Cookie Success!

So the new mixer got a workout this weekend. Yesterday I made a batch of buttery shortbread cookies and today I made a ton of ginger snaps. The ginger snaps turned out awesome. You mix all the ingredients together, including butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, vinegar, ground ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and molasses [which I was skeptical about b/c it didn't smell all that great] then roll the cookies into little balls and bake on the sheet. I used the Joy of Cooking recipe, but took a cue from another recipe and dipped the cookie ball in granulated sugar before putting it on the cookie sheet and baking. That turned out to be a great idea, as the cookies bake and flatten they get that awesome characteristic cracked surface and the sugar makes them sparkle and adds just a little extra sweetness. The cookies are crisp but still a tiny bit chewy at the center. I'd say this was a success!

These are the shortbread cookies all cut up into squares. You bake them in a jelly pan [cookie sheet w/raised sides] and just press the dough in then cut into pieces when done. Very easy.

Early Birthday Gift!

So, the big 3-0- is coming up in a month, and I already get to play with my gift! I told my husband I wanted the Kitchenaid stand mixer we registered for from the wedding but never got. Over the years I've kept an eye on the price via amazon.com and figured we'd buy it asap when a good price showed up on the onyx black one we wanted. Well $207 came around, and voila! New pretty mixer to play with. It's kinda a gift for both of us, but I've been wanting it for a while and couldn't justify just buying it.

So...what do I make first!!!!!!!! I've been dying to make shortbread cookies w/ jelly in the middle and I think that will be my first recipe. What else? Any suggestions? I know there have been things I've tried to make in the past or wanted to but knew the little hand mixer I had just wouldn't cut it. So now I've got all the power and glory of this bad boy to make it happen! I think husband will attempt some bread recipes too, he's got a pretty awesome dutch oven bread already. With time I assume we'll buy the pasta attachment and maybe some others. I figure lets master the simple stuff first and then we can move on.

So, now the important question...where do I keep this thing? It's pretty big, and we have limited counter space. Already hogging space are, toaster oven, bread box, knife block, utensil holders, and griddler...all very important things. Guess we'll just have to cram one more thing on the counter. Maybe we should clear up the recycling stash and other little things....

Oh, and in other news, I don't have to go back into work for a week!
Today- telework
Friday- flex day
Saturday
Sunday
Monday- fed holiday!!!
Tuesday- telework

Wednesday, ugh, back at work :-(

Ok, back to getting some work done at home :-D