Sugar Cookies

I know! It isn't Christmas yet, but we have lots of happiness going on this Christmas and I don't know, or rather didn't know how to make a sugar cookie. This is it! I generally don't care for sugar cookies, but this beauty is tasty. I will admit that I did half whole wheat flour and half all purpose, I also added a bit of nutmeg and cinnamon. I don't think the cinnamon was needed, but the nutmeg, really did the job.
I found this recipe on AllRecipes.com and adjusted it as noted above.
Christmas, will be perfect this year.
I was also thinking that adding a little coconut or chopped macadamia nuts to the cookies would be so yummy!
Let me know if you give this a try.
1-1/3 cups and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour,
baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and
vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into
balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet
two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks

P.S. This recipe makes about 24 cookies.
P.S.S. DO NOT cook this babies any longer than 8 minutes or they will become much too crunchy. In fact, I started checking on them after 6 minutes, as our oven can get rather hot.
P.S.S.S. I also rolled some of the cookies in a bit of powdered sugar, and those were my favorite!

Beet Carpaccio

Beef carpaccio is hands down, one of my favorite foods. But for you vegetarians out there, or just for the beet lovers, this beet carpaccio is fast topping my list. We served this one with a homemade vinaigrette, topped with smoky and spicy gouda and fresh green onions. At the end of dinner, when we still wanted just a bit more, we tried it with a mild goat cheese, which was to die for and would have been even better if the cheese had been a bit more sharp, a bit more goaty!

Kale Chips

There are a plethora of kale chip recipes out there so I won't worry about typing one up. But they are delicious!
Don't forget to cut the center ribs and stems(I didnt'!) and I used a tad too much salt(but I love salt). I think next time I will make larger pieces for a bit more bite.
Tasty!

Pasta Puttanesca

This needs no words!

Oh Goodness

Delicious!
Don't just take my word for it. Make it. I changed a few things, I used frozen berries, cause that is what I had on hand, added a little sugar and cinnamon to the crust. Also, in my oven it only took about 20 minutes, so keep an eye on it.
Oh, and I didn't have any cornstarch, so I just did without. Cooked the berries in water and sugar 'til a little of the water evaporated.
Now for the recipe!

BERRY COBBLER

3/4 c. water
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 c. sugar
3 c. strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or peaches

In saucepan combine water, cornstarch, and sugar. Bring to boil. Cook 1 minute. Add berries and remove from heat. Pour into 9 or 10 inch pie plate. Top with cobbler.

Topping

1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. milk
3 tbsp. oil

Combine flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix milk and oil; add to flour. Work to ball and drop over berries. Bake at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Fall and Camping

The weather has been perfect. After a sweltering summer, the cooler weather has been truly a blessing! So off we go camping. Let me clarify, that neither of us have really been camping. Slowly, but surely we are getting the hang of it.

And there is nothing better than a steak over an open fire and a great bottle or maybe two of wine.
Another thing that we really enjoy is taking nice green peppers that have a little bit of kick, and grilling them as well(that is what the picture is). After almost burning the outside, let the peppers sit in a plastic bag or covered bowl to sweat. The outside of the pepper will easily come off and you can then slice them up with a little olive oil, garlic, maybe some chili pepper flakes, then serve over your steak! Delicious!

What are your great camping stories?

Pretzels!

Oh so yummy! These are pretty close to the real thing, German bretzel. I really didn't think that I could pull these off. I am only beginning to learn how to bake, so I felt that these were a challenge. Oh my! Delicious. And I have it, on good authority(from several Germans!) that they are good! the only difference that I am aware of is that instead of boiling in lye and water(which can make you ill if not done right) I boil in baking soda and water. I would really like to learn how to do it the old fashioned way, but that may take some practice. I also haven't gotten the hang of how to make the perfect pretzel shape. Oh well, I can't be perfect :)
Here is the recipe, give it a go and let me know how yours turn out!


1 package of Active dry yeast
1 c Warm water
2 1/2 To 3 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tblsp of Salad oil
1 Tblsp of Sugar
6 Tblsp of Baking soda in 6 cups water
Coarse salt (un-ground sea salt works great)

In a bowl , dissolve yeast in water. Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour,
the oil, and sugar. Beat for about 3 minutes to make a smooth batter.
Gradually stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.
Turn out onto a floured board and knead until smooth and satiny
(about 5 minutes) adding flour as needed to prevent sticking.
Place dough in a greased bowl; turn over to grease top.
Cover and let rise in a warm place until double (about 1 hour).

Punch down dough, turn out onto a floured board, and divide into 12
pieces. Shape each into a smooth ball by gently kneading. Then roll
each into a smooth rope about 18 inches long, and twist into a pretzel
shape. Place slightly apart on a greased baking sheet turning
loose ends underneath. Let rise, uncovered, in a warm, draft free area
until puffy (about 25 minutes).

Meanwhile, in a 3-quart stainless steel or enameled pan (not aluminum)
bring soda water to a boil; adjust water to keep water boiling gently.
With a slotted spatula, lower 1 pretzel at a time into pan. Let simmer
for 10 seconds on each side, then lift from water, drain briefly on
spatula, and return to baking sheet. Let dry briefly, then sprinkle
with coarse salt and let stand, uncovered, until all have simmered.

Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until
golden brown. Transfer to racks; serve warm with butter, mustard or
even cream cheese. Or let cool completely, wrap airtight, and freeze.
To reheat, place frozen on ungreased baking sheets and bake in a
preheated 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until hot.
Makes 1 dozen pretzels.