Parsnip Snickerdoodles

After spending a good few hours driving around to different stores with the mr looking at all sorts of appliances mostly stove, all I wanted to do was bash my head against a dish washer. But then I would have to choose one to bash against and I can't seem to do that.  Agh, I hate shopping, especially for something that I really need and cost a lot of money and I don't want to screw up.

It's all about the stove, the main tool in the kitchen. I want it to be awesome, pretty, super functional. It needs to be able to not break (I break ovens) when I crank the heat way up. I don't want or need anything fancy like infer red censors or a led touch pad(that is just more things for me to break), I just want a simple, easy to clean, power house that will do my bidding and not look like shit. Oh, and not be a million bucks.  And that there lies the problem. Those un-fussy powerful ovens are the super duper expensive ones. Yup. I am all over the place with this and it's got me overwhelmed. To top it all of, there is a deadline. The stove needs to bought and in the house but the end of next week.

What I am hoping for now is that appliance fairy from the super duper expensive oven store comes by my house and drops me a stove for the reason none other then I want it. Mahaha. Dreams.

When the shopping trip ended the mr dropped me off at home to do a few things while he went back to the house and painted trim. My plan was to sort through bills, research ovens some more( so much researching) and clean the car(its stinks). As soon as I walked into the house I realized something. I haven't been home at this time in like a month. There is sunlight, I can open the door cause it's warm out, and I just didn't really give a crap about doing anything. I took a look around my tiny loft and with my tiny kitchen and tiny oven. My tiny oven, no fancy, no gadgets, not even very powerful, but has baked and roasted and boiled so so many things. That's when I decided that I wasn't going to do anything that I came home to do, I was just going to bake something, spend a little more time in my tiny, one wall kitchen. And so that's what I did. Parsnip snickerdoodles. The idea popped into my head a few weeks back and I just so happened to have a few parsnips left in the fridge (I was saving them for my dinner but I figured the mr deserved cookies), so there really was no question. I was making cookies. After the past few weeks I think we all need to bake some mother F-ing cookies.

Cookies came out fantastic, the house smelled amazing, and I got to just chill for a bit, not thinking about new ovens or bills or money, just watching the cookies bake. It was nice.

The stuff. Gonna need a parsnip or two along with some flour, sugar, coconut oil, salt, baking soda, vanilla extract, cream of tarter, and cinnamon.

First thing is to soften the parsnip. Chop it up and place into a pot with about and inch of water and steam until fork tender. Once done, toss into a food processor to puree it all up.

Parsnip puree for the cookies ans enough left over for a quick snack.

The measured puree goes back into processor with sugar, vanilla, and coconut oi and get pulsed all together until combined.

Then the rest of the dry ingredients go in.

Pulsed until a nice dough forms.

A ball of cookie dough awaiting a cinnamon sugar bath.

Make little balls of dough them coat them in the cinnamon sugar and place on a cookie sheet.

I give the cookies each a little squish with my fingers cause thy are not going to spread much.

And into the oven they go.

Minutes later and out they come.  Cinnamon sugar Parsnip goodness.

Nothing beats not doing the things that need to be done them baking a pile of cookies.

-C

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Parsnip Snickerdoodles

makes 2 dozen

• 1 large or 2 small parsnips (1/2 cup pureed parsnip )
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup sugar plus 2 tablespoons
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Grab parsnips, chop into chunks andtoss into a pot with about an inch of water. Stick on stove on high until water boils then down to a simmer with a lid on pot until the parsnip chunks are fork tender.

Dump cooked parsnips into food processor and blend until smooth. Scoop out puree, measure a 1/2 cup (any extra is a snack) and add it back to processor. Add in coconut oil, sugar and vanilla and pulse until combined. Add in the cream of tarter, baking soda, salt, and flour and pulse it all together until a a dough forms. Dump dough onto counter and bring together.

Preheat oven to 350.

iI a small bowl, mix together the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon. Take small lumps of the dough and roll into balls. Roll the balls all up in the cinnamon sugar mixture and place onto a baking sheet with a little space between them. With your hand or a fork if you want,  smoosh the cookie somewhat flat. When the sheet is full, place into oven to bake. Cookie should take about 9-10 minutes or until slightly rised and the bottom is a light golden brown.

Remove cookie from oven, place on a rack to cool, then you know, eat them.

