cookie.   A hint if you're going to make them - they're actually better on days 2-4.

1 cup shortening                                                  Frosting:
2 cups sugar                                                             3 cup powdered sugar
4 eggs                                                                       1/3 cup baking cocoa
2 tsp vanilla                                                             1/3 cup butter, softened
3 1/2 cup flour                                                        1/4 tsp almond extract
1 cup baking cocoa                                                  3-4 Tbs milk
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time and beat well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.  Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Roll into 1 1/2 in. balls.  Place 2 in apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 13-16 minutes or until set.  Remove to wire racks to cool completely.  

For frosting, in a large bowl, combine the powdered sugar, cocoa, butter and extract. Add enough milk to achieve spreading consistency.  Frost cooled cookies.

#255 Chocolate covered cherry brownies
In my husband's words - it seems like a good brownie with a bunch of junk on it. If you don't like "junk" on your brownies - I guess move on from this recipe.  But if you do like "junk" especially in the form of marshmallows, maraschino cherries and chocolate - then this brownie is for you.
And they were a hit at girls' cabin weekend - where a bunch of 30 something women made a fool of themselves having our own version of the Olympics.


Anyways - you came here for the recipe - so:

2 cups sugar                                                               1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter, melted                                                   2 cups mini marshmallows
4 eggs                                                      1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries, chopped and well drained 
1 cup flour                                                                    1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup baking cocoa                                                       1 to 2 Tbs heavy whipping cream
2 tsp baking powder

In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs.  Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. 

 Pour into a greased 13x9 pan.  Bake at 350 for 28 minutes (do double check with a toothpick inserted in middle and comes out clean).  Sprinkle with marshmallows.  Bake 1-2 minutes longer or until they are soft but not browned.  Sprinkle with cherries.  Cool on a wire rack.

In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and cream; stir until smooth.  Drizzle over brownies.  Let stand until chocolate is set.  

#256 Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
So Ms. Parker -my former 3rd, 5th and 6th grade teacher; the teacher I did some student teaching with, and a teacher that is now a colleague of mine and I team teach with - came over today - so it's no wonder that she considers me somewhat of a daughter and my kids her grandkids.  Before she came - Joey and I whipped up this "shortcut creation".

1 pkg devil's food cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil
1 pkg (10 oz) peanut butter chips

In a large bowl, beat the dry cake mix, eggs and oil.  Stir in chips.

Roll into 1 inch balls.  Place on lightly greased baking sheets; flatten slightly.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Cool for 2 minutes on wire rack before removing to wire racks.

I really didn't mean to crash the jet ski

Okay, so I've been bad again.  I've made 3 more batches of cookies and I didn't take pictures of any of them; therefore, didn't post them on instagram and don't have pictures of them here to post.  However, I'll make up for it with the recipe for batch #252 - one of the best I've made in a while.

#250 Cherry Pecan Dreams
For our annual neighborhood block party I made these cherry, pecan and vanilla chip filled cookie.  I took a lesson I learned from an earlier batch.  Use craisins for dried cherries, you won't end up with a mushy cookie.


#251 Chunky drop cookies
4th of July weekend
 This weekend was filled with accidents.  My mom stepped backwards on a step and fell back and hit her face/head/leg on a brick retaining wall. She says it's just fortunate that she has a hard head.
I was helping my dad get the jet ski in the water (my mom had her accident while helping my dad as well - draw your own conclusions).  The first try, it wouldn't start.  We put it back in the garage, put in a different battery and got it started in the garage.  We brought it to the water got it in, and it wouldn't start.  Later that afternoon with a brand new battery, we brought it back to the water.  My 3 year old son came along for a ride.  We got to the water.  I got on the jet ski with my 3 year old.  My dad had to unhook the trailer since the water was a bit low, and he wheeled us all the way into the water and unhooked the jet ski.  I checked that the jet ski was in neutral and I gave it a little gas while I started it since this was our 3rd try of the day.  It worked.  It went flying forward (keep in mind we were pointing towards land since we just got off the boat launch) and we hit the rocks by the boat launch.  We went over the rocks and so far up the land that we went past the car.  I kept my son on the jet ski, but then I fell off and banged my head.  I got up and helped my son who was bleeding profusely from his nose.  This all doesn't sound good, but it might just be the best thing that happened.  I've been experiencing chronic neck pain for the last three months.  I've done everything to fix it: massage, chiropractor, yoga, cortisone shots.  I definitely sprained my neck from the fall, but after two days of a sprained neck; I've had no pain.
What about my son though.  He's traumatized, right?  Nope.  He's told everyone how we flew over rocks.  And the nose bleed - seems to have cured his chronic congestion that he's had for months (I'm talking constant runny nose with the thick mucousy boogies.  He's actually scheduled to have his tonsils and adenoids out.  We might look into cancelling that surgery.
And the jet ski.  - Fine.
As my brother so bluntly put it to me later "Well that was stupid.  You should've known that neutral doesn't work".



