Ghosts and cookies

I'm trying to write my book again. I've decided it's too hoity toity to call it a novel, because really, who am I fooling that I could write a novel. It's a ghost story and I want it to be historically accurate to the time period and place. So I've been trying to find some books about Iron Ore mining, having babies in the early 1900's, and late Victorian architecture. Mostly I am looking at pictures on the web of Queen Ann style Victorian houses and that is amazingly fun. And its a great way to say I'm researching before I actually write. I have tried out several starts to the story; writing it in first person - not sure I like that, writing it from the past and present - going back and forth in each chapter, and jumping right into quirky characters finding their way through life that just happens to be in a haunted house. And honestly that just feels hokey. "They" say write what you know, but I want to explore this story I've had in my head for 3 years now. It's totally made up - not anything I know. Well I know the area I'm setting the story and I know about suddenly owning your first house. But my house isn't haunted and I'm not living in a Queen Ann Victorian. And then I torture myself wondering what the heck I would do with the book anyway once I've actually written something I like. Send it to...where? I'm sure thousands of people send in mediocre transcripts of 'novels' every day to publishers. But I am getting way ahead of myself. I haven't even finished more than two chapters. Just venting, free writing usually helps me get past a block and why not publish it in my blog?!

Sigh, maybe we'll go make more cookies.

Here's what we made day before yesterday. I sent three dozen of them to work with Mark so I wouldn't eat them all. Recipe is in Cook's Country magazine. Might be able to find it on Cook's Illustrated website; Peanut Blossom Cookies.

Cabin Fever Fun

So the last month has been full of ice, snow, rain, more snow, and cold. Very cold. So cold that we haven't been able to play outside more than once in the last month and we are slowly going crazy in our sun deprived state. So what else is there to do but bake? I ask this question daily to my 4 year old and she hasn't yet come up with a good alternative, so bake we do. And most often it involves chocolate, because my idea of combating SADD is to eat more chocolate, the darker the better.



This recipe I copied out of Pillsbury cookbook years ago. I think it was one of the first winners of their national bake off. And I've seen versions of this recipe in other places, but I have no idea where that cookbook went, so I can't give specific copy right information...sorry.

Chocolate Pixies

1/4 cup butter
4 oz unsweetened chocolate (4 squares), chopped
2 C All purpose flour
2 C sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 C powdered sugar

In a large sauce pan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat, cool slightly. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and eggs. Mix well. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour for easier handling. Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Lightly grease cookie sheets.



Shape dough into 1" balls and roll in powdered sugar, coating heavily. Place 2" apart on cookie sheets. Bake 13-18 mins. Remove promptly from cookie sheet to wire racks to cool. Store in air tight container and enjoy!

Tuna Pinwheels

Tuna Filling
2 5 oz cans White Albacore Tuna
1 celery stalk, diced
1 Tbs pimentos, drained
1/2 tsp Lemon Pepper
1/4 cup Tzatziki sauce
dash of lemon juice

Pinwheel
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup veg shortening
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
Up to 1 cup of milk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix tuna, celery, pimentos, lemon pepper, tzatziki sauce and lemon juice in small bowl, set aside. In a large bowl mix flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles lumpy crumbs. Add just enough milk to make dough, it should not be too sticky. Roll out on floured surface to a 12 X 7 inch rectangle (roughly). Spread tuna mixture to 1/2 inch of edges. Start with one long side and roll up. Then slice in large pieces, roughly 1 1/2 inch. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for 15-18 mins or until golden brown.

I sometimes serve this with cream of mushroom or celery soup as a "gravy" by only mixing in half a can of water.



Stay tuned for my Garlicy Green Beans.