Gingerbread House in the Eave-ning

I bought all this candy and spent hours constructing this pitiful thing in a sad attempt to sate an indescribable itchiness I was feeling. It didn't really work, but it was still fun. The structure was made out of a sugar cookie recipe altered slightly to include chocolate extract and cinnamon. The frosting was powdered sugar + milk, and the candies were many. The structural integrity of the cookies was called into question many times, and many grams of sugar were consumed, but at least I got to make a little girl the slightest bit happy for a moment.

Garlic Grilled Corn

Summer is ears of corn. We melted some butter, chopped up some garlic, and mixed in salt and pepper. Then we wrapped the drizzled corns in foil and grilled them for about 40 minutes, until they came out hinting of garlic and good weather to come (hopefully).

Cinnamon Schnapps Eggnog

1/2 c. milk

1 egg

some vanilla

dash nutmeg

1 tsp raw sugar

1 nip cinnamon schnapps

and blend that baby up!

Mushrooms in Red Wine

There were a lot of mushrooms in the refrigerator threatening to topple into the realm of undesirability, so I cooked up a few for myself in:

butter

red wine

garlic

lemon juice

rosemary

thyme

They came out delicious. No one else in the Sarris house except Dearest Mother enjoys them, though (wimps!).

We also grilled burgers marinated in soy sauce and some other things of which I am unaware, and they were beauteously done.

Fruit of the Afternoon

Beautiful, simple snack.

apple

kiwi

raisins

raw sugar

Brownie Cookies

Mother is the Town Clerk for Hubbardston, and today she had to be at work from 6 AM to 10 PM, presiding over the local elections and counting the ballots with her volunteer help. Earlier she had complained about the lack of chocolatey desserts available in the house, so it was Bee's idea to make her something to ease her pain. We couldn't decide between brownies and cookies, so I decided to attempt cookies out of a Betty Crocker boxed brownie mix. They didn't turn out terrible, but regular cookies seem to be more pleasing.

The ingredients were (assembled somewhat randomly):

1 box brownie mix

1 stick of butter (softened)

bloop of vanilla extract

1 large egg (farm fresh!)

1 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

~1/2 c. vegetable oil (when the dough proved unbearably dry)

a bunch of walnuts

a bunch of white chocolate chips

These had to bake for longer than a normal chocolate chip cookie. In the end they were kind of crispy, like chocolate crackers, but with a melt-in-the-mouth quality. Very different from the generally desired soft cookie, but I suppose if it's your thang...

There was a rainstorm during the baking process, and these freshly-baked cookies got splotched with rainbows in a most pleasing fashion.

Bagels!

Making bagels is something I've wanted to try for a while, and today it didn't seem like it'd be so hard. First, combine:

1 package rapid-rise yeast

3/4 c. flour

3/4 c. warm water

1 1/2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tbsp salt

and beat with vigor for a few minutes. Then, add about 1 1/2 c. more flour until a stiff dough is formed. Knead this for a few minutes, and let rise (covered) for 15 minutes. I left mine much longer than that, as it wasn't rising very quickly and the family was engaged in some mandatory horseplay in the other room.

When the dough has risen, cut it into 8 equal pieces; form each into a ball. Poke a hole in the center and enlarge it while working into bagel shape (or really, whichever shape happens...). Cover these and let rise again.

Boil a gallon of water (with a pinch of sugar), and when it's simmering, add the bagels. Boil them for 7 or so minutes, and remove to a greased baking sheet. I brushed them with beaten egg for kicks, which provided a nice lil' crust.

Bake at 375 degrees for about half an hour.

I was gleeful to get an actual bagel taste out of these, with none of the strange preservative-induced hints that you get in Thomas' and other storebought bagels. And they weren't too much work.

Also, delicious for breakfast with cream cheese and smoked salmon!

Art and Dinner

Because Bean and I have taken to consuming large amounts of ice cream during the afternoon, supper is usually a light affair. This one was white wine, a greek salad, and painting. :D