Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts

Sunday, January 17, 2010

THE GREAT COOKIE CAPER

As I may have mentioned in a previous post, by husband and I gave each other a beautiful candy apple red Kitchenaid mixer for Christmas.  Now, I love to cook.  I do not love to bake.  I actually have never owned a really good stand mixer.  I remember my mother's much-used mixer which, when we cleaned her house out, was probably still running after 40+ years.  My plan for this mixer was that dear husband would learn to bake, especially his dearly loved tollhouse cookies.  The reason I do not like to bake is the fact that measurements must be exact and precision is not one of my strong points.  It is, however, my husband's. 



A few nights ago, Ken was wandering around with something on his mind.  I was obviously through with the kitchen for the evening.  I had cooked dinner and I was finished.  He realized that cookie making was not on my schedule.  He had never baked anything in his life.  He was desperate.  He finally started hauling out ingredients with much sighing and grumbling.  "What are you doing, dear?" said I.  "I am making my own tollhouse cookies since you obviously aren't going to," said he.  I gave him a few brief instructions, but he was impatient so I just let him go on his own.  I giggled to myself, just knowing the end result was going to be, well,  interesting.

Never underestimate a man who is desperate for tollhouse cookies.  One note:  Ken's version of tollhouse cookies is that they have only a few chocolate chips per cookie, have raisins and are flat and chewy.  I know, I know.  I have told him numerous times that these are not tollhouse cookies, but he is adamant about this subject.


Guess what?!  Yes, the cookies were delicious.  He doubled the butter and brown sugar, mixed them BY HAND (sorry Kitchenaid) and baked them under a watchful eye for much less than the usual time.  We did not have raisins, but we did have the chips.  The cookies were flat and chewy, buttery and perfect, with 2.5 chips per cookie. 

I ate more than my share and look forward to my husband's next desperate act in the kitchen.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

TODAY ON BEECH DRIVE

I am a Realtor and today was my day on the schedule to be on duty. It was dead! No calls, no one stopping in, nothing. The real estate market is definitely in a slump and according to all reports, it may continue for awhile yet. People are buying, though. The market where I work in Delaware is primarily vacation home or retirement home shopping. If you are buying within the resort town proper the prices for a single family home are close to or exceed a million dollars. "Deals" are non-existent anymore.




After I got home I took Beau for his walk, stopping along the way to chat with neighbors and other dogs. For the second time in as many weeks Beau went after (with teeth bared) other much larger dogs. It seems to happen if the dog runs towards him (usually in happy exuberance). Beau believes the dog is being aggressive so Beau defends himself and me. At least this is what Beau told me!



We have been dealing with fleas for the past month. First the Frontline stopped working and then the Advantage stopped working. He is now on Promeris and Capstar and they seem to be working. I still see a flea here and there and he still scratches, but I think it is improving. I bought flea foggers which I haven't used yet. What a pain.


I have a pot roast simmering in the crock pot and I will make mashed potatoes and veggies for dinner. I always use the crock pot for roasts - even a chuck roast can be cut with a fork. I don't use it for other recipes, but I love it for things like soups, roasts, stews.


The storm here didn't turn out to be anything. I hope the same is true for all of you. Hurricane Ike is the next one we need to worry about!


Good health and happiness to you and yours,