#252 Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
This is one of those cookies I've been waiting to bake because it looked so good and I wanted my kids to be able to appreciate them.  It was worth the wait.  A peanut butter cup cookie with reese's peanut butter cups and chocolate chips.  The lucky recipients: Mike's family reunion on our trip to Indiana.  All 7 dozen of these cookies were gone in just a couple of hours.

Recipe:
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup peanut butter - no generic brands
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 - 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped peanut butter cups (about six 1.6 oz packages) 

In a large bowl, cream butter, peanut butter and sugars.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture.  Stir in the chocolate chips and peanut butter cups.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.   

Our trip in Indiana

I really didn't mean to crash the jet ski

Okay, so I've been bad again.  I've made 3 more batches of cookies and I didn't take pictures of any of them; therefore, didn't post them on instagram and don't have pictures of them here to post.  However, I'll make up for it with the recipe for batch #252 - one of the best I've made in a while.

#250 Cherry Pecan Dreams
For our annual neighborhood block party I made these cherry, pecan and vanilla chip filled cookie.  I took a lesson I learned from an earlier batch.  Use craisins for dried cherries, you won't end up with a mushy cookie.


#251 Chunky drop cookies
4th of July weekend
 This weekend was filled with accidents.  My mom stepped backwards on a step and fell back and hit her face/head/leg on a brick retaining wall. She says it's just fortunate that she has a hard head.
I was helping my dad get the jet ski in the water (my mom had her accident while helping my dad as well - draw your own conclusions).  The first try, it wouldn't start.  We put it back in the garage, put in a different battery and got it started in the garage.  We brought it to the water got it in, and it wouldn't start.  Later that afternoon with a brand new battery, we brought it back to the water.  My 3 year old son came along for a ride.  We got to the water.  I got on the jet ski with my 3 year old.  My dad had to unhook the trailer since the water was a bit low, and he wheeled us all the way into the water and unhooked the jet ski.  I checked that the jet ski was in neutral and I gave it a little gas while I started it since this was our 3rd try of the day.  It worked.  It went flying forward (keep in mind we were pointing towards land since we just got off the boat launch) and we hit the rocks by the boat launch.  We went over the rocks and so far up the land that we went past the car.  I kept my son on the jet ski, but then I fell off and banged my head.  I got up and helped my son who was bleeding profusely from his nose.  This all doesn't sound good, but it might just be the best thing that happened.  I've been experiencing chronic neck pain for the last three months.  I've done everything to fix it: massage, chiropractor, yoga, cortisone shots.  I definitely sprained my neck from the fall, but after two days of a sprained neck; I've had no pain.
What about my son though.  He's traumatized, right?  Nope.  He's told everyone how we flew over rocks.  And the nose bleed - seems to have cured his chronic congestion that he's had for months (I'm talking constant runny nose with the thick mucousy boogies.  He's actually scheduled to have his tonsils and adenoids out.  We might look into cancelling that surgery.
And the jet ski.  - Fine.
As my brother so bluntly put it to me later "Well that was stupid.  You should've known that neutral doesn't work".



#252 Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
This is one of those cookies I've been waiting to bake because it looked so good and I wanted my kids to be able to appreciate them.  It was worth the wait.  A peanut butter cup cookie with reese's peanut butter cups and chocolate chips.  The lucky recipients: Mike's family reunion on our trip to Indiana.  All 7 dozen of these cookies were gone in just a couple of hours.

Recipe:
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup peanut butter - no generic brands
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 - 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped peanut butter cups (about six 1.6 oz packages) 

In a large bowl, cream butter, peanut butter and sugars.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture.  Stir in the chocolate chips and peanut butter cups.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.   

Our trip in Indiana

Summer's here!

We've been busy here making cookies.  Three more batches in the last 5 days.

#247 Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza
#248 No-fuss Strawberry Bars

I've been waiting to make #247 one for a while - and with a playdate scheduled for the kids - it was a perfect time (bottom left corner)

However, then I invited some more friends over and was worried I wouldn't have enough cookies, so I baked the strawberry bars (top right corner) - but then they ended up not coming.  So now I have the leftovers.  Mike doesn't mind - he loves the cookie pizza.  Unfortunately the cookie pizza doesn't work too well for me.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's about 3 months ago; but the good news is - Cookies are a good snack for people with Crohns.  It must be true because I read it on one of the sites I pinned on Pinterest about Crohn's.  But this particular cookie - with its pudding top - causes me problems. But the strawberry bars are just fine for me.  I like the crunchiness that the corn flakes in the crust provide.  

