Random Moments of Baking

Because Friday and Saturday were pretty packed, Sunday seemed a good day to slow things down a bit. I have what I would call "random moments of baking" where I decide to bake something - this Sunday it was sugar cookies. Cookies so far have been the bane of my existence, well that's probably a little over the top - but they're up there for sure. It is so hard to get a cookie just perfect - taste and texture all in unison - AND a cookie that lasts longer than 30 - 60 minutes post bake. 

I tried a new ingredient approach to sugar cookies and have to say the results have both mine and Morgan's approval - would have Lily's approval too if she was allowed one. They tasted really great, had the perfect slight crisp to the very edge and were soft throughout the rest of the cookie. I also added a little something extra - some had just sugar on the top, but half the batch had sugar and cinnamon. Not sure if this turns them into snickerdoodles as I've never made those- but I think it might??? Morgan loves cinnamon toast - so I thought she would probably like this twist to the cookie and she absolubtely did. 

The recipe:

Dry:

2 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

Wet:

1 cup butter

1 cup white cane sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. Vanilla

3 tbsp. buttermilk (I mixed 4 tbsp. of fat free milk with 1

/2 tbsp. of cider vinegar)

 

Preheat Oven to 375.

Cream the butter and sugars. Then add egg and vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients (that you have pre-mixed together) in batches to the wet mix. When all is incorporated add in 2 - 3 tbsp. buttermilk.  

Roll in balls and place on cookie sheet - mine were probably the size of a golf ball. Press down gently on each ball to semi-flatten and then add sugar or sug

ar and cinnamon to the top. 

Morgan helped put ingredients in, sprinkle the sugar, and most importantly - taste the dough and final product.   

Because I had the sugar out I decided to also make some lemonade (have had a bag of lemons hanging around for over a week) and as an added bonus to that took some of the leftover simple syrup (cooked sugar and water) and added frozen strawberries. I blended the mix in the blender and froze in an ice cube tray. My thought is that I can add these cubes to the lemonade for a strawberry flavor addition, and or give them to Morgan as mini-sicles. She loves crunching on ice and LOVES popsicles - so I am thinking she should love these too. Next time I will probably just add this strawberry mix straight to the lemonade - too bad for delayed thoughts this time.

To finish off our day of cookery - Morgan (her hair did not suddenly go funky - it is the result of a late afternoon swim sesh) decided she wanted to help make dinner. Her contribution was turkey roll ups and the recipe is as follows:

1 Flour Tortilla

Shredded Cheese (she chose a colby and monterey jack mix) 

Turkey

Place all items in the tortilla - roll and eat. She kept saying how good they are and that she wants them in her lunch next week, with the condition that she gets to make them.

Ps - I'm still searching for the perfect chocolate chip recipe, I have come close but have not yet reached perfection - if you have it please, please share.