Recipe rewind, because in the beginning there is
a blogger who has no readers. She still posts great food in hopes that the
readers will come..........you can also view it here in the archives, Sunday, January 17, 2010.
Even
though I have been cooking for over 40 years, I am still learning to be
better prepared in the kitchen. Being prepared can have a different
meaning to each cook; or for that matter any family. But being prepared is a skill worth having and developing to it's maximum potential.
Also I like to play. Everyone needs
to play, it keeps us happy and young in spirit. Playing in the kitchen
is fun for me. Sometimes it even results in a tasty surprise or improved
technique. I like to think about and employ ways to be better prepared
in the kitchen and through out the house. These usually revolve around the
kitchen, but not all the time. This morning however, the kitchen is once
again my playground.
We have a cookie problem in this house. You see, we love cookies! But
We
are only two people. And yes we could eat the whole batch of cookies,
while they are still fresh and moist. We have been tempted to do that and only eat
cookies until they are gone. It would be fairly easy. After a long day at work, you come home
tired, hungry and just want to eat, now.
"I know lets have cookies and milk for dinner!"
"OK!"
But
we usually act all grown up and so, cookies and milk for dinner is not the menu selection of the evening. But we still want cookies!
Fresh cookies. Delicious cookies. Homemade cookies. So I got to
thinking.........
Slice and bake cookies,
with a twist.
Some cookie recipes lend themselves to the traditional log shape. These
are sugar cookies, gingersnaps or any cookie dough that does not have
chunky ingredients. Other cookie recipes will lend themselves to a
"slab" shape that can be cut into squares before baking, allowing for the
chunky ingredients. Like chocolate chips, broken nut meats, raisins and
other dried fruits. Any drop cookie recipe will work in the "slab"
shape.
Here
is the best part, for each dozen cookies the recipe states, you make a
separate molded portion of dough for freezing. When you want a fresh
batch of cookies, you simply pull a portion of dough from the freezer,
let it thaw for a few minutes, cut into 12 pieces and bake.And this goes
without saying, with 2 or 3 different kinds of cookie dough in the
freezer, for drop in guests or that needed cookie plate, no problem.
I
have noticed that most cookies bake at the same temperature for about
the same time, 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. If your cookie dough needs
a different temperature and or baking time, simply put a little note on
the wrapper. You can use any family favorite recipe, I personally love
the oatmeal cookie recipe on the side of the oat barrel. It is sooooo
very delicious, adaptable and dependable. I did notice one little thing
about freezing dough for cookies, you need to add the tiniest bit of
water. I have adapted that wonderful cookie recipe to be freezer
friendly.
Oatmeal Cookie Dough for the freezer
adapted from: the Quaker barrel
makes 4 dozen
1 1/4 c butter ( 2 1/2 sticks) - cut into thick slices, this helps keep the mixture from hanging up on the beaters
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
1/2 t salt
1 t vanilla
1 egg
2 t water - don't leave this out
Cut butter into thick slices, add sugars and salt. Beat until creamy. Add vanilla and egg, beat until fluffy, beat in water.
Combine and whisk together:
1 1/2 flour
1 t soda
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
3 c oats
1 1/2 c raisins
Beat
flour mixture into the butter sugar mixture. When smooth, reduce beater
speed and add the oats and raisins. Mixing gently until oats and
raisins are mixed in evenly.
Scrape the beater clean, smooth the dough into the bottom of the workbowl. Divide into 4 sections. Pack dough into your mold.
Place a square of waxed paper over your mold, add 1/4
portion of the dough. Using another piece of wax paper, cover
over the top of the dough, pressing firmly to make a compact
evenly shaped "slab". Remove top piece of waxed paper, fold
the extended portion over dough, turn out. Repeat.
Tidy and packaged for the freezer.
To
bake, remove one portion from freezer, let thaw a few minutes (or
remove the day before and place in refrigerator), cut into 12 pieces and
bake. Yum!
Now lets talk chocolate!
To make chocolate chip cookies, eliminate the spice and raisins, add 2 c chocolate chips. Proceed as shown above.
How about Maple Walnut?
To make Maple walnut, substitute maple flavoring for the vanilla, and walnuts for the chocolate chips.
Life is good, especially with a warm cookie from the oven!
As always, thanks for taking a minute to stop by. We appreciate your time and your wonderful comments!
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