Goals

It’s midsummer and I’m not sure what I’ve accomplished. 

Here’s my list of summer goals, food and otherwise:

1. Make croquembouche

2. Make ice cream

3. Fried Pie 

4. Get my drivers permit

5. Read Middlemarch

I think these are some pretty good goals. I’ve decided to make the croquembouche for my brothers fourteenth birthday, it’s quite a sophisticated dessert, but he’s a pretty sophisticated boy. It’s unfortunate that I can’t pronounce it.  

The ice cream is just one of those things I HAVE to do, the thought of homemade ice cream keeps hovering on the hungry fringes of my mind, I can’t decide - peach, blueberry, strawberry? I’ll probably end up doing a Dorie Greenspan recipe, she explains everything so clearly.

Fried handpies. Need I say more?
I feel like a failure, I’ve been sixteen for nearly six months now, and not only am I not driving, but I’m don’t even have my stupid permit. 

I started Middlemarch in early May, and despite the fact that I got about a hundred pages into it, I got involved with another book, and I forgot all about it. 

Fortunately I feel much better in my head, a few more decisions under my belt that make me feel as if I’m going somewhere. 

Obstacles are those fearful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal. 

-Henry Ford

mmmmm

Sometimes I get cravings for things I don't even like. Like asparagus. And coffee. 

I know that's a ridiculous thing to say, I mean, who doesn't like coffee? Or asparagus for that matter?

But lately, all I'd been wanting was coffee ice cream. Or coffee with ice cream. Or ice cream with coffee. 

It doesn't matter. The point is, my craving wouldn't go away. Finally, today, I pulled some vanilla bean ice cream out of the freezer and blended it with ice, milk, and of course, coffee. I would have taken a picture of it. 

Except it was gone so fast. 

I drank it all. 

And now I feel better. Way better

The Reason I'm Here.

I'm here because I like to bake. A lot. Cookies. Pie. Cake. You name it, I bake it. 

These are the best chocolate chip cookies. Ever. Dorie Greenspan is the goddess of baked goods. 

These are unbelievably good. So good that a dozen will disappear more quickly than you can possibly imagine. 

Dorie Greenspan's BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chips or 2 cups store-bought chips or chunks

1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Whisk together flour, salt and baking soda.

Working with a stand mixer w/paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for about 1 minute until smooth. Add the sugars and beat until well blended. Beat in vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each egg goes in. Reduce mixer speed to low and add dry ingredients in 3 portions, mixing only until each addition is incorporated. On low speed mix in chocolate and nuts. 

Spoon on tablespoons of dough onto baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between spoonfuls. 

Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, for 10 to 12 minutes. Until light brown on edges and golden in center. 

Allow cookies to rest for one minute. Then using spatula transfer to cooling rack. 

Things i like

1. distant places 

2. hats


3. dance
4. converse allstars

5. doughnuts

these are the beautiful things in my life that make me happy. oh so happy. hopefully this blogging thing will become a habit. i am so excited.