3x harder than it needed to be

Every night at dinner my 2 year old daughter has the same routine.  She asks everyone at the table (and sometimes the dog too) "What's your best day?" - meaning what's the best part of your day?  Picture perfect scene of family harmony, right?  Except today my answer was: "I'm not sure.  It was a hard day (mainly because of said 2 year old).  I think the best part of my day was this morning when I was still laying in bed".

That pretty much sums up the day.  It was one of those days when everything was 3 times harder than it needed to be.  And even after breakfast, (when the 2 year old was especially demanding and the damn seed from the avocado wouldn't come out and something was up with that avocado in general). I told myself - just because a few bad things happen, doesn't mean the whole day was ruined; we could turn this around.  NO!  Some days it's just a better idea to scrap the plans for the entire day, maybe go to a park and then spend the rest of the day in jammies watching tv.  Hindsight is very wise.  That's not what we did.  And if I still thought this day could turn around (at 8:15 at night) - the universe decided to rub it in - I just sneezed into my shirt sleeve after putting a chocolate covered raisin in my mouth - so now I have that chocolate stain to get out of my shirt.

So two batches today - because again - everything harder than it needed to be.  The goal today - to make 1 batch of cookies to bring up to the cabin with some friends.  Seemed simple enough.  My to-do list wasn't overwhelming.  The kids and I would do playgroup in the morning and then usually they're pretty chill.

So I went to start the batch of Easy Pumpkin Spice Cookies - like I had planned for when I went grocery shopping - except I didn't buy the necessary yellow cake mix.  I thought I had bought it last time I was at the store because it was on sale.  But now I remember I was going to, then decided it wasn't worth it.  So ... no yellow cake mix.

No worries though - I could make this other batch (Chewy Maple Cookies) that I had planned to make earlier and then didn't.  Except - I only had 1 egg because I forgot to tell husband to buy eggs at Costco while I did the regular grocery shopping at Cub.  There's a chance here that our grocery shopping routines are too complicated.

But it's okay - this recipe only called for 1 egg!  YES!

Except - it turned out that this batch is the first batch I've ever thrown away.  I'm not sure how important it is to cream the butter and sugars together before adding in the other ingredients - because I sort of got distracted and did that.  I scooped out the egg that I mistakenly threw in and creamed the butter and sugar and then threw in the egg - but this batch did not turn out.  Or maybe it's because I used Aunt Jemima syrup instead of "pure maple syrup" that the recipe called for.  Anyway, this is what happened:

These were supposed to be chewy, and not looking like that - but instead they spread too thin and were not chewy. 

So all right, what can I make that doesn't require eggs?  Not too many recipes in that book with no eggs - a few - but then I was missing other ingredients.  So back to the Easy Pumpkin Spice cookie.  Yes, that means a trip to the grocery store.

At this point I was a little annoyed, not too crabby.  The kids had spent the last hour playing nicely and doing art.  Yeah, that's when all the moods kicked in - and the 2 year old got hard.  We'll just sum it up with "defiance, button pushing, arguing, demanding, and ignoring (ignoring mommy that is).  

But I was determined.  Made these during nap time: 

These cookies did go well and I wish I could say that was the turn around for the day, but it wasn't.  The two year old woke up; crying, because isn't that how all people wake up from a 2 hour nap.  It's how the 2 year old wakes up about 50% of the time.

So there it is: batches 314 and 315.

I think this day calls for a long soak in the whirlpool!

Shit happened!

The second half is underway.  I've said it before, but this time I mean it.  After I bake a batch; I'm going to blog about it that day.  Hopefully this results in shorter and more interesting posts.  Before I didn't blog right after because I wanted to blog after whatever event the cookie was for.  But if this is truly just about my life - then that doesn't matter - whatever is happening that day will be the post.

Or at least I'm gonna try.

So I didn't plan this batch.  I didn't wake up this morning and say - I'm going to work a full day at work, come home and cook dinner and then try to make a batch of cookies while my two oldest are fighting and the baby is a little bit fussy (and I mean a little fussy for her - since her fussy is most babies' great days).  My baby girl is seriously the best baby.

