Monday, November 28, 2011

List of Cookies that I have Baked to date.

Here is a list of all the cookies that I have baked so far.
I have baked 32 different recipes as of this November 28, 2011

9/13/11
Gaity Pastel Cookies
Honey Carrot Cookies
Lemon Cookies

9/17/11
Monster Cookies
Oatmeal Cookies
Gingersnaps

9/21/11
Brian's Buffalo Cookies
Peanut Chip Cookies

9/29/11
Honey Ginger Snaps
Peanut Butter Crunchies

10/1/11
Island Cookies
Honey Chocolate Chippers
Chocolate-Coconut Toffee Delights

10/6/11
Almond Double Chips
Marbled Mocha Drops

10/9/11
Spice Raisin Drops
Pudding Drops

10/14/11
Double Lemon Delights-Cathy Davies Guest Baker

10/25/11
Sofy Spicy Molasses Cookies

11/3/11
Peanut Butter Surprise
Hershey Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

11/12/11
Gingerbread Apple Bars
Lemon-Cranberry Bars

11/21/11
Brownie Candy Cups

11/22/11
Blonde Brickle Brownies
Pecan Pie Bars
Double Fudge Brownie Bars
Give Thanks Cornucopias-Elizabeth and Kathryn Koeck Guest Bakers

11/23/11
Minty Shortbread Squares-Kathryn Koeck Guest Baker

11/28/11
Lip-Smacking Lemon Cookies
Mini Chip Slice and Bake Cookies
Lemony Butter Cookies

Catching Up on My Cookie Blog

Wow, I didn't realize how long it has been since I have had the opportunity to write on my cookie baking blog.  I've been baking cookies but I haven't been blogging about my baking.  So, today is the day for me to do some major catching up.  I do have to say how interesting it is that even though I am retired my days seem to fly by so quickly and how busy I seem to be. 
The last time I blogged I had just invited my sister Cathy to be my guest baker when she came for her visit from California.  She was delighted that I asked her to be my guest.  So, on Friday, October 14th, I met her for breakfast at the Ramada in downtown Fond du Lac. My brothers Jim and Joe took time from their busy schedules and joined us along with my sister Ann, and sister-in law Barb.  After a nice breakfast Cathy and I went shopping and then returned home to Winneconne and started our baking.  I told her that she could pick out the recipe that she wanted to make with me and after a few minutes she decided on the Double Lemon Delights (p. 26).  The batter was very easy to make and as you know, anything with lemon in makes your home smell fresh and wonderful.  These cookies not only had lemon in the batter but they also had a very light lemon frosting recipe for on top of them.  They were very good cookies but I think the best part of making them was being able to share making them with my sister whom I do not get to see very often.  It was nice baking, talking, and laughing together.  My husband chuck came home as Cathy was making the frosting so he of course wanted to help and also be a guest baker.  I think he also talked Cathy into adding a little extra lemon to the frosting.  He likes to always add just a little extra to almost everything he cooks or bakes.  It was funny hearing Cathy and Chuck discuss just how much a "little"extra is.  My daughter Margaret told me that the lemon cookies were one of her favorutes so far.

On Sunday, October 16th, we had a gathering at our home for family and friends that we called a "Celebration of Accomplishments".  I chose that date because that way Cathy could join us since she was home.  The things we celebrated were:  My retirement from teaching,  our daughter Margaret's graduation from Marquette University, and our 30th wedding anniversary (it was actually in June).  At the celebration my daughter Elizabeth took a sample of each of the cookies that I had made and turned it into a guessing game of "Name that Cookie".  It was actually quite funny to watch people try to match the name of the cookie with the cookie without tasting it.  I think she had about 9 different cookies to match with names.  Elizabeth also made up small cards to take along with my cookie blog address so that our guests could follow my blog.  She is just a very creative thinking young lady.

October 25th was the next time that I had an opportunity to bake. I made the Soft Spicy Molasses Cookies (p.77).  These cookies had a very heavy molasses and spice taste to them.  I liked them and they went great with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.  I think people either like molasses or they don't.  I also think it is an acquired taste...not too popular with younger kids.  Chuck and I continue to have discussions about which mixer to use when making the batter.  I like to use my hand mixer and he likes to use his big heavy-duty Kitchen-Aide mixer.  He commented one day out of the blue.."using the hand mixer makes them delicate pastries, while using the mixmaster makes them into real cookies."  Such a sense of humor.  My kids all laughed when I told them about his comment.

