Five Cookie Recipes and a Word About Tommy and Smokey - Wednesday Medley

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NATIONAL OREO COOKIE DAY – March 6

Scroll down to find FIVE cookie recipes.

NATIONAL OREO COOKIE DAY

Be ready to observe by having your glass of milk handy as it is National Oreo Cookie Day.  This day is recognized across the nation each year on March 6th.

The Oreo sandwich cookie is made up of two chocolate disks containing a sweet cream filling and is loved by millions.  Since it’s introduction, the Oreo cookie has become the best-selling cookie in the United States.

The National Biscuit Company (today known as Nabisco) first developed and produced the “Oreo Biscuit” in 1912 at its Chelsea factory in New York City. Today, the block on which the factory was located is known as “Oreo Way”.

• The name “Oreo” was first trademarked on March 14, 1912.
• The first Oreo cookies in the United States sold for 25 cents a pound in clear glass topped novelty cans.
• In 1912, the Oreo Biscuit was renamed to “Oreo Sandwich”.
• In 1948, the Oreo Sandwich was renamed to “Oreo Creme Sandwich”.
• William A. Turnier developed the modern-day Oreo design in 1952 to include the Nabisco logo.
• Nabisco’s principal food scientist, Sam Porcello, developed the modern Oreo cookie filling.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Grab a glass of milk and a handful of Oreos to enjoy and use #NationalOreoCookieDay to post on social media.

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 Our screen porch has about a foot of snow in it right now.

But when it warms up, it's a great place for coffee and cookies.

and to view that eagle from Monday's post! 

and for the eagle to view, but not reach, 

Tommy and Smokey.

1.  Are you able to pass by a plate of cookies and not take one or are you a bit of a 'Cookie Monster'?

I'll admit that cookies are the one thing that is hard for me to ignore. I make them seldom, and when I do, I put them in the freezer right away. It helps. For some reason, having to actually open the freezer and take them out is a sort of deterrent. I know, it's weird. 

 Sugar Crackle Cookies Recipe

the ones with cream of tartar 

not as much sugar these days

Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe 

My favorite.

2.  Tell us about your favorite cookie. Have your tastes changed since you were a kid?

First of all, I'll tell you that I do NOT like raisins or carob in a cookie. I like a crisp cookie, not a soft cookie. My gluten-free chocolate chip cookies with walnuts is probably my favorite, although (and this goes against the soft cookie statement I just made), I once ate a lemon drop cookie with lemon cream cheese frosting, I think it was. That was delicious. But I could eat way too many of those too fast, so I'll stick with my chocolate chip ones. And yes, my tastes have changed. I now cut any cookie recipe's sugar in half. Everything tastes way too sweet to me. (except for Mike n Ike, but that's another story  - of addiction, which is why I cannot have them around and should never be allowed to go to a movie theater.)

 My favorite molasses cookie

or my gingerbread boy recipe

3.  Enquiring minds want to know if you are a dunker and, if so, do you dunk in milk, coffee, or tea?

 Definitely not a dunker, unless I'm eating a biscotti, because it wrecks the milk or coffee. I do not want cookie crumbs in my coffee. Tea is already wrecked without a cookie, so that's a moot point. (Sorry, tea lovers, but really. There's a reason the colonists threw the stuff overboard. ;-) 

 These days I wouldn't drizzle that frosting on top

Cherry Almond Biscotti Recipe

4.  It is that time of year and they are selling them on every corner and in front of every store!  Do you buy Girl Scout cookies and if you do, which is your favorite?

My favorite Girl Scout cookie, and I rarely but sometimes purchase them, is the thin mint. I don't know why they don't just stick with thin mint and throw the other recipes away. I mean really, doesn't everyone love the thin mint?? 

 My favorite kitchen utensil

KitchenAid mixer

 One of my favorite cookie eaters,

a few years ago

5.  Raw cookie dough.  Yay or Nay?

I can't help eating a little raw cookie dough when making cookies, mostly chocolate chip/walnut cookies, but I try not to let Mr. C. see me. He inherited this myth (among others) that cookie dough will give you worms. If I have worms, they're all happy and love it when I send down additional cookie dough to feed them.

 Gluten-free Lemon Cookies Recipe

Oh was that stuff good!

