I was in the Mood for Donuts

And I had just read this really good recipe in the local newspaper.  Actually, I cut out the recipe and placed it ever so lovingly in my King Arthur Cookbook.  I always like to compare a couple of recipes before I actually make something for the first time.  I need to know that the basic ingredients are a common thread in several recipes and then I move on with confidence. Well wouldn't you know-- it was happy as a clam right there in my cookbook and the very day I decided I was going to make donuts...right after my nap...

Well, what you see is my cockatiel deciding that the newspaper sticking out of my cookbook needed to be shredded!  So he got through the top margin and the recipe title and almost obliterated the first item on the ingredient list! I made do with what was left.

I think it turned out pretty good!  Not quite as cakey as I would like, but quite edible.

Little did I know the recipe would yield 48 donuts.  Gees!  It's only me here!  So what could I do but try freezing them.  I stuck one in a snack baggie and froze it.  The next day I put it in the microwave for 20 seconds and then in the toaster oven and toasted for about 1.5 minutes.  OMG!  as good as the day I made them!

So it looks like I will have me some really good donuts for quite a while!  Yippee!

Great Cookie Recipe

I figured it was time to memorialize my favorite cookie recipe before my cookbook falls apart. These are my favorites because they have no added fats...no butter, no lard or margarine, nuthin' and I just go a little goo-goo over a cookie that is crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. These are just fabulous with coffee...

Here it is:

Crunchy Chews

3/4 Cup of all purpose flour
1 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
3/4 Cup of Sugar (I like to mix brown and white equally)
1/4 teaspoon of salt
2 Eggs
1 Package of diced dates ( 8 ounces )
1 Cup of broken up Walnuts (not too finely)

Start by heating the oven to 325 Degrees

Then grab a large bowl and combine the dry ingredients (flour, powder, salt and sugar)

Beat the eggs in a separate bowl till they are light and fluffy

Fold them (eggs) gently into the dry ingredients, just until combined.

Then add the dates and walnuts and fold gently also to combine. Handle as little as possible.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (your WILL thank me for this later) and put a tablespoon or so of the cookie mixture for each cookie on the sheets. You should end with exactly 24 cookies...space them as much as possible because they spread a little when baking.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes and remove from the sheets to cool. Let them air dry so they get crisp, then place them in an airtight container and munch away when the mood hits!

No Knead Bread

To all those folks that I sent to this blog today for a no knead bread recipe...I guess I never did post that one! But not to worry, here it is along with links to King Arthur Flour who is rightly responsible for my addiction to this fabulous loaf.
Here is the recipe link:

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/no-knead-crusty-white-bread-recipe

and here is THEIR blog post with pictures and everything else. Go ahead and try this one...I promise you will not be disappointed!