by Donaji on February 6, 2010
in Personal
I didn’t write about 2009. I should have, it was a fantastic year for us, I often give thanks for it. Very often because I’m not sure if we’ll ever have a year like this one, I mean, so much happened this year (good and bad) it’s insane…I’m sure everyone can find a list as long as mine if not longer but for me it’s been huge.
TOP TEN (and a half) in chronological order (the more exclamation marks there are, the more value it holds):
1. Obama wins
2. Got our of the military!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Cross-country move to California with a turtle in my front seat and a fish in Ryan’s cup holder!
4. Living with Ryan’s parents for about 5 months (it was great, don’t even try to think otherwise) …thank you guys once again!
5. Our bicycle trip with Lance along the Oregon coast!!!
6. Moving out to our own place!!
7. While all this is happening…wedding planning, planning, planning…crafts, crafts, crafts
8. Starting art school!!!!!
9. Getting married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (along with two of Ryan’s cousins! July and Sept, crazy!)
9.5. I caught my first fish…actually my first 3!!!
10. Michael Jackson’s and Britney Murphy’s death (R.I.P.) (I mean that one fo reals)
Obama poster by Shepard Fairey.
Wedding photos by Impressions by Nudrat Photography.
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by Donaji on January 22, 2010
in Baking
Montecarlo Cookies - Sandwich version
Recipe adapted from the book “Cookies” Collector’s Edition, published by Anthony Carroll.
Did a whole lot of baking for Christmas and these were the most enjoyed cookies overall. The original recipe is for making sandwich-like cookies like the ones in the photos.
After I made them, I thought they were too sweet and I liked the cookie all by itself, so I made more of the plain ones without the middle stuff, so no sandwiches.
So here’s the recipe how I made them the second time (not the sandwich sort) along with my little “twist” since a lot of you are asking for it. Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures of the non-sandwich version.
EQUIPMENT
Hand mixer ($6.99 Target)
Small and big bowls to mix
Spatula
Fork
Spoon
Measuring cups and spoons
Cooling rack
Flour sifter (strainer works)
INGREDIENTS
8 oz (250 g) of unsalted butter at room temperature (half stick)
1 cup of brown sugar (or 1/2 cup for less sweet)
2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
1 egg, lightly beaten with a fork in separate bowl
1 1/2 cup of all purpose flour sifted with 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 cup of dried coconut flakes
3/4 cup of original rolled oats (not the 1 min stuff)
1/2 cup of chopped almonds
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat over to 360 degrees and lightly butter baking tray.
2. Place butter, brown sugar, and vanilla in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy using hand mixer. Add egg, sifted flour with baking powder, coconut, almonds, and rolled oats and mix well with hand mixer to combine well (until dough-y).
3. Roll heaped tablespoons of mixture into balls, place on baking tray and flatten slightly with a fork.
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a wire rack.
5. They may be soft at first so let them cook a few minutes on baking tray and then transfer to cooling rack they will eventually cool and harden but the inside will be nice and soft/chewy ;)
MY TEENY TWIST
To some cookies I added 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts and 1 cup of dried cranberries and they were delicious.
BUT: if you add the cranberries, reduce sugar to 1/2 cup, otherwise they will be toooooo sweet at least to me!
Add the cranberries and the walnuts on step two, when you add the flour.
TIP: Using a food processor for chopping nuts makes everything a million times faster and easier! I didn’t realize this until the last batch ;) (drrrrrr)
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