Monday, December 23, 2013

Lots of Lace

This post contains it all: fashion, food (cookies) and fur (William). First let me start by stating that I've noticed that I've been wearing a lot of lace patterned clothing over the last week or two. I found this lace peplum top at J. Crew for only $22, normally $98. The sales associate told me when I checked out that I could not use my educator's discount with the top for the current promotion going on, but then I noticed she gave it to me anyway when I checked the receipt. I thought that was a nice holiday gesture.

I had some trouble with the sizing of the lace peplum top because the xs seemed to be really, really tight and short. I didn't take a small in with me to try, because usually small in J. Crew is too big, so I ended up just buying the small without trying it on, figuring it would work. When I tried the size small on at home, it was really big in the tummy area. This dilemma forced me to come up with a creative solution in the form of a belt. This crystallized citrine belt from Anthropologie really did the trick and cinched the waist just right.




So now on to the food. Below you will find my recipe for these simple, elegant and most importantly yummy lace cookies. I made these last year in a post entitled Cookies for Santa. I thought this year I would show some of the process of making the cookies.


First, gather your ingredients. You will need the following:

1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ounces dark chocolate, melted



Second, make sure your dog doesn't try to eat the cookies or ingredients. I used to help my mom bake cookies as a little girl, but William doesn't seem to understand that his help is NOT needed in the kitchen! While you are yelling at the dog to leave the food alone, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.


In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and oats. Set aside. Basically you are mixing all of the dry ingredients and then the wet ones. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter, cream, corn syrup, and vanilla. Mix with the beater blade until smooth. Slowly add in the dry ingredients. Mix to combine.

Drop about 1/4 of a teaspoon of batter onto prepared baking sheets. Try to make the cookies all the same size. Place only 12 cookies on each sheet because the cookies will spread in the oven. Bake for about 8 minutes. Remember that a little dot of dough such as this...


Will turn into these delicate round cookies like this after the 8 minutes are up...



Let the cookies cool for about two minutes and then place them on a drying rack such as the one featured above. Now you have a choice, you can either eat the cookies "as is" or you can do something more decadent and add chocolate and make them into little sandwiches.  I opted for chocolate. I like to use Ghiradelli's bittersweet chocolate.


Melt the chocolate by creating your own double broiler. I place a bowl on top of a steaming pot of hot water to generate steam and thus melt the chocolate. Why not just microwave the chocolate? Well, microwaving usually scorches the chocolate and you don't want to do that!


Last, find two cookies of equal size and brush one side with your chocolate. Place the other side on top and then place again on the dryer until chocolate hardens. Don't leave the cookies out, because we had an incident with William eating two of them which scared me to death because dogs as you may know shouldn't eat chocolate. Luckily he seems to be doing fine!



4 comments:

  1. Wow, those cookies look amazing! And that belt is the perfect solution for the top! William looks adorable--I'm sure he is a great helper in the kitchen, haha. Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing holiday break. Educators sure do deserve it!

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    1. Thanks M! I hope you enjoy your break from school as well. I think everyone needs a little rest and relaxation! Merry Christmas!

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  2. Oh my word on those cookies! Love what you did with the belt, and hi William!

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    1. Thanks Laura! These cookies are actually almost gone as I brought them to a Christmas party on Sunday and they were devoured! I am going to make a new batch this afternoon because they are so simple.

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