Wednesday, February 11, 2009

this week's cookie and etc.

So I decided to try a recipe from The Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook. I had it out, looking for bean recipes, and came across a recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. This book is by Christopher Kimball, the Cook's Illustrated guy who tests recipes to within an inch of their lives, trying to reach perfection.
These cookies are delicious, but look how ugly they are! I have another complaint about the recipe too. It's a big hassle. You have to grind up the oats in the food processor and grate the chocolate, so it's way more involved than a standard recipe. At least with toddlers, it's just too many steps. The boys lost patience. My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe is