Monthly Archives: January 2011

[91] Cranberry Crunch Cookies

The Complete Book of Cookies, edited by Deborah Grey

Note: This entry will have significantly more photos than most, so the structure will be more like the “Thanksgiving Day Photos”:http://www.metacookbook.com/archives/138-A-few-Thanksgiving-photos..html entry than most recipe entries.

I’ve mentioned at least once before that my friend Grace has been spending some time with me learning to make cookies. Mostly she’s asked to learn cookies that I have already made for the challenge, so I don’t think that many have come up here.

This was a new recipe to both of us though. I think I picked it out because I wanted something new, it sounded delicious and (as is so often a factor in my baking decisions) I had all the ingredients easily on hand.

Grace and I had a good time baking them, and they tasted decent, but the truth is that they were ugly little cookies.… Continue reading →

Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes by Josie Fison, Felicity Dahl & Quentin Blake

Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes by Josie Fison, Felicity Dahl and Quentin Blake.

We found this book in Powell’s bookstore. Oddly, in the technical books building. I snapped it up and wouldn’t let it go, except to be scanned so we could pay for it.

Most of this, I’ll admit, was due to my affection for Dahl’s stories as a kid. I don’t think I actually read most of them, but the ones I did read, I loved. Every single one. But especially The Witches.

The rest of it, though? The rest of it was that Bill and I have two biological nephews, with two biological nieces on the way. We also have a few honorary nephews1. Children who will definitely be reading Dahl, because Bill and I will shower them with his (children’s) books.… Continue reading →

[90] Grandma L’s Apple Butter

The fact that I have this recipe is all Corrine’s fault.

You see Corrine loves her husband very much. Her husband really loves apple butter. However, once upon a time, Corrine didn’t know how to make apple butter. I guess they don’t have it in the Great Frozen North.

Corrine taught me how to make jam in 2007. That was the same year that Corrine & her family discovered several apple trees on public land, and watching several apples just rot on the ground below the trees. I recall her watching for quite a bit of time, hoping someone would come grab the apples before just going and doing it herself. As I recall, the family ended up with a couple of five gallon buckets full of cute green apples.… Continue reading →

[89] Roasted Chicken Breast with Creamy Butternut Squash and Chile

cover of Cook With Jamie

I don’t think it’s possible to relate to you, in writing, how much I love butternut squash. I think you’d understand if you were to eat some with me, or if you’d been here as our CSA shares kept coming in with squash. I was utterly delighted.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a perfect knack for storing these guys. We’ve lost about two from the CSA to mushy areas that I’ve read make them inappropriate to eat. I wonder if my Grandma Ella would have said otherwise; I wish I could ask her.

Even with those losses, though, I have several squashes in my pantry to make into new and delightful food creations. The tricky part is finding ways to use them up without making enough to feed an army.… Continue reading →

[88] Apricot & Chocolate Cookies

The Complete Book of Cookies, edited by Deborah Grey

Once upon a time, a friend told me that if I ever wanted to hitch a ride with them to Costco, to see if I wanted a membership too, to just let her know. She spoke of the glories of bulk buying, and I was intrigued.

So, one day in late December, I decided to take her up on it. She said she wasn’t available that day, but her boyfriend would be, and I was welcome to ask him. She told me not to get my hopes up, though, as he hates the place with a passion. I figured I might as well try.

There was no rule, however, that I couldn’t stack the deck in my favor. So I sent him a couple of text messages inviting him to Costco:

“Hey, handsome!… Continue reading →