Sunday, March 22, 2009

Cookies

I made cookies yesterday. It's been sad here since we lost our beloved Gizmo. He was the sweetest cat and so young. We miss him very much.

First of all is Peanut Butter Cookies. My favorite.





Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
from http://www.elise.com/

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Method
1 Cream the butter for 2 minutes. Add the sugars, cream for 2 more minutes. Mix in the peanut butter and egg. Mix together the dry ingredients - flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir into the sugar butter mixture.
2 Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate at least 3 hours.






QUAKER'S BEST OATMEAL COOKIES
From the Quaker Oats Website.

3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar1/2 c. granulated sugar1 egg1 stick butter1 tsp. vanilla1 1/2 c. all purpose flour1 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. salt (opt.)3 c. Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and spices; add to butter mixture, mixing well. Stir in oats. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 9 minutes for a chewy cookie, 10 to 11 minutes for a crisp cookie. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire cooling rack. Store in tightly covered container. 4 1/2 dozen.
OATMEAL COOKIE SQUARES: Press dough onto bottom of ungreased 13"x9" pan. Bake about 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely; cut into 1 1/2" squares. Store in tightly covered container. 4 dozen.
VARIATIONS: Add any one or combination of two of the following ingredients, if desired: 1 cup raisins, chopped nuts, or semi sweet chocolate, butterscotch or peanut butter flavored pieces.



From the back of the bag of Nestles chocolate chips. I use walnuts for the nuts.

Toll House Cookie Recipe
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts
Directions:PREHEAT oven to 375° F.COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. PAN COOKIE VARIATION: Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars. SLICE AND BAKE COOKIE VARIATION: PREPARE dough as above. Divide in half; wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Shape each half into 15-inch log; wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.* Preheat oven to 375° F. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 5 dozen cookies. * May be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to 8 weeks. FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING (5,200 feet): Increase flour to 2 1/2 cups. Add 2 teaspoons water with flour and reduce both granulated sugar and brown sugar to 2/3 cup each. Bake drop cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and pan cookie for 17 to 19 minutes.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Gizmo


Please pray for sweet Gizmo. He had emergency surgery today and is at the Animal ER. We found out he has a blockage and his vital signs are not good. He is the sweetest cat. I can't find a good picture of him right now, but I'll keep looking. He made it through surgery, but it's touch and go. We are thinking good thoughts for you Gizzy.
UPDATE: We took Gizmo to Texas A&M. He was doing better but is now in a coma. We are hoping he comes out of it tomorrow.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Time for Snowsuits

It's getting warm in Houston, so it means it is time for snowsuits. I know some people are confused, but it's very simple. During the summer in Houston, it is impossible to wear cute summer clothes. I have to have a jacket for the bus I take to work. It is so cold on the bus I am miserable. Then I get to work, and it's cold in the building. I'm not sure why people can't understand that we don't need the air conditioner to run colder than the winter is in Houston, TX.

You can't even go into restaurants without taking in a sweater. Don't people know how much electricity they are using? And it is not comfortable!