Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Cookies!

Good Afternoon,

Well, the winter blah is out in force around Columbus today.  The entire DD household is down for the count with flu-like symptoms.  However, this has not stopped the production of....

Christmas Cookies! *TADA*

Monday brought the creating of sugar cookie dough for some cutouts.  I used the basic recipe from the Better Homes and Garden's cookbook, then added a splash of hazelnut extract for fun and depth.  The cookies are good, but could use some tweaking in the future.  I think maybe adding some spice or candied citrus peel to them would work well.  For now they are dusted with cinnamon/clove sugar or red/green crystals.

Yesterday I happened upon these wonderful ginger cookies and made them immediately.  *Ree, I think, is a goddess of the kitchen, and you should read her blog.*  I used some butter, which made them a bit crispier than hers look.  I just couldn't bring myself to use the shortening...  I DID however, put in the fresh ginger and will stand by that decision forever.

I don't have any original recipes for you today, and I'm sorry.  Hopefully the creative gene will come back after the holiday is over.  For now, happy eating, and happy holidays!
DD

Monday, December 15, 2008

We Make the Rockin' World Go 'Round

First, let me apologize for being conspicuously absent for a MONTH!  Admittedly, winter hit here in Ohio, this means gray rainy skies almost every day.  Pair that with working and holidays and other madness and you have a very deviant blogger indeed.  So, I'm sorry, I'll try to be better in the future!

Today we are feeling very deviant.  I want you to picture, for a moment, your own favorite mental image of a housewife.  (I tend to picture frilly aprons and crinolines, c. 1950, perfect hair, and that sort of glazed happy look on her face as her children provide background music.)  Now let us compare that picture to the reality here in the DD home.  Your truly is decked in a band t-shirt, flannel, and a hoodie which would make any 1980s child proud.  Also, my background music is Queen, played slightly too loud...
However! We are accomplishing very domestic things.  Meal planning and shopping is completed, and there are ingredients for Christmas Cookies setting out on the table while the butter softens.  This batch will be basic sugar cookies, though I'm hoping for a gingerbread house sometime in the next week.  More decorations will be added to the existing tree and garlands this evening, and half of the holiday cards are in the mail!  (No wonder we need a little classic rock to balance everything out.)
I promise more recipes and hopefully a few pictures in the near future.  For now, hello again, and we'll see you soon!

DD