Chocolate Chip Cookies Kinda Day

Today I needed to bake.  I don't know what makes me get into the mood that I have to bake.  But, I do know, that if I get in the mood I should just do it....the results are usually good!  I have wanted to try a new recipe from Cook's Illustrated.  It deviates from the normal chocolate chip cookie....in a good way!  You have to melt the butter in a skillet and let it get golden brown and nutty smelling.  You don't use a mixer to make these...nice!  If you choose to make these follow the recipe exactly and read all their helpful hints.  It will help you make the best cookies.  I love that eating just one cookie is enough.  It's big, chewing, gooey, and filling.  It's a cookie with a lot of flavor and has a good texture.  I hope this post will make you try it, I believe you won't be disappointed.  I can't wait for my husband to get home.  He'll love it and I'll get all of the praise...really you have to start with a great recipe but he doesn't need to know that (wink, wink!).


P.S.  It only made a dozen for me!  Well, really that's a good thing...you understand, I know you do!

What a Great Day

Well, I LOVE progress... today I finished Karin's pajamas.   Sometimes I procrastinate, but not today!  I even mailed them!  Don't they look cute?

My honey is home so I wanted to do something nice for him.  He's always doing such nice things for me like making coffee every morning when he is home.  Well, today, not only did he make delicious coffee, he went and had my tires rotated!  I'm a very lucky woman.  I want him to feel just as lucky so today I got the bread machine out....

... and after the lovely bread machine did it's magic, this is what came out.....

My husband is from the Czech Republic.  I have been lucky enough to visit his country twice.  While there, I got to eat many pastries.  The one above is  called Kolace.  Fortunately, I was able to find a recipe close to what they make in Czech.  Mine turn out more like a bread than a pastry but he's happy with my results!  Kolache have a sweet surprise in the middle.  Mine are I filled with poppy seed filling but you can use jams too.

Treating us to some good old fashion pumpkin bread....YUM!

Today, I made something yummy!  My husband requested my pumpkin bread....so this is how it started...

I love to cook...especially when I get to use this much sugar....

and this much oil.....

in this beautiful kitchen my husband made for me...

And the end results.....

I am sure that the good in pumpkin cancels out the bad in sugar and oil????  Plus, the smile on my husband's face when he sees the bread is worth the extra pounds I'll gain eating a slice (or a few slices)!