There will be cookies or other ways to skin a cat.

As you all know the oven died the other day before I could bake all the cookies for the kiln opening.
I had made up 2 batches of the sesame seed cookies to be baked and it occurred  to me that there could be other ways to "bake" these cookies.

I took my cast iron skillet and heated it up and then I placed the cut cookies into the pan and cooked them.
Yes, I did.
And, they came out pretty darn good.
I was surprised at how well this worked.
I did one whole batch this way.
I did think that the sesame seed cookies worked well but, I was not ready to take the chance on the Cowboy Cookies.
Those were farmed out to my sister to make and bake.
Since she lives in Virginia they will be coming with her along with her peanut butter cookies.

I also sent batch number 2 of the sesame seed cookies off to be baked at Laurie's house.
There will be cookies.
And, there will be pots.

It is still a bit hot in the kiln, we will continue to take bricks out through the evening as the kiln cools.
More later,
M

Cookies and cookies

Cowboy Cookies, Louise Heywood

1 cup cooking oil. (use the oil- butter makes a whole different cookie)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups of flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups quick oatmeal
1/2 cup nuts- we use pecans-chopped
1 cup chocolate chips

Place flour,soda,salt and baking powder in a bowl and whisk them all until well blended.

Mix oil and sugar until well blended using a large wooden spoon or hand mixer.
add beaten egg and vanilla and beat well.
add flour mixture a bit at a time beating well.
Go back to the wooden spoon--- and stir in oats,nuts and chips.
Let rest in the fridge for about an hour.
Preheat oven to 325- bake 12- to 15 minutes- until just getting brown.
ungreased sheet, no parchment paper.
Cool.

Triple Chocolate Cookies, Gary Rith

This is the one he will share- he has another one that is a big secret!

Preheat oven to 325
have at room temperature 2 sticks of butter.

List!
2/3 cup chocolate chips
2 sticks of butter (8 ounces)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup of cocoa powder
1/2 cup nuts
1 cup of chocolate chips
More flour about 1/4 cup.

 Place 1 cup of flour, 1 tsp. baking soda and the 1/4 cup of cocoa powder in a medium size bowl and whisk  until well mixed.
Place the 2 sugars in a bowl and mix them together.
In a small bowl beat the egg and add the vanilla to it. ( I do this since I use local eggs and I never know when there might be a bad egg in the bunch.

Melt the 2/3 cup of chips in the microwave for  about 44 seconds more or less depending on your machine.
Stir in the butter, letting the butter melt into the chocolate.
add egg and stir.
add sugars and stir.
add flour mixture and stir.
at this point Gary suggest more flour - I used at least 1/4 cup more.
And stir.
Add nuts- I did not since Mark is not a fan of chocolate and nuts in baked goods.
Add 1 cup chocolate chips and stir.

We covered the bowl and placed in the refrigerator for an hour or more while we made the Cowboy cookies. Then as we rested the Cowboy cookies we baked the T.C.Chip ones.
We, Laura, dropped scoops on a baking sheet with parchment paper by using my small ice cream scoop.
( this really works well.)
We then baked for 12 minutes.

The ones right out of the refrigerator were lovely.
The last batch after sitting and getting warm were flatter, but just as tasty...

One of each of these with a cup of tea or coffee are just tasty!
Cheers!
M

Time for a Slow Sunday

I took Friday off to renew my driver's license and meet Tracey Broome for lunch. The plan was to just wander through the junk shop downtown and then go have lunch. Tracey met me along with her sweet daughter at 10:30 and we did just that.
 I turned on the radio as I left to head home and heard about the shooting.
I was floored as I know you all are.
I did not sleep that night just thinking about the way this would change so many lives. The loss is overwhelming.
I try not to be political on this page and I am a person who does not step out into the public to tell you what I think is right or wrong. It is not up to me to judge you or your beliefs. I don't want to think that I know more or I am a better judge than you about how we can change things to make this better.
I do know you can not predict crazy.

 I do think we are failing the many families that may be dealing with someone in their family who is mentally ill.
There are no answers here as we will never know what the thoughts were that lead to such a tragedy.
Our hearts were and are broken for the families of the children and the adults who died.
The world has been changed.
These are all our children.
I weep for the loss.


Weeks ago my friend Laura and I made a plan to bake some cookies.

I was happy to have this to look forward to.
It is the simple things in life that can make life so sweet.

We figured out pretty quick the steps of working together in my kitchen as we made two batches of cookies.
The first up was Gary Rith's triple chocolate cookies.
A recipe that I have been holding for awhile afraid to make a full batch for just Mark and I to eat.

They are wonderful!
 I will have to post up the recipe for you.
Or beg Gary for it.
This cookie is worth the butter!
 

We made a decision to leave out the nuts since Mark prefers no nuts with his brownies.
I know this is not a really good reason for you nuts lovers but this is how we roll.

