cookies galore!

pia came over yesterday. we baked. we made choc chip cookies (note: next time, use more flour. maybe that way they wont flatten quite so much), and choc chip macaroons (note: this oven is actually as hot as it says it is. turn it down a little next time. too crunchy), and had BBQ chicken for lunch. it was a good day.

but now, with the applesauce raisin oatmeal cookies and cheese bread i made on tuesday, we have LOTS of baked stuff lying around. (anyone want some? either it will take some time to eat it all, or im going to get fat again.)


but this all got me thinking about the pantry. it is SO important to make sure the pantry is stocked properly. particularly for baking stuff. if im making dinner, and find i have no garlic, well.. ok.. lets use onions instead. no broccoli? ok, we'll have green beans instead. no red wine? use a little more spice! no tereyaki sauce? change tack, and make honey-soy instead. plan on making tacos, only to find we're out of tacos, and the mince is already cooking? chuck in a couple cans of crushed tomatoes, some italian herbs and some read wine, and boil some pasta. tada! dinner saved!


not so easy with baking.

this is what happened:
lets make cookies!! ok.. cream the butter and sugar, check. add flour. um. flour is full of weevils, because someone didnt put the lid on tight enough. um.. use wholemeal instead!!! yes! that works! baking powder... check. whats next.. vanilla. ok.. wheres the vanilla? red food dye.. blue food dye.. strawberry essence? browning? right.. no vanilla in these cookies then.. um.. maybe if i add some more sugar and some cocoa and they can be double chocolate? whats next.. choc chips! excellent.. that'll do. and into the oven.


they didnt turn out very well. wholemeal flour is good for bread, and pancakes, and even cakes. but not cookies. and guessing at how much cocoa to put in does not work when the recipe says "vanilla".

there are some things that work though. use ginger instead of cinnamon. use half honey (or golden syrup), half brown sugar instead of molasses. use lime, lemon and orange interchangably.

i make a point now of making sure i have more than enough of everything i could possibly want to bake with. and since flour and sugar only cost about 80c/kg, i can cook lots! hence why we have so many cookies. maybe i should take some to my dad today? oh wait.. they probably arent kosher. there goes that idea.