On November 3rd I baked Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies (p28) and Hershey Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies (p52).  The peanut butter surprise cookies had corn flakes, coconut, and also peanuts in them.  They were very crunchy and a favorite of neighbor Bob.  All my kids liked the mint chocolate chip cookies.  They all called me a commented about how good they were and that I should mark that recipe as a keeper.

The cookie recipe book also contains recipes for cookie bars so on November 12th I baked Gingerbread Apple Bars (p.110) (because I needed to use up some apple sauce that was in the refrigerator), and Lemon-Cranberry Bars (p.100).   I decided to bake these 2 bars because all 4 of my children were coming to home to celebrate my birthday that day and it would be easier for them to take the bars back to school/home with them.  Bars don't always pack up as neatly as cookies.  Both recipes made the house smell very good with the aromas of the season of fall.  I like to have those types of aromas in my home when my childlen come home because it helps to make the house a home of warm comforts.  I remember way back when my oldest daughter Elizabeth was in 4th grade and she came home from school  on a day when I needed to take a day off for some reason.  I had just finished baking some cookies and she walked into the house and said, "So this is what a stay-at-home mom's house smells like".  We both laughed at her comment, but I knew exactly were she was coming from because my mom was a stay-at- home mom and I still remember those wounderful smells of whatever she was baking when I would walk in the house after a long day at school.  I think I get my love of baking from my mom.

I made 4 different recipes from my cookie book for our Thanksgiving dinner at my sister Jane's home in Appleton.  I made Brownie Candy Cups (p.158),  Blonde Brickle Brownies (p.180), Pecan Pie Bars
(p. 112), and Double Fudge Brownie Bars (p.147).  I wanted a good variety of cookies/bars to take along so that everyone could enjoy something that they liked.  I did my baking on the morning of Tuesday, Novemebr 11th.  That afternoon our plumber who built our home came to repair my kitchen faucet that wasn't working correctly.  He obviously noticed all my bakery and I told him about my decision to bake every cookie recipe in the cookbook and that he would be taking with him a tray full of freashly baked bars and cookies when he left.  He shared with me that his wife also loved to bake and cook and how good his house would smell when he got home and how she too would take baked goods and meals to neighbors and how much she loved doing that.  I think I will add him to my list for cookie packages because I know that it has just been a year since his wife passed away. 
As for the Thanksgiving desserts, I would say that the Brownie Candy Cups and the Pecan Pie Bars seemed to be the overwhelming favorites of my family members. 
I also had a guest baker for another Thanksgiving cookie treat.  My oldest daughter Elizabeth needed something to take along to work for their noon luncheon Thanksgiving banquet.  She found Give Thanks Cornucopias (p.490) that we made together with the help of my youngest daughter Kathryn who was home from Marquette University.  They were very easy to make because they were made out of ice cream cones and chocolate, and then filled with candy pumpkins and candy corn.  They were very easy and fun to make.
The next day Kathryn was my guest baker again.  She picked out the recipe for Minty Shortbread Squares (p.102).  We messed up a bit on the amount of mint that we put in the batter.  It should have been 1 teaspoon for the batter and 1 teaspoon for the frosting.  We put both in the batter.  Oops, but they really tasted good anyway.  They too were a favorite at our Thanksgiving dinner.

I am now up to date with they types of cookies I have been baking.  This morning I mixed up the dough for Lip-Smaking Lemon Cookies, and Mini Chip Slice and Bake Cookies (both from p. 190), and Lemony Butter Cookies (p. 226).  All 3 recipes needed to be refrigerated for several hours before baking so I will bake them later this evening.  I have noticed how my cookie baking has become a family project.  I think my children really enjoy giving me feedback about which cookies they like and I know that some of them follow my blog because they remind me how far behind I am (was) with my blogging.  I'll have to let them know that I am now all caught up.  I also need to set a time to have my daughter Margaret and son Bill be my guest baker and i also have to invite some of my friends to be my guests. Baking cookies is just a very nice way to spend time talking and laughing with your children.  It's a good way to build memories and family traditions.