Done and Done

Gonna put this one back in the box. Tried out a recipe I found on the internet that was a vintage one from Woman's Day magazine of yesteryear. The picture along with the title screamed, 'Make me! Make Me! I did just that.

Yesterday I put the ingredients together and stored the two loaves of dough in the refrigerator overnight. Today I baked.

Tops above, bottoms below. 

Unfortunately they didn't have any butterscotch flavor at all! I was disappointed. Now I have decided to add a squiggle or two of icing to perk them up a bit. I might even use almond flavoring in the icing even though they contain walnuts and vanilla already. Othewise they are fine, but just not very tasty. Sometimes you learn from your losses more than you learn from your successes. 

My "Lucky" Day

This morning I baked cookies.

I am NOT superstitious, BUT...Even though it is Friday the 13th, things are going well. I have been waiting for several months for two different scrap metal people to come pick up my big dead freezer. Yesterday I saw an ad and made a call and TODAY he came and hefted that appliance into the bed of his truck all by himself while his wife watched. I could not believe my eyes! Then he moved the small chest freezer over to the empty pallet and leveled it. As they were leaving, I offered them cookies. Soon there was a knock on the door and it was him telling me that if I ever need any help or something done to give them a call. I  think they liked my cookies.

Another friend came by shortly afterwards to deliver my allergy medicine. He gets it at Sams and I reimbursed him with cash and cookies. 

A neighbor was kind enough this week to order some coffee bags for me. I had told her I was going to make cookies the next day. As she and her husband walked by with their dogs last night he wanted to know when the cookies would be ready! 

My daughter will be arriving shortly with some home-cooked foods for me. There are some cookies set aside for her. 

One more cookie left home as the mail carrier delivered a package and accepted her treat!

These are good and I  have never made them before.

My advice is to share cookies on Friday the 13th!

And Autumn Begins...

I did have a lot of energy today. Probably this is due to my hope of it not being too cold to take a buggy ride. The first thing I did was to bake some raisin/walnut cookies. That warmed it up a bit in here. I love sharing my baked-from scratch products, even though the cleanup can be time consuming.

Then I went on a mission to see if the elderberries were ripe for picking. The road where I found a large bush leads to a friend's home so I went there right after having a difficult time cutting down some. It seems that the wind and rain have taken them away from other bushes! BUT this bush was accessible and it had a few. No one was home so I checked out the garden after seeing squash on the patio picnic table.

The Rose of Sharon bush was in full bloom and very beautiful. The last rose of summer?

As I rode further over the property to the garden area, I am now convinced that summer is really over. 

These are the leavings of the elderberries after I rinsed and plucked them off. Hint: A fork is used for easy plucking.

My yield is only about one cup. At least I have a few! I will refrigerate them and decide what to make with the ones I waited all year for. I'm thinking syrup. It won't be as labor intensive as adjusting my recipe for jelly. I have made jelly for so many years and never had a problem finding enough for the task. If you have them - treasure them! They are good for you!!!

Warmer?

Well it IS..... in here! I'm baking cookies. Temperature outdoors at 10am is only 60° and cloudy. We're expecting some rain. Today's treat is Snickerdoodles. (Recipe at bottom.)

Yesterday I went for a short buggy ride. Wore a jacket! Still wasn't warm but was determined to find color. I did... a little of it!

Itoh Peony — Love the yellow here!

Daylillies, Stella

I like the fence ...

Wild Foxglove

Chinese Lantern from a friend

My Prize of the day!!!!!!

Here's lookin' atcha! LOVE IT!!

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Snickerdoodles!

Ingredients

2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup butter, softened - I use salted (2 sticks)

2 cups white sugar, divided

2 large eggs (thank you neighbor for the eggs!)

2 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

Cream together the butter and 1 & 1/2 cups sugar until pale yellow, about 2-3 minutes.

Mix in eggs until well combined.

Add the flour mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough comes together.

In a separate, small bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon together.

Shape dough into about 1-3/4 inch balls and roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar.

Space the balls about 3 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 9-10 minutes. (Oven temperatures may vary. Cooking time may be more or less.)  Rest before removing onto rack to cool. 

Baking Day

**********RECIPE**********

Oatmeal Cookies

Makes 18 cookies

Ingredients:

• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 Cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 Cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 2 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking)

Directions:

In the large bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter for a few minutes on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the sugars, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon, beating until the mixture is well bladed. Reduce the speed to medium and add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until well incorporated. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour and oats, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary and mixing just until they are incorporated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough for at least an hour before baking.

Preheat the oven to 375°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Form the dough into golf ball-size balls and place about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.  Bake one sheet at a time.  12-14 minutes

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You could add raisins and/or nuts but I don't.

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Another cleanup but worth the energy and time.

"Big Red" did the mixing for me.

