Spice up those hot summer days!

I normally make these cookies in the fall and winter, for they are quite fallish.

But, why? It's hot out there, anyway. Why not spice things up?

These are the ultimate molasses spice cookie, complete with the ultimate 'spice'. I have never had anyone guess the secret spice without being told.

If your friends can, they are geniuses worthy of your friendship.

Molasses Spice Cookies

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 ½ tsp. ginger
¼ tsp. cloves
¼ tsp. allspice
¼ tsp. pepper (yes, this is good old black pepper!, the secret spice)
¼ tsp. salt

1 ½ sticks (12 tablespoons) butter, very soft
1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg yolk, room temp
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup molasses

1. Stir dry (first 8) ingredients together in bowl, and set aside.

2. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. You know the drill. 5 minutes is NOT too long. Cream away now, before adding dry ingredients.

3. Add egg, vanilla, and molasses, and beat until combined. It is quite likely to look curdled, which is not a problem, just be sure it is well combined.

4. Stir in flour mixture at low speed until completely combined.

5. At this point I like to refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before shaping, or freeze the shaped dough, and bake from frozen. This creates a cookie that holds it's form. If you like flat cookies, you don't need to worry about this step.

6. Roll cookies in granulated sugar before placing on parchment covered cookie sheet. I also like to sprinkle a course sugar such as turbinado on top if I have it around. It is not necessary, of course. Just extra crunchy sugar.

7. Bake at 375 F for 10-12 minutes, or until golden and set, but not brown.

Now, eat cookies everyone!


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Location:Hull, MA

Day 4 of extreme home make it empty

I'm feeling a bit tired.

We are packing our things.

Moving them to the storage container parked in front of the house.

Close to the dumpster parked in front of the house.

Close to the port a potty parked in front of the house.

It is very attractive out front.

We moved a few things upstairs.

Into our spare room. Which is no longer spare.

It is quite necessary.



Do you like how efficient everything is? You can watch tv, and make breakfast, while running on the treadmill.

You can also admire the toilet, which is conveniently located right across the hall. You can see it from the couch, and the desk, and the treadmill, and the toaster.

Genius, why did we never think of this before?

Who needs kitchen, a living room and an office?

The 3 of us will be just fine like this. We do have bedrooms, after all.

Well, other than Kami, who comes home in 3 weeks.

She's going to use the spare room until we get the addition finished.

Oh, wait . . .


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Cabinets the Carol way

I got this email from my cabinet supplier today:

Hi Carol,

they shipped your door to me by mistake. It's very pretty, my daughter was in the office and wanted me to get her a pink one. I will ship it out to you right now, and you will probably get it Mon. Thanks Carol,

Ron York
Cabinet Pro-Supply
phone 928-775-4828
fax 888-715-9589

Hmmm, maybe I want a pink one too.

So far, I love this online cabinet supplier. Great service! Great prices! I have enclosed his contact info. in case you need cabinets.

FYI, I am getting a custom color for my island, hence the sample door. I think you can guess from the email that it's not a very neutral color.



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Recycling, the Craigslist way

I admit to losing a few minutes of sleep over the fact that the kitchen I desperately wanted to rip out of my new little house was less than 5 years old.

That would seem to be the epitome of ungreen no matter how much bamboo you replace it with. I am not personally replacing it with any bamboo. I don't have any bamboo farms near me, so I don't completely understand how shipping it from halfway around the world will save the universe. But that's just me.

I am definitely dedicated to re purposing everything I can, so I am happy to know there is a Habitat for Humanities Restore not far from me.

That was definitely the back up plan, but I am happy to report that within 15 minutes of posting our 'complete kitchen' for sale on Craigslist, we had our first phone call. And, I sold the cabinets the next day. At a discount because the buyer wants to come in and remove them himself! Can you say Wahoo!?

Recycling at it's finest. With the $$ coming my way. Now we can buy a new cabinet or two. Hmmm . . .
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Picnic Food

These raspberry bars, based on the people's choice lemon bars by Hillary, key bakery recipe contributor and bread baker, adapted by Rhonda, key early morning baker and recipe contributor, are DELICIOUS.

Try them! Whether you are going on a picnic or not.

Someday, I will tell you about the People's Choice lemon bars. Someday, when I can find the recipe. Hmmm.

Ingredients:
2 cubes (1/2 pound) butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats

12 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sweetened, condensed milk

2/3 cup raspberry jam, heated to pourable consistency

1. Cream butter and sugar in stand mixer, with paddle attachment at medium speed until combined.

2. Add flour and oats and blend at low speed until a rough dough has formed. Similar to a cookie dough.

3. Pat 2/3 of mixture into a 9 x 13 pan, save remaining mixture for topping.

4. Beat cream cheese with sweetened, condensed milk until smooth, spread gently over crust. This requires finesse as it is a crumbly crust. An offset icing spatula works well. I'm sure you all have one of those. If not, a butter knife. A rubber spatula is too clumpy, I don't recommend it. Just in case you were interested in my opinion.

5. Pour melted jam over cream cheese mixture. I melt in the microwave, because I am unafraid of micro waves. If you are opposed to microwaves, melt it on the stovetop. If you are opposed to stovetops, stop reading this recipe, as you are not qualified to cook.

6. Crumble remaining crust mixture over jam

7. Bake at 350 F for 30-45 minutes, or until golden brown.

I am aware that is quite a long time variance. I'm afraid I cannot help you with that, as I don't remember why I wrote the recipe that way. Sorry!

Cool, cut, and go on a picnic!

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Pouring in the rain

Today is a special day. A special, rainy day.

The cement truck is outside, and all the kind construction workers are soaking wet.

But, my foundation is being poured.

I can't help being happy, although I do feel bad about the wet workers.

But, really, really happy!

Hooray for foundations!



Hooray for dedicated workers!



Hooray for ocean views!

Hooray!

The strangest salad you will ever love!

I am a self described lover of interesting food. No one would describe me as a meat and potatoes girl.

This is a salad I absolutely love, but many people find too odd to try.

Try it! I promise you won't be disappointed. Unless you dislike strange food combinations.

Ingredients:

1/2 small seedless watermelon, cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
2 pints grape tomatoes, cut in half.
1/4 large red onion, sliced thin.
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped.
1/2 cup flat leaf parsley leaves, chopped.
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, and toss to combine well.

Throw this together for your next cook out. Really!

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