Aristocratic English Cookies - My recipe!

This is my own recipe but I wanted to share it with everyone. No cookie plate is complete without something 'grown up' and favorful for the adults to enjoy with a cup of hot coffee. They are filled with spice and chunky goodies.

Aristocratic English Cookies

3/4 cup shortening
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon finely chopped orange zest
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup brewed coffee, cold
1 cup chopped raisins
1 cup chopped chocolate chips
1 cup toasted walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together the sugar, shortening, and orange zest. Add the egg and vanilla., mixing well. Mix together the flour, spices, baking soda and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Add coffee until well blended. Stir in the raisins, nuts, and chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonfuls on greased baking sheets. Bake for approximately 15 minutes and cool on wire rack.

Time's a wastin' - gotta plan that cookie baking and here is a start!

This is a favorite cookie in our family. The ingredients and taste are simple but addicting. I always think it is the cinnamon/sugar coating that attracts. Just smelling these cookies baking will bring thoughts of happy holidays to mind. Giant ones are fun to bundle in sets of three or four with some pretty kitchen grade twine for holiday giving.

Giant Snickerdoodles

3 cups sugar
1 cup softened butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons cinnamon
Dash of ground cloves

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, blending well. Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Mix well.

Combine the 4 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Measure out 1/4 cups of dough and form into balls. Roll balls in cinnamon/sugar mixture and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until set. Remove immediately from baking sheets onto a cooling rack.

Makes approximately 3 ½ dozen big cookies. Can be made smaller but be sure to adjust baking time.

Something to remember in this divorce-happy world!

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

- Henry Ward Beecher

Chick's New Bed . . .

Because we have this weird obsession with not having dog hair in our food, on our clothing, or in our carpet, Chick is allowed in but has to stay in a specified corner of the house. She comes in and starts off obeying but, gradually, she migrates with the excuse of seeing a crumb or doing a very, very long stretch that sends her across the room. Today, we got her a dog bed for that specified corner. Initially, she wasn't happy/sure about it. It took a lot of pats on the head and kind words to get her to try it. As you can see in the picture, she is looking over at us to see if she is doing it according to specification. Eventually, she saw and felt the merit of being on a soft surface in the house instead of outside looking into the house.

Weather Whether You Like It Or Not . . .

My husband was just remarking, today, that we never seem to have actual temperate weather here in our part of Southern California. This time, last week, we were out and about in jeans and tee shirts. Today, we are wearing long sleeves and layering tee shirts over that and are still cold. Last week, it was up in the 80's and today we got down to 42 degrees with the promise of more rain. We have yet to use the central heat, however. I expect it is because if the gas bill goes up, the one who declared 'cold' first, gets the blame! :-)

Since I'm planning on making a pot of soup with sandwiches for dinner, I'm rather happy for the brisk air. Nothing worse than sweating while 'enjoying' a hot bowl of soup! Don't ask me how I know this! No bills came in the mail, our bank statement showed plus in the balance column, so who can be down on a cloudy day?

Early Saturday Morning . . .

I get up early every day of the week and always at the same time. I like my moment to get ready for the day, do my exercises, and catch up on computer stuff in my own little mental blanket of silence.

Every day of the week is a blessing to wake up to but the Saturdays my husband doesn't have to work are always more joyful. Even though we won't be doing much more than catching up on chores leftover from the week, it is nice to know that he doesn't have to drive to work. It is nice to know that he is home.

As posted previously, I treated the family to homemade ravioli for dinner last night. I've made it before but tried a new pasta recipe for the dough. I was a little anxious as one of the ingredients called for was 1/2 cup of white wine! For noodle dough? I took the chance and have to say that substituting half the eggs for the wine made a wonderful pasta dough. My family was very happy with the outcome and I woke up this morning to the scent of it once more . . . my teenage son decided to warm up leftovers for breakfast. I'm taking that as the supreme compliment.

Anyone interested in an interesting dough for creating homemade pasta, let me know. It's going to be my go-to recipe from now on. How could I have not learned about this wine ingredient until now? In God's own time, right?

How Funny Is It . . . ?

Funny how long it takes to serve God for an hour, but how quickly a team plays 60 minutes of basketball.

Funny how long a couple of hours spent at church are, but how short they are when watching a movie.

Funny how we can't think of anything to say when we pray, but don't have difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.

Funny how we get thrilled when a baseball game goes into extra innings, but we complain when a sermon is longer than the regular time.

Funny how hard it is to read a chapter in the bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a best-selling novel.

Funny how people want to get a front seat at any game or concert, but scramble to get a back seat at church services.

Funny how we need two or three weeks advance notice to fit a church event into our schedule, but can adjust our schedule for other events at the last moment.

Funny how hard it is for people to learn a simple gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is for the same people to understand and repeat gossip.

Funny how we believe what the newspaper says, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, or to think, or to say, or do anything.

Funny how you can tell a thousand jokes  and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sharing messages regarding God, people think twice about sharing.

Funny, isn't it? Are you laughing? Are you thinking?