Not so Sweetie, Petitti

Ok, here's the deal. I know you want me to bake. I have heard you ask,
"When are the cupcakes coming back" (Diane),
"Will there ever be anything sweet around here?", (I obviously don't count), (Scott),
"Is it pumpkin chocolate chip muffin time?" (Christina)
and poor Nic who will get a box of store bought cookies today, but probably won't complain.
I WANT to bake, but my jeans are begging me to stop. I have walked a million miles with anywhere from 7 to 13 pounds strapped to me. I have sweat and strained, but to no avail. I have to quit eating all those yummy things I love to bake. At least temporarily, until I get into a losing mode.
So hang in there with me. I will be experimenting with some yummy lo fat recipes....whole wheat, high fiber whatever looks appealing. But for this week, no sweets, lots of exercise, a new attitude.
But don't worry....I'll be back.

The Arrival of Fall

About 10 minutes ago, it was officially fall. What a feeling. Temperatures dipping, okay, so dipping into the low 80's, but it's better than the 100 degree days of a month ago. It's my favorite time to bake and cook, but also my favorite time to work at Williams Sonoma.

There's a revival of baking and cooking this time of year. It must be partly due to the intoxicating aromas of cinnamon and spices as well as the cool temperatures inside as well as out. Football season kicks into full gear, and everyone starts to anticipate the holidays. The store is beautiful right now. It lures you into baking, and makes it easy too. There's no rush yet, people really want to pause and enjoy the fall.

There is only a week and change left in September, and I haven't baked a single apple anything. Friday night is Homecoming, so I'll bake Apple Pie Squares later in the week. I have a great recipe for Apple Cookies that I may dig up too. But honestly, it's pumpkin that has me excited. Pumpkin creme brulee, pumpkin muffins with chocolate chunks, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, so many ideas. Maybe even toasted pumpkin seeds this year. So now you know what October holds!

The early part of this week however is devoted to house keeping. Stripping wallpaper, grocery shopping, errands. I hate when all that boring stuff gets in my way of the kitchen. Hold on, I will be back mixing it up! Happy Baking!

Cookies, again? But it is fall!

I love to volunteer. I love to bake. So when the church's "Angel Food" network called and needed help I said sure. She started asking for a veggie tray and dip. "Sorry", I interrupted. "is there anything they need that actually needs to cook?" So when she tentatively asked me to bake 4 dozen cookies, I was totally relieved. I can whip up 6 dozen (4 for church, 2 for us) in far less time than it takes to clean and slice veggies. And anyone who knows me, knows how I feel about veggie trays. Unsanitary, boring to eat, boring to make, give me a salad for my veggies and a chicken wing for an appetizer! So cookies..

I headed to the park yesterday for a brisk walk with Debbie Rocker. The temperature was 59 when I left the house. It had warmed nicely to 70 by the time I got home, but I was all about fall baking. I pulled out a trusty book called The All-American Cookie Book by Nancy Baggett. There is the recipe for Farmers' Favorite Molasses Cookies. I have a note written in the margin. In November 2005, Christina and I shopped at an outdoor mall. We went to Starbucks for coffee and shared a molasses cookie that was out of this world. I experimented with a few recipes and settled on this one. Molasses, ginger, cinnamon, it tastes like fall. I'd like to try it with brown sugar instead of white, but they are really perfect. Don't over bake and they will stay soft inside, and they have a sugary, crunchy exterior. I can hardly wait for hot, spiced cider. Happy Baking!