Mike is okay with that though - more pudding cookie for him.

Super easy to make:

1 tube choc. chip cookie dough (18 oz)

1 pkg cream cheese, softened (8 oz)

1/3 cup sugar

2 cups cold half and half

1 pkg (3.9 oz) instant choc. pudding mix

1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Press cookie dough onto an ungreased 12 in. pizza pan.  Bake at 350 for 13-16 minutes or until center is set and cookie is lightly browned.  Cool in pan for 5 minutes; gently run a flexible metal spatula under the crust to loosen.  Cool completely.

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until blended.  Spread over crust.  In a large bowl, whisk cream and pudding mix for 2 minutes.  Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set.  Spread over cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with nuts.  Refrigerate until serving.

#249 Chocolate Chip Icebox Cookies

These were for Grandpa Franz for Father's Day.  Jessie's 1st attempt at helping bake.  It did not work well.  Joey did a good job of sharing duties, but Jessie had trouble getting the ingredients in the bowl and was quite upset if I just gave her an empty measuring cup to hold.  She lasted about 4 minutes until switched to the high chair with a snack. 

Too damn nice

#246 Chocolate Meringues

So since that last batch was going to the silent auction winner who won cookies for a year from me (and a co-worker), I felt really bad that they kind of fall apart in your hand.  They still taste good, just crumbly.  Then I forgot to bring them in on Monday so then they were going to be a day old.  So on Monday night, the night before the last day of school, at 9:00 I decided to make a supplemental batch for the silent auction winner.  Hence the chocolate meringues - soooo good.

Recipe

2 egg whites

1/2 tsp white vinegar

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup flaked coconut

1/4 cup chopped almonds

In a large bowl, beat the egg whites, vinegar, cream of tartar and salt until soft peaks form.  Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.  Beat in the vanilla.

Meanwhile, in a microwave, melt chocolate chips and stir until smooth.  Fold into eg white mixture; fold in coconut and almonds.

Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto lightly greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 10-11 minutes or until firm.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  Store in an airtight container.

Damn Cranberries

So whenever a recipe asks for cranberries, I'm not exactly sure what it's calling for.  In today's recipe, it called for 1 cup of dried cranberries.  How do I dry out cranberries?  So I used the little frozen cranberry balls I had in the freezer.  Apparently those are not dried cranberries.  I learned today from my cousin - craisins - that's what I should use.  These cookies spread a bit too thin and have a tendency to fall apart as I pick it up.  However - still very tasty.

And on the other hand - the fresh rhubarb from my garden was excellent.

#245 Rhubarb Cranberry Cookies

Instagram Update

So the instragramming of cookies is going mostly well and it's a lot easier.  I realized however, that Instagram is social media, and I wouldn't be able to go back years later and look at the picture or situation surrounding a batch.  So I think what I'll do is continue to instagram - but post the pic on here with a short caption maybe.  Also, if it's really good - I'll post the recipe.

#240 Fancy Sugar Cookie Bars

When life gives you lemons - you make lemonade.  When a recipe calls for almond paste and you accidentally buy almond filling - you find another recipe that uses the other ingredients you bought (like refrigerated cookie dough).

Recipe:
1 tube (16 1/2 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup coconut
1/4 cup pecans

Let dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften.  Press into an ungreased 13 in. x 9 in. baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Sprinkle with chocolate chips, coconut and pecans.  Bake 10-12 minutes longer or until golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack. 

#241 and #242 Crisp Lemon Sugar Cookie and Cherry Shortbread Bar

Happy Mother's Day Weekend to all.
The Cherry Shortbread bars looked a lot better than they actually were.

#243 Crispy Oat Cookies

Gotta keep the assistant cooks happy so that I can actually do some baking.

Recipe:
1 cup butter softened                                            1 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup canola oil                                                   1 tsp salt
1-1/3 cups sugar, divided                                      1 cup crisp rice cereal
1 egg                                                                  1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 tsp vanilla                                                        1 cup flaked coconut
3-1/2 cups flour                                                  1 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp baking soda

In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil and 1 cup sugar.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; gradually add to the butter mixture.  Stir in the cereal, oats, coconut and nuts.

