Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Rant: That Stairwell at Work That Always Smells Like an Everything Bagel

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
So there is this stairwell in my office building that pretty much always smells like an everything bagel. I couldn't figure out what angle to take on this rant. There are two avenues. One - just, why? Two - it always makes me hungry. I think I have to go with the latter.

The thing is, even though it is the result of people's boots dragging in snow that melts and releases stench from concrete, this smell makes me hungry every morning. I make a point to have breakfast every morning and yet once I open the door to stairwell A and follow the guy who wears those terrible round-the-back-of-your-head fleece earmuffs up the steps, I can't do anything until I get that bagel.

Our building IS next to an antique shop...and I know that sometimes old brass instruments smell kind of nasty and garlicky...if that's what is making me hungry I think I have reached a new low. Like the time I found that piece of a tortilla chip in my belly button.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Office Cookies: Cleaning Out the Jar Edition

Sunday, January 18, 2009
You know what movie is a terrible, terrible movie? Failure to Launch. It's on TNT right now and I am only watching it because the movie on ABC Family is worse and I have to do SOMEthing while I am waiting for my cookies to bake. If I have to see Sarah Jessica Parker meaningfully clutch her decolletage, or perform that "endearing" high-pitched squeal in one more production...OH wait, never mind, Mr. Mom is on the CW now. THAT is FILM.

My company moved in to a new suite on Friday and I thought that I should honor our first day of actually having real desks by cleaning out my baking jar. Do you have one of these? Some sort of container that has tied-off bags of various types of candy chips or coconut with like a quarter cup of leftover product in them? Well I was getting sick of looking at mine so I threw these cookies together. I am sure they already exist elsewhere in the baking sphere and are probably called a "turtle" something or other, but for my purposes tonight they are...

MISTER MOMS - yields about 2 dozen medium sized cookies

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla, almond, or orange extract
1 1/2 cups sifted AP flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup to 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips or 3 oz. baking chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup to 1/2 cups caramel or peanut butter chips
1/4 cup to 1/2 cups toasted chopped pecans
1 tsp orange zest (optional)

Okay so sift together flour, soda, and salt in a small bowl. Cream butter and the two kinds of sugar in a larger bowl until light. Add the egg and mix well. Throw in your extract. Incorporate dry ingredients in three parts and mix well. Stir in nuts and chips with a rubber spatula.

Here I am going to add a special equipment note. If you don't have one of these, get one.

This small ice cream scoop with the little release mechanism is oh so helpful, and while two spoons still work, I appreciate the efficiency and uniformity the scoop offers. Plus, it is cute.

(If you are a meat friend or family member, you may notice from these pictures that I have succeeded in growing out like three of my nails. I have found that they are also helpful tools. Oh, a meat friend is someone you know in real life, like in the flesh as opposed to just virtually. It's a term my sister uses frequently and I think it's really catching on.)

The base of this dough (meaning everything minus the chips and nuts) is a great starting point for making up a cookie that uses your excess coconut, dried fruit, candied ginger and zests, nuts, etc. My mom makes a version with orange zest, dried cranberries, chocolate chips, and oats. Everyone loves them.

I let you know how these ones go over. They have certainly...OMG Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is on Lifetime. Gotta go.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Pumpiefinger

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I started a new job last week and am trying to ingratiate myself to all my new co-workers by establishing myself as the office Piefinger. It's totally a cheap trick, but I think it's working. I whipped up this pumpkin bread, left it in the break room, and people were swinging by my desk all morning. Even my boss approached me with a hunk of it in his hand and said "For my birthday..." which made me laugh really hard as an opening line.

Here's the recipe:
Easy, Perfect, Pumpkin Bread - adapted from Joy of Cooking

Whisk together:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 T fresh grated ginger root
1 T fresh grated orange peel
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. baking powder

Combine in another bowl:
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla or other extract

In a large bowl beat:
6 T unsalted butter
and cream in 1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs (add one at a time)
1 cup (plus) pumpkin puree

Alternate adding in the flour mixture and the milk mixture and try to do it in thirds. Be careful not to overmix. Feel free to stir in nuts or dried fruit before spreading evenly in a loaf pan. Bake for about an hour at 350. Enjoy the way your house smells.

Sorry I don't have a picture but it was gone by the time I thought to take one.
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