QUING Parties at the Plaza with HOMEMADE OREOS

SNOW DAY!   

No, not a school's-out-let's-make-a-snowman-drink-hot-chocolate-eat-grilled-cheese-&-tomato-soup-then-go-back-outside-to-make-snow-angels-and-a-snow-fort kind of snow day.   

It's a snow day because it actually snowed. Winds whipped and howled. The temperature sunk. Snow blobs were velcroed to mittens, scarf, and dog. Puddles widened around the stack of boots on the doormat. 

Today is quite happily the very kind of weather day that was every day-from November to March-when I was a child. Welcome winter! We've missed you.

Now for the truth. I was supposed to spend this snow day taking down a houseful of Christmas decorations. But hanging out in the kitchen with my snow dog (she's Canadian) and my daughter (who will return to college in a day or two) felt like a much better idea!

Spontaneous moi, I tried a few recipes from a fantastic blog I stumbled upon a month ago. You've probably heard of Smitten Kitchen.  But I just discovered it when I was reading a post from my dear bud Paul, who happens to be the editor and publisher of the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook which is due out later this year. Deb, the writer, cook, and photographer has a charming voice. Her photos are gorgeous, and she's come up with lots of intriguing recipes.

 

Still, call me skeptical about blog recipes. I've tried a bunch of them, and have been disappointed by the results. Paul knows his stuff, though, so I shouldn't have feared. This snowy day turned out to be a mini Cookie-palooza: a practically perfect baking day. I tried three recipes from Smitten Kitchen, and am now sending my college gal back to school with Homemade Oreo Cookies, Gingersnaps and Chocolate Chip Cookies- luscious treats that are sure to sweeten up the study and social lounges.

 

The Homemade Oreos-devoured by my boys the second after I shot their photo- will be added to our favorite cookie rotation. I loved them as chocolate wafers, without any cream inside. Just be sure to have milk in the house when you bake them.

Husband loved the Gingersnaps.  So I'll have a bake-off between Deb's Gingersnap recipe and my favorite Gingersnap recipe in the near future, and be sure to share the results.

In the meantime, check out Smitten Kitchen. It's the Real Deal.  GUSTARE!

SMITTEN KITCHEN'S Homemade Oreos
Adapted from Retro Desserts, Wayne Brachman

Makes 25 to 30 sandwich cookies

For the chocolate wafers:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg

For the filling:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375°F.
2. In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.
3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.
4. To make the cream, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.
5. To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe teaspoon-size blobs of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream. Dunk generously in a large glass of milk.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

GINGERSNAPS

OFF TO SPRING SEMESTER!

  HAPPY WINTER, SNOW DOG!