Anyways, cookies were not on my mind today AT ALL.  Then I got to work.  And while I was pulling into a parking spot, a car must've jumped off the side of the road where it was parked because I brushed up against it.  DOH!  Shit (and a few other choice words).

Did I drive away and park somewhere else?  No.  I didn't.  The angel side of me won out and I left a note.  Then as the day went on and I kept looking outside to see if the car was gone; I determined it must belong to a co-worker.  Super Shit!

Yep, it belongs to a co-worker.  A co-worker that I work with everyday I'm there- I spend a 1/2 hour in her classroom everyday.  Could this get worse?  Oh, right - I'm new to this building and people are probably still forming their impressions of me.  This is where I put the emoji of my head in my hands.

So this batch - #313 Apple Peanut Butter Cookies
My apology for the shit that happened - and the inconvenience this is going to cause. Having to go get estimates.  Having to have the couple of marks touched up with paint.  Just annoyances.

And of course, this batch turned out to be amazing.  5 smiley faces from both Mike and me.  It's been a long time since a batch received 5 smiley faces from both of us.  It never fails, a batch that I am giving all away - an all star.  Quote from Mike "You can scratch my car if I get a batch like this"

                                          This peeler is fun to watch.  And the kids love "the snake" that comes off of it.  


Here's the recipe and here's for hoping this just all goes away:

1/2 cup shortening                                              1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter                               1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup sugar                                                         1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup brown sugar                                              1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 egg                                                                       1/2 cup grated peeled apple
1/2 tsp vanilla

In a large bowl, cream the shortening, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Combine the dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Stir in apple.  

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in apart onto greased baking sheets.  Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.

Halfway!

"Woah, we're half way there
Woah, livin' on a prayer"

Be honest, you sang those sentences.  So 6 years ago  on October 20th (I'm ahead of schedule); I started this project.  So 6 years ago:

No kids, 

lived in a 1 1/2 story house in NE Mpls

We were remodeling

I was working 3 jobs: 1st year of teaching, coaching the high school tennis team, and cleaning on the weekends.

Today:

3 kids 

living in a two-story in Roseville

We're still remodeling (just a different house)

I'm only working 1 job - teaching.  But I still clean - but all the time now and I don't get paid for it.  

Today I baked batch #312 - so technically I am over halfway done as the book has only 623 recipes (not 624).

To mark this momentous occasion; we needed to do something special with this batch. 

So we split this batch and brought it to our local firefighters and police.  We also put together a few care packages to have in our car to hand out to homeless that we see on the street.  It's our way to "be the good" - and this week - we really need good.

So a quick summary of the last 9 batches:

#312 Icebox Honey Cookies

#311 Soft Raisin Cookies

#310 Brownie Crackles

I made these for my Doctor.  She is sooo good to us.  Always replies to any email I send.  Answers all the questions I have at any and every appt.  Is completely understanding when all 3 kids are at the appts and are spinning in her chair or as she steps over them on the floor as they are playing ipad.  I think I owe her a few batches.  

#309 Sand Dollar Cookies

This batch and #311 were for my new students at my new school.  Practicing using describing words.  Who cares if I'm bribing my students to vote me teacher of the year.

#308 Fudge Filled Sandies

I can't even tell you what I made these for.  Although I know I brought some to school.  When you're the new kid; you gotta do something to break the ice, get to know people and get them to like you : )

#307 Macadamia Chip Cookies

Little did I know that this is my Mom's favorite type of cookie.  And my sister-in-law deemed this the best one out of the book so far (of course she's only had a fraction of the 312 I have made).  Good thing I randomly brought this one to the cabin for Labor Day.

#306 Peanut Butter Pinwheels

Yum. If you'be been following this blog - I have now posted about 312 cookies.  If you're still with me - I think you need to just buy the book.  Taste of Home: Cookies. Yep - find this recipe (p. 121) and go for it.

#305 Rhubarb Oat Bars

I made this 2 months ago.  I don't know what for.  I think it did make it to the cabin though.  That's probably what it was for.  I got a little behind with the blogging.  This won't be the last time in the next 6 years though I'll say this - but I'll try to do better.

And finally #304 Jelly topped Sugar Cookies

You got me.  

A sugar cookie filled with a jelly filling.