Tuesday, December 13, 2011

When I Procrastinate I Design Furniture and Upcyled Knick Knacks

First, please note that the Holiday Book & Cook Blog Hop is still open to recipes. We would love to see more goodies on our list. So check out this great promo op.

So instead of writing and editing and doing anything productive on the author front, I've been designing furniture. And knick knacks. No, really. To date, the hubby and I have collaborated on an ornament tree made of recycled scrap wood from local companies.The wood pictured is a Brazilian hardwood and we'll also be working with mahogany and oak as well as a variety of stains.

We hope to fine tune the design this winter and then sell them next year. So, if you like what you see, bookmark this blog!




Then the other project is an open wardrobe for the toddler inspired by this picture on Pinterest.



We found a lovely vintage dresser with fabulous architectural elements and hope to refinish it sometime in January. Our toddler is in love with pink so the plan is a high sheen raspberry pink with some kind of orange contrast inside. That could change, but is what we're thinking right now.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Book & Cook Holiday Blog Festival: Crackle Top Molasses Cookies


Here's my contribution to the Book & Cook Holiday Blog Festival. Scroll down to find out how you can add your recipe and play along!

These molasses crackle top cookies are addictive. Relatives hoard them, pushing each other aside to get to the box (seriously!). People beg for the recipe. My husband's college professor stalked me for months asking for it. (And I do usually give it out no problem, but let's just say she made the naughty no-cookies-for-you list.)

Why such passion about a cookie? They taste like Christmas. Like Santa is coming. If the holiday had a flavor, these cookies would be it. Make these cookies and you'll go down in history...just like Rudolph.

Michelle's Molasses Crackle Top Cookies

Makes approximately 1 1/2 dozen cookies.
Preheat oven to 375F.

-Mix dry ingredients in a bowl:
  • 2 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 tsps baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsps. cinnamon
  • 2 tsps. ground ginger
  • 1 tbsp. ground cloves

-In the mixing bowl cream together:
  • 1 1/2 sticks butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for rolling cookies in)
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (light brown is okay, but dark is best)

-Once the butter and sugar are creamed add:
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp. vanilla
  • 1/3 cup unsulphured molasses

-When all the wet ingredients are incorporated, add the flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time.

-Form dough into balls about the size of a ping pong ball and roll in sugar before placing on the cookie sheet.

-Bake for 10-11 minutes at 375F.

Now it's your turn to share a recipe...just enter a link below.