Roll dough into 1 in. balls; roll in some of the remaining sugar.  Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Flatten with a glass dipped in remaining sugar.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  

#244 Springtime Strawberry Bars
The problem with the Instragram method of keeping track of my cookies - sometimes I forget to take pictures - like this weekend.
These strawberry bars for Memorial Weekend at the cabin got overlooked.  We were too busy having fun riding horses and falling into the lake (Joey's first time).

So picture a baked bottom (made from butter, sugar, eggs, lemon peel, flour and almonds) bar with strawberry jelly spread on top.  Then a little more of that crust crumbled on top - you get this bar.  Only so so - needed a little glazing or something.  

Last Blog Post?

So it's no secret that I've been trying to find a different way to document this cookie experience.  I think to be a successful blogger, I really have to be passionate about sharing what I've been doing, and I'm just not.  And I'm a passionate person - but I dread these blog posts.  To be successful, I have to spend more time planning the writing, drafting the writing, reworking the writing - at least that's what I tell my students writers do - and I just ain't got that kind of time.  Let's face it - just while trying to write this post: I've been interupted no fewer than 5 times, once to ease hurt fingers, once to discuss why we cannot push legos down on said fingers, once to give a snack, once to sell a couch, and once to wipe a butt.

But until now, I've been struggling with how to document the progress.

So drum roll .....................

Instagram!

I'm gonna try it - take photos of us baking the cookies or eating the cookies or whatever the cookies.  Problem is - I don't get a cameraphone until this summer and ipads don't take great photos.  So I'll have to experiment with the photography aspect of this - but look out for that.  Follow me on instagram as: coachmandy01

But no fears - I will link back to this site if I ever get motivated enough to type out recipes.

So:

#238 Graham Cracker Cookies
So you know how when you're trying to advertise for the school carnival and no one has time to help you put out the 15 foot banner out on our busy corner?  And you know how when you do it by yourself and it looks great - until you look at it in the afternoon and gravity has kind of crumpled it.  And then the next day you go out by yourself again and attempt to fight the wind and the rain in order to make the banner tighter, but then it just looks worse.  And then, you're awake at night trying to figure out what to do.  You don't, well, that was my week.  And the engineers came to my rescue - they went out and fixed it and made it look great.  So much so that they deserved cookies.

So great idea - I had marshmallow creme leftover from the last cookie/bar I made and wanted to use it up - so I specifically looked for a recipe that involved marshmallow - so graham cracker cookies.  You know what's not a good idea - boiling the sugar, butter, and milk in a pot with spaghetti noodles boiling behind it.  I had a handful of noodles to put in the 2nd pot and one fell into the boiling cookie mixture - I spooned it out and then grabbed it with my fingers as it was falling back in.  Yeah, that's hot.  I didn't bother trying to get the 2nd noodle out of the mixture.


#239 Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookie
Doesn't the name of that cookie make you want to spend a good amount of money on cookies?
Let me say more.  Remember the carnival?  At the carnival, we had a silent auction.  I, along with a co-worker of mine, donated "cookies for a year" (1 batch a month).  I figured I needed to make a really tempting looking batch to get the bids up.  $35 - cookies for a year for $35 - what do you think?  Good deal?

So here's the recipe.  They're amazing:

4 squares (1 oz each) unsweetened chocolate                     1/2 cup baking cocoa
3/4 cup butter, cubed                                                       2 tsp baking powder
4 eggs                                                                           1/2 tsp salt
2 cups sugar                                                                  2 cups chocolate chips (divided)
1 - 1/2 cups flour                                                          2 tsp shortening

In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth.  Cool slightly.  In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar.  Stir in chocolate mixture.  Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture.  Stir in 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle.

Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 7-9 minutes or until edges are set and tops are slightly cracked.  Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

In a microwave, melt remaining chips and shortening; stir until smooth.  Drizzle over cookies.  Let stand for 30 minutes or until chocolate is set.  Store in an airtight container.


Ironically, I kept forgetting to take a picture of any part of this process.  So no instagram yet.

Happy Easter

Wow, I took almost 6 weeks off from baking cookies.  Life has been busy, but there just hasn't been occasions to have cookies for.  Or it seems that maybe everyone in the family is eating healthier - because the few times I've had cookies, I've brought most of them home.  No, that can't be it.  If anything we're (or at least I am) eating more junk.  Valentine's Candy, Easter candy, birthdays - speaking of which - I'll be 33 this week.      

We did have a movie weekend at the cabin - brought up batch #235: Coconut Caramel Oat Cookies
A no-bake treat.  Daddy and Joey and Jessie stayed home and had a Daddy and kids weekend.  I found out that those entail: Dairy Queen, Burger King and McDonald's.