Then after pouring over the many other choices we had we settled on one of the family favorites that Mark's mother made every year.
Cowboy cookies.
This cookie was one of the first cookies that I ever had made by my mother-in-law.
 I came from a house of cooks and cookies were not on the list at our house.
My grandmother and my mother were both great bakers but they were more likely to make a pound cake. I don't ever remember them making cookies as we were growing up.
I learned my cookie baking from a lot of trial and error and from my mother-in-law and daughter.

Louise was the one who would teach our daughter to bake.
I came home one day to find my 4 year old, who was never very interested in the kitchen like her brother was, calmly sitting on the kitchen counter meticulously  spooning cookie dough onto a baking sheet while her grandmother was shifting cookies in and out of the oven.
Anna would become the cookie baker of the family long before I would take this over after she left home.

 So you know my heart was singing when I received this picture the other night of the wee one in an apron I made her this past year making cookies with Mom.

Life is a circle of many things.
Make your circles full.
When asked by Santa what wee one wants for Christmas her answer was- hugs.

Happy Sunday- go give hugs.
M

Spring into Summer Kiln Opening

As we follow a beautiful spring with what promises to be a journey right into summer Mark and I thought it would be fitting to have an Open House and Kiln Opening here this Saturday from 9-5pm.
I hear there has been talk of cookies, but this time I have something else in mind I just need to get to the kitchen to make it.
Intrigued?
You should be.
We like to eat around here and share some of our tasty treats with others.

What is coming out of the kiln?
Beer/Coffee Mugs for one.
Lamps for those- need a lamp places in your house.
Oil lamps, good for the deck or the house.
Bottles for those summer flowers.
Vases for even more summer flowers.
Juice cups and tiles.
You just have to come and see for yourself what else is out.

There are 2 other kiln openings in our area this weekend .
One at Donna Craven's place and the other at Bulldog Pottery.
We are all a short drive from one another so don't worry about the gas.
Plus, I just noticed another dip in the gas prices today.
Bonus!

When you stop in let us know if you read the blog or if you are a friend on FB we would love to know and take a minute to chat with you.
Many Cheers,
M

Give me a minute

Oh we had some weekend over here with Mud and Suds going on in the yard and then Mark and I going over Sunday afternoon to see the pottery set up at the High Point Furniture Market.
But first things first.
The weather watchers were sure we were getting rained out on Saturday and I refused to believe them.
I was right 90%  of the time because we did have a late shower in the afternoon that dumped on us for a bit and then rolled away.
Other than that we had a great day of pottery, tiles, soaps, yard art and of course the cookies.
I have posted a new one here that was a hit.
But what cookie was not a hit? We had our favorites and many folks picked their favorites as well.
Now it was not all about the cookies as folks picked out some beautiful pots, tiles, yard art and soaps to take home with them.

Abela Soaps

Snowhill Pottery and Tile

Raven Pottery

On Sunday it rained and a cold wind came in.
Lucky for us Don and Mark went and blocked up the carport with the tent sides and we put everyone under a dry roof and used the large covered tent as a walk through for customers to come in and stay dry.
Brilliant those two are!

 Anne even strung some festive lights for us and things were nice and cozy for Sunday.

Late Sunday we drove over to see the pottery in the Miles Talbott show room in High Point.
It rained all the way over and I was not looking forward to walking in the rain while all dressed up and wearing heels. Yes, I own some dress clothes and hells I mean heels.
We found the building and there was a parking lot right there and no long walk in the rain.
When we walked in I was struck immediately at how beautifully set up the building was.
We checked in and went to see the pottery and meet Joe Ruggiero the designer who set up all the rooms  we were placed in. He gave us such a warm welcome and let us know how very pleased he was with the work.
And, we were so pleased to see the pots in action.

We meet many wonderful folks, had a bite of cheese and walked through all the rooms.
What I took away  was that this is one class act. We saw beautifully made furniture, wonderful fabrics and people who were truly interested in what they do. It was all very upbeat and positive.
We left with a good feeling after seeing it all come together.
The only thing we are planning to change is to pull the midnight back a bit to show that it is really Navy and not black.
It wants to look black although in my eye I could see the blue tones to it.
Where will this go from here? I don't know but we will keep you posted as we move along.

A few thank yous from the weekend.
Thanks to our wonderful friends who came and spent the day with us and shared what they do and then held everything together while we went to High Point.
And a big thank you to my sister who came and helped out.
 She cooked and fed us and we talked way too late into the night.
To my son who came out and set me up with a new computer, that I will play with soon! 
The customers who continue to support us and let me know they read the blog.
Thank you all- you are what keeps us doing what we do.
Cheers!
M&M

More kiln cookies

Sesame Seed Cookies
1 stick of butter, melted
add:
1/2 c. sugar
1 beaten egg
4 or 5 T. sesame seeds
1 t. vanilla
mix in:
2 cups of flour sifted with ½ teaspoon salt and baking powder

Mix together well and form into a brick or log.
Wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper and
Chill for about an hour, slice into 1/4 inch thick slices
and bake at 350 for 15 - 18 minutes.

A great, not real, sweet treat -- a favorite with red wine.

 Peanut butter cookies no flour:
1 cup peanut butter- I like to use all natural chunky-
1 egg
1 cup sugar
Bake 350 for about 15 minutes.