Cookies and more cookies

I've said it before and I shall say it again...I LOVE MY NEIGHBORS!

I live in a community.  For once in my life, I know my neighbors and they know me.  They look out for me and vice versa.  They bring me dinner when I'm home alone or have worked late.  It feels good to belong.

To reach out to my neighbors, I am baking Linzer cookies and cinnamon rolls for them this evening.  I'm so excited!!!

As the weather chills, I look forward to baking in my kitchen.  I love creating treats and meals. 

For Halloween the subdivision comes together for a chili cook off.  The adults dress in costume - I will be the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland this year.  Can't you just see and hear me?  "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!!"  LOL

I made an awesome apple cider for last year's celebration and this year I'll whip up something delightful.

So tell me, what's your fall ritual?

Punitions - My Punishment

I've discovered baking. I haven't baked many items but slowly and surely I am getting the hang of it and becoming comfortable.

Today was a busy early day and I decided to make a simple treat. I watched Sunday Morning, one of my favorite shows, a few weeks ago and the were talking about a bakery in France (the famous Poilâne bakery). I am a fan of ALL things sweet so I decided to try these.

I pulled out the workhorse KA food processor and began. The softened butter, the half a cup of sugar, the all purpose flour and the egg. I marveled...no vanilla, no lemon, no NOTHING? I divided the dough and put one half in our fridge and decided to try the other half right then. It rolls out well and it is one delicate dough.

The cookies are light, delicate and crisp. The punition has no color and I marveled. At first I thought I made a mistake. I was initially disappointed in these cookies. I did not see the hype. I took a bite of the cookie and was not particularly impressed. I thought it lacked flavor. I said to myself "no vanilla, no lemon...no nothing" I shared the cookies with my partner and before we knew it...the batch was gone.

I beg to differ...the punishment is not in the waiting but the fact that they go so fast.