Popped Quinoa Chocolate Crunch Bark

My family is big. And my family is crazy. This makes for interesting gift giving.Over the years as we have all gotten older and started having littles, our gift giving has evolved. We use to buy each other presents, but then that got a little to intense and expensive. Then we started coming up withweird gift games where we had to buy 10 things made out of wood or glass and did a kind of white elephant things, which was fun, but we all ended up with wooden spoons and shot glasses.  Or the stockings. We did stockings for a few years where we all stuffed something into each of the stockings, but that got kinda lame when everyone started stuffing packs of gum into them....It was getting to be kinda ridiculous. So this year we decided to give secret Santa a try. The deal is that the 9 older siblings drew names and then the 9 cousins drew names, all with a spending limit of $25. It works out for the best because the littles get to have a little fun and participate, and the adults don't have to go and blow stupid money for kinda stupid shit.  Everyone is responsible for one persons gift of happiness..... And they better make it good!

But one of the things that I love about Christmas is making all the little something. One year I made them each a veggie shaped pillow, and another they each got a hand made box. (I love to give handmade gifts.)So this year I still wanted to give each of the littles a little something too. And not anything to crazy, just something small. And now that we are not stuffing stockings with gum, I figured it wouldn't hurt to give them each a little candy.  They all like chocolate so chocolate it was.  And to zaz it up a little, I popped some quinoa to add some crunch and dear I say, a bit of healthy protein, to the candy. ( sneaky sneaky)

And bonus. this bark can be made in like 5 minutes (1/2 hour to cool) . Wrapped into little wax paper packages with a cute little string, its a super simple, easy, but sweet gift that almost anyone would enjoy (even if you make it and give it to yourself)  And no, you don't have to make it specifically for the holidays, this is just a great little bit of chocolate snack that can be made whenever you damn well please to make it!

The stuff. Chocolate chips (milk, semi sweet, dark, or a mixture) and uncooked quinoa.

Popped quinoa. Fun stuff. Working in small batched,  all you need to do is stick the a layer of uncooked quinoa into a heavy bottom pot, turn heat onto high, grab a spoon and mix the quinoa constantly until it starts to pop. (The seeds will pop up, but as long as you pot is big, they should stay inside) When it starts popping, turn heat down to medium low and continue to stir until the quinoa is golden brown and stops popping as frequently. Don't over pop it our else you will burn it!

Dump the popped quinoa into a holding vessel and pop some more.

Now melt the chocolate. I used the double boiler method (pot of simmering water and a glass bowl) but if you have a microwave, go ahead ans use it.(chocolate in a glass bowl, microwave for 30 second intervals until melted)

Either way you choose, just melt down the chocolate until nice and silky smooth.

Mix the popped quinoa into the melted chocolate...

Then scrap onto a wax paper lined baking sheet and spread out to about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.

Place in the fridge to set up

Once the chocolate has harden, break that shit apart! Big pieces, little pieces. All up to you.

And do what your going to do with it. (wrapped in wax paper with a sting looks so nice if you giving it as a gift)

So simple, so good, so the perfect heartfelt, maybe a little last minutes, gift. Or just a nice little sweet snack with a healthy little kick to it.

And I probably won't be posting until after the holiday so...

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, blah!!!!!

Bye!

-C

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Popped Quinoa Chocolate Crunch Bark

makes 3 cups of bark

• 2 cups chocolate chips (any kind you like)
• 1 cup dried quinoa

To pop quinoa, add enough quinoa to cover the bottom of a heavy bottom pot. Turn heat on high and slowly stir the quinoa until it starts to pop. Once it's popping, turn down to low and continue to stir until all the quinoa is nice and golden brown and the popping isn't as frequent. Dump the quinoa into a bowl ans continue on until you have popped all of it.

To melt chocolate, either use a double boiler (glass boil on top a low boiling pot of water. Add chocolate to bowl and mix until melted) Or use the microwave. (Heat in glass bowl at 30 second intervals until melted)

Combine the popped quinoa to the melted chocolate, mix until combined then pour out onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. Spread the chocolate to about 1/4 inch to a 1/2 inch thick with a spatula and place in he fridge to set.

Once chocolate is hard, remove from fridge and break into chunks.

And eat, share, and save a little for later.

Store whatever uneaten candy away from heat.