6.  Please tell us something random about your week!!

Well, the GOOD NEWS at my house is that we will be putting the house (and barn)  and 10-12 acres of our farm on the market this summer and moving to Wausau. It's very exciting. Our daughter and her two kids will be living with us for the time being. The  house we're purchasing is in the school district where the kids are currently attending, so that is wonderful for them as well.

 Helping Grandpa make salsa

The BAD NEWS is that the grandkids (see pic above) have allergies, and are very allergic to cats, which means we will not be able to take Tommy and Smokey with us. This breaks my heart. As you know, I love these two.  They are such sweet kitties. We are looking for someone who will take both of them because we do not want them separated. As you can see from the many photos I've posted here and on Instagram ( #tommyandsmokey to see all the photos there) they are almost always snuggled together. They must also remain indoor cats. Smokey is a spayed female and Tommy is a neutered male. Tommy is very sociable and Smokey is a little reserved. Tommy loves to eat. Smokey is a dainty lady with a small appetite. They are two years old (remember when their mother appeared at the top of our driveway and gave issue? Story HERE).  Tommy and Smokey are current on their shots. I am looking for someone who will love them and not get them declawed, but will give them a nice home and life. Expensive cat food and chair beside the fire is optional. :-) So please, friends, help me get the word out. These kitties should continue to have a wonderful, loving home.

Yes, these two. 

Tommy and Smokey

***

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Have a great Wednesday, friends,

Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning

And I appreciate your efforts in helping me find a loving home for Tommy and Smokey.

Gluten Free Lemon Cookies and Hansel and Gretel

 Gluten-free Very-lemony Cookies

There's something that comes over me in the springtime, kinda like a cold front comes in with the weather. It's a craving for all things lemon. I've posted recipes for lemon pie, lemon pound cake, lemon cupcakes, etc. in the past, but this pale little gluten-free lemon cookie is just what I wanted (or actually, multiples thereof, because they're small).

Again, as in a recent gluten-free recipe, I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free One-to-One flour mix. For any of you who would like a tender but not soft lemon cookie, try out this recipe. I love them, and keep them in the freezer between cravings. There is a reason for this.

The original recipe came from twopeasandtheirpod.com.  I had looked at other recipes, but this one just looked better. And I wanted to use my gluten-free flour mix.

In my opinion, there's no point in making a single batch, so what you see is the doubled recipe, and I added more lemon zest than called for, and didn't bother to put the glaze on the cookies. Who needs it?

Gluten-free Very Lemony Cookies Recipe:

2 1/2 c. Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free One to One flour mix

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

1 c. butter (yes, TWO WHOLE STICKS, in case you wonder why these are delicious!)

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1/4 c. packed with lemon zest (I mean packed!)

1/4-1/3 c. fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 375

Line jellyroll pans with parchment paper or silicone mats.

In a flexible bowl (I use a plastic ice cream bucket), combine flour, baking powder, salt, and whisk to combine. Set aside.

In bowl of stand mixer, combine butter and powdered sugar. Beat on medium until creamy and smooth. In a small bowl, mix together lemon zest and granulated sugar. Add to the butter mixture. Blend until smooth. Add the lemon juice and beat until well combined.

With the mixer running on low, gradually pour the dry ingredient mixture into the mixing bowl until all is combined. Chill the dough 30 minutes or overnight.

Roll dough into little balls. Mine were somewhere between a shooter marble and a ping pong ball. If you don't know what either of these is, you probably aren't making this recipe anyway.

Place balls on baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, I had to flatten them with an upside down coffee mug, because they didn't flatten out on their own. Then I baked them another 3 minutes and let them cool on the jelly roll pans before removing.

My personal preference is to eat them right from the freezer. Cold and delicious!

Favorite kitchen appliance, 

my blood red KitchenAid mixer.

It's actually a deeper red than this photo shows.

Plate given to us by a foreign-exchange student

I have to tell you a story about this plate. For several summers, we hosted foreign exchange students from Mexico. One young boy (11 or 12 years old.) brought this plate as a hostess gift. Later in the summer, his parents and siblings came to visit. When one of the other children saw our son and daughter (we just had two at the time), ages 12 and 9, he said, 'Look, Mama, they look just like Hansel and Gretel!'  We thought that was so funny and cute. :-)

 Hansel and Gretel

in their early years

Hansel and Gretel

a bit older

Let me know if you like those lemon cookies!
(Take at least two. They're small.)

 ***

 MOTHER'S DAY IS MAY 14
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