Hanging In

I'm hunkered down and looking out. It is snowing - not a surprise. The weather is predicted to change to a wind and rain event and then a big drop in temperature. I lost all ambition to bake again...

BUT! Yesterday a box of four varieties of cookies and even éclairs arrived with a bright red ribbon. Somebody went to a lot of work to create these beautiful and tasty special treats. I have never made éclairs. These were made with lots of love and then placed with care in the holiday presentation box.

Thank you Santa's Jolly Helper! Gingerbread, Pfeffernusse, Spritz (decorated too!), Raisin-nut, and Éclairs all received a taste and they passed admirably. 

My Last Hurrah For These!

I have been procrastinating for several weeks because I wanted to make a batch of cookies that I haven't done for many years. 2014 to be exact! Today I kicked my starter and did it! 144 cookies later (12 dozen) and totally whipped, I want to present these to you. Since I didn't have any colorful sparkles or squeezable icings, they are plain except for some raw sugar sprinkles. Have you ever had a Lorna Doone cookie? These are similar in flavor and texture. Yum!

Some of these just don't belong...

So I ate them!

After the big cleanup, I packed my 50 year old tools away for another day, another person to use. I will admit some of the recipes look good!

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Suzy Homemaker

Well I really think this Suzy is on her last legs! Her grandmother's and mother's recipe for PB cookies did her in this morning. Sooo much cleanup! At least she got to share some so she doesn't become a PB cookie piggie! Now she is out of brown sugar and vanilla. The Schwan's delivery man was nicely surprised with the treat as he was a substitute for the regular guy. The postal carrier loved the brownies and now was happy for some cookies. The family of my yard guy will surely enjoy many when he comes to pick up my laundry.

I was delighted to have a friend deliver two quarts of homemade New England clam chowder that a local establishment was holding for me in their freezer. Do you know how hard it is to get really good chowder? It is hard for me to ask for favors like this but I sure did want some and I'm lucky enough to have good friends help. So there you have my morning. 

Cookie Recipe~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peanut Butter Cookies from Grandma's Recipe Collection

Sift together - 

2 C flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

Blend well before adding flour mixture -

1 C peanut butter

2 C brown sugar

1/2 C butter (1 stick) I said BUTTER!! (Don't melt!)

2 eggs

Add -

1 tsp pure vanilla

1/2 C whole milk 

Cool dough in refrigerator for a bit, then teaspoon 12 scoops to an ungreased cookie sheet. I don't usually press them into a ball and flatten with a sugared fork, because I don't feel it is necessary, but you can if you wish!

Bake - 350° oven 9-11 minutes depending on how crunchy you like them. The less time in the oven the chewier they are!

After baking, let them rest a bit before removing from sheet to rack to cool..     Makes about 4-5 dozen, depending on size.

Preparations

Well now I think I'm ready for the upcoming season here. This morning the temperature outdoors read 28°.

The mailbox won't have so much political stuff that is immediately torn and trashed and it will save the carrier many steps. 

I set all 6 of my clocks back. 

My golf car was picked up for winter storage in a heated facility and will have complete service as well. I shall call in the Spring to have it returned and the charge is very reasonable. I had an offer by my yard guy to store it in his garage, but if I can handle arrangements on my own it makes me feel better. That was a genuine big-hearted offer! I am so thankful for such caring friends.

The A/C is covered, porch chairs are stacked, the swing sofa is covered, the ceramic pumpkin is in and put away. The sign to use the side door is in place.

This morning I brought in some of my porch ornaments to clean and save from probable damage during wind, snow and ice storms. The wooden fish sign is safe inside. 

I started my humidifiers going. Sure needed to do that! The humidity is so low my hair is sticking up everywhere with static electricity!

I transplanted two of my succulents into larger pots on the kitchen counter. Made a big mess...

I still have to get out the electric blanket and hook it up. 

What else? Oh lots of other minor things were done and I got with the program quite well.  With all this free time I just might bake some cookies in the near future. I have a craving for peanut butter ones, using my mother's recipe and also might dig out the spritz one as well. Then I'll have to hunt for the old (1950) gun that has always worked for me. The last time I made them was 2014!

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Cookies & Milk

That is a silly title isn't it? Well what I'm saying is that I baked three dozen sugar cookies this morning. 

Then when it came time for my lunch treat there was an argument in here! You see I usually drink a glass of milk with cookies. Well... Yosemite Sam who has been around here since 1976 (marked) thought I should use one of my other glasses for milk as he prefers water. The four Tom & Jerry sports set of 1991 (marked) don't want to be used at all! They play tennis, baseball, soccer and football and don't want milk! They only want sports drinks...

The battle of glasses went on when I suggested orange juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and fruit punch flavored water. That didn't go over well so Sam lost and had to be filled with milk!

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Lesson learned — sometimes age looses. How these glasses have survived without breaking is a wonderful thing!