#236 and #237
Meringue Bunnies and Frosted Raspberry Bars
These were my contribution to Easter.  Except - I spent how long making these bunnies (pictured) just for my oldest to jump up and down in the kitchen causing vibrations to knock the bucket these cookies were sitting in - over - causing just about all the bunnies to lose their ears.

The raspberry bars - a lot of fuss for an okay treat.  Lattice pastry work is a bit to do.

Sorry about this post for anyone who actually reads it.  Easter is exhausting and I just want to get this down.  Any ideas appreciated for making the recording of this cookie journey a little more entertaining.

Meeska Mouska Mickey Mouse

It's Mickey Mouse season around here - meaning that my oldest is turning 3 and we are having 2 Mickey/Minnie Mouse birthdays around here.  We had his first kids party last weekend, his birthday is this weekend, and we're having the family party for a combined 1st and 3rd birthday party in March.  My baby girl is turning 1.  Most people say they can't believe how fast it went.  I can't believe how long it has been.  Given that my daughter wasn't impressed with this whole life thing for the first 10 months - the last year has gone by like a snail.  Never have I been so tired, so moody, so crummy feeling - okay I'll throw in happy too because that's what all moms are supposed to say, right?

Almost birthday boy and birthday girl

Anyway, I've gotten five batches made in this new year so far - I know, I really am a terrible example of a blogger.  Still looking for suggestions on somehow marking this journey, but not necessarily through writing posts.

#230 Iced Cinnamon Chip Cookies
Cabin weekend.  Somehow my husband managed to get a kid free (and wife free) weekend at home - not sure how he finagled that - I'm going to need to take lessons.  Now if only I had the time.  So the kids and I headed up North to play in the snow with cousins and grandparents - except that it was -20 below (windchill).  So perfect baking weather.  They didn't last long, I had to pack one away so that the husband at home would get to try at least one - they were rated a 5.
Like a chocolate chip cookie, except with cinnamon baking chips and a powdered sugar/butter icing topping.

#231 Double-Chip Cookies
With -20 below weather, it's also perfect weather for a chili cook-off - or so my place of employment thought.  I didn't want to make chili but I was more than happy to make cookies.  Another big winner - a chocolate chip cookie type cookie but with vanilla chips and peanut butter chips.

#232 Honey Lemon Cookies
Girls weekend with no kids!  I found out though that we are pretty lame.  I brought up two bottles of alcohol and a bottle of wine.  A friend brought a bottle of wine.  And another friend made bloody mary's, which most of us learned we don't like much because we don't like tomatoes.  With all that, we went through about one bottle of wine.  We didn't even open my other two bottles.  We sat on the couch and watched HGTV - pretty much the whole weekend.  I guess that's what 30 something mom's of young children do with their child-free weekends.

Recipe:
7 tbs butter, softened                                               1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar                                                           1/3 cup honey  
1 egg                                                                       1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 3/4 cup flour                                                        2 tsp grated lemon peel
1 tsp baking powder                                               1/2 tsp lemon extract

Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbs lemon juice (I was kicking myself for forgetting to buy lemon juice, but then later realized - duh, I have lemons - I can get lemon juice from the lemons)
2 tsp grated lemon peel

In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg.  Combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Combine the honey, yogurt, lemon peel and lemon extract.  Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternately with the honey mixture. 

Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove cookies to wire racks.  

In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, and lemon juice until smooth.  Brush over the warm cookies; sprinkle with lemon peel.  

#233  Chocolate Macaroon Brownies
Free dog to good home.  Okay - okay home is fine too.  I know my dog is bored, I know I haven't gotten her enough exercise.  I feel like a bad pet owner for neglecting her and then feeling burdened by her.  But dang it - she ate half of these brownies that I was so excited to eat.  Of course these brownie-base, with a layer of sweetened condensed milk and coconut middle with a chocolate butter frosting - rated a 5.  It's a good thing that she got into them under Mike's watch and he let me know while I was away so that I could calm myself before getting home - or else that dog might have been kicked out.
Any advice on training a pretty trainable dog.  She's pretty good, but lately has been so bad about stealing food.

#234 Mickey Mouse cookies
No, there's not a recipe in my book for Mickey Mouse cookies.  There is however a recipe for a cookie cutter cookie called Smooth Sailing Sugar cookies - cookies in the shape of fish and sailboats.  I don't ever really see a need for fish cookies - so I took this recipe and used my mickey cookie cutter to make cookies for Joey's birthday.

Okay, so this isn't the cookie - I forgot to take a picture of the cookies, I will though - I froze some for the next party.  I impressed myself with this cake.  I got the recipe from one site, how to make it a three from another site.  The frosting design from a 3rd site and the frosting recipe from a cookbook.