Sunday Happy

AAAaahhh!!! It Worked !!. My wax paper snowflakes to the gods sent us some real, bona-fied snow.. like 2 whole freaking inches. I was so excited when saw it at 430 am this morning that I even woke up the mr to make hii come look..("Oh, cool.. now let me sleep!") I finally feel like the black whole inside of me has been filled, and it's filled with fluffy white snow. Aah. I feel normal again.  ( I will not think about the fact that it still suppose to be in the upper 50's on Christmas)

On that note, oh shit yes. It is indeed Christmas in 5 freaking days. How did that happen, I can not tell you, but what it more crazy is that this year is almost over.  I can't wrap my head around. I guess we have been so busy with the house and other life stuff that the these last few months have just kind of flown on by, but I guess that is how it is for everyone.  But one day at a time folks. So today let's all take some time to meditate and relax and enjoy the simple little things, like a fresh cup of coffee or being the first one to walk on freshly fallen snow, or napping. Coffee naps. Walking through the snow with coffee and coming home to take a nap. Simple.

And on another fantastical l note. the mr and I... We bought plan tickets to Ireland! And along the way we are going to be spending a few days in Copenhagan and in Iceland. Holy Fuck right?(Merry Christmas/Happy Birthday/we have been trying to take a trip Ireland for a few years/to us. So yeah) I am so excited I can barely stand it. We are leaving at the end of January so I have a month to obsess over the absolute cheapest things to do, places to go, things to eat (I am scared of the food in Iceland) and modes of transportation. (If you got any good tips, please, throw them my way!)  Oh boy world, get ready!

And seriously people, chill. No need for a bunch of shopping, just make everyone cookies. IT will make everyone happy.

The weekly web stuff.

- 52 Favorite Tips for Smarter Holiday Baking

-So true. Why It's Better To Give Experiences, Not Things

-I used to make this all the time. DIY Lavender Linen Spray

- Love this  Parisian Flat

- I totally have a thing for cool old mirrors.

-Call me jealous. A VINTAGE AIRSTREAM ADVENTURE ON THE ROAD

-And check out this bus!!

-A little chemistry lesson on yeast and why it makes bread rise.

-Would you eat at atHello Kitty Themed restaurant?

-Inspiration for my windows at the new house. 10 Cozy Little Window Benches

-Thank you NPR for making this awesome list of books for me to read

Pretty things in picture form from the week

Have the best week!

-C

Make Your Own Snow.... Wax paper Snowflakes

I think of myself as a problem solver. I see a problem and I look for a solution. And not to sound like a broken record, but the problem that I am having now is that it is winter here in Vermont, but you wouldn't know it cause it's 50 degrees and there is no f-ing snow. Yes, this is a problem for me. I don't think its just me, everything around here is acting weird.  My plants are not going into winter mode and are starting to droop and be sad. My fall allergies are coming back, plants are starting to bud again, Washer is shedding like crazy, and my snowshoes have not left the barn. It's just weird and it makes me sad.Vermont is suppose to be cold ans snowy right now. Sure, there are people that might like this wonky weather, think they are getting a little extra treat, but not me. NOT ME!  So this is the problem. And the solution that I have come up with, short of moving, is to cover all the windows with wax paper snowflakes.

See. Problem solver.

We have been spending a good amount of time over at the new house working away so this is where I decided to plaster my flakes. In between cleaning up pieces of broken wall and moving 500 lb bags of trash out of the house, I sat down at the little table, plugged in the Christmas lights, turned on some Christmas music, and totally zoned out. Sipping coffee and sniping away..it felt so right. And the results were quite good if I do say so myself. A window full of flakes that made me smile. Maybe the snow gods will see my effort and grace us with a huge ass storm. Wouldn't that be so lovely!

All you need to make some flakes is

• wax paper (mine is slightly tan because it's not bleached)
• scissors
• tape

Optional things

• glitter/glue
• paint/brush
• Christmas music
• A hot beverage such as coffee or cocoa

Note. Why wax, well wax paper is really thin and makes cutting through all the folds easy. It also lets light shine through rather nicely and best part, the wax keeps the paper from getting soggy and gross from window condensation. But if you want, use paper. I don't mind.

This is how learned to make a snowflake... Start with a square piece of wax paper (any size you like) and fold it in half on the diagonal. Then fold that in half at the point.  And fold old again at the point. One more time after that. (from start to finish, 4 folds) You end up with a little dart like triangle with a little extra point at the top. Cut that extra bit off.

And snip away.. It can be thought-out or random (I like random snips)  Just make sure that you don't cut off all the folded paper parts cause that is what is holding it together.

Now for the most exciting part. Open (very gently) and see your snowflake creation.

Note. This is important to remember.. No snowflake is the same, and no snowflake is ugly.

Now tape the flake to where ever it should land (the window)

Stand back and enjoy all of the snow you can handle. I have gotten to one window, just 10 more to go!

This one is my favorite.

Happy weekend full of snow!

-C

(mini snow storm!)

Gingerbread Woodland Creatures (Cookies)

I had me a little over the weekend and we had so much fun. We had a dance party, sang Christmas songs, made paper trees, and made cookies. It was a much more of a fun day then I had planned ans expected. (Christmas themed fun day.. uh, yeah!)

But the thing was I wasn't planning on making cookies. Wait scratch that, I was planning on cookies on Friday and asked her mom what kind of cookie we should make.  And by Saturday, I had decided that I had way to much crap to do and didn't have time to make cookies. The little was going to spend the day with me doing errands and maybe a little work stuff.  But that morning, when dropped off at 730 am, the first thing she said to me was "we are making gingerbread cookies today" in the most tiny little sleepy voice.  Not a "are we gong to?", she was saying it as a fact. (her mother must have told her) So yeah, after that, I had to make the cookies. (I am not a monster) And because I now had to make cookies, I just said screw it to everything else I was going to do. I figured I might as well just roll with it and dance to jingle bell rock all day long.

About the cookies. These gingerbread cookies are everything I think a gingerbread should be. Sweet and spicy, dense and crisp, (but not hard) There is a slight snap, but not a tooth breaking snap and as you eat it, the middle of the cookie gets a little softer. They are the best paired with coffee or tea. Words that I have heard describe these cookies are; "fantastic" Oh my God" and "Fucking Amazing". So I am pretty sure that these are a winning cookie.

And sure, we could have made gingerbread people, but really, why make little weird shaped people when you can make a squirrel and a mouse. (step outside of the gingerbread box and make all kinds of shapes!) And although I love me a good neon colored sprinkle situation, I really got into using more natural looking things to decorate. But again, the shape and decor of your cookie is all up to you. 

Note.. Awesome cookie cutters came from IKEA.

The stuff. We have flour, baking soda and powder,and some salt. For the spices we are using ginger (or course) cinnamon, and cracked pepper (for a little extra kick). Also have a bowl with brown sugar, molasses, oil, a splash of vanilla and two chia seed "eggs".

Whisk (or sift) together the flour with all the spices, the baking soda and powder and the salt.

And mix together the oil, chia eggs and vanilla with the molasses and brown sugar.

Look at that cutie... doing all the work.

Mix the dry into the wet like so.

Mix as much as you can with a wooden spoon and when you the spoon stops working, use your hands and form the dough into a large disk.  Wrap it in wax paper (or plastic) and stick it in the fridge for a little while to rest ans evenly distribute all the moisture.

When you are ready for cookies, remove the dough from the fridge ans let it warm up for a few minutes. then take it and roll it out to about 1/2 inch.  And pretty sure you know how to use a cookie cutter so cut some cookies.

A baking sheet of pre -baked creatures going into the oven.

After about 8-10 minutes, the cookies are a little poofy, a little more golden brown, and a lot of super good smelling lovely.

Now if you want, decorate your cookies! (you don't HAVE to, but you should)
 I used white chocolate chips, tiny chocolate chips, dried cranberries and chopped almonds. And for the glaze, just powdered sugar and lemon juice. But use whatever you want.

The creatures..

And my favorite, the porcupine ! (I totally made this one)

-Happy Tuesday!

-C

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Gingerbread Woodland Creatures

Makes about 2 dozen (depending in your cookie cutter sizes)

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 heaping teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 chia or flax eggs (2 tablespoons ground chia or flax seeds with 6 tablespoons warm water)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup neutral flavored oil (like veggie or canola)
• splash of vanilla extract
• Things to decorate with like chopped almonds, raisins, frosting, chocolate chips.. whatever you want

Grab yourself a big bowl and add in the sugar, molasses, oil, vanilla, and the chia eggs. Mix until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour with the all the spices, baking soda and powder, and the salt.  Dump dry into wet and mix with a wooden spoon until a dough form. When yu can no longer mix with spoon, use your hands and knead the dough into a large disk.  Wrap in wax paper or plastic, ans stick in the fridge for at least and hour, or up to 3 days.

When you are ready to make the cookies, remove dough from fridge and let it sit and warm up a little bit so it;s not so stiff and much easier to roll out.

Preheat oven to 350

Working in one big batch or cutting dough half, roll the dough until it's about 1/2 inch thick. Take your cookie cutters of your preferred shape and cut as many out as you can. Place cookies onto a baking sheet and bake between 8-11 minutes or until the cookies have slightly rising and the cookies are just starting to brown. .

Note... Using a cookie cutter with small intricate pieces, the edges might get a little crisper then the middle faster. So just keep your eye out for those.

Remove from sheet and place on a cooling rack.

And decorate, using whatever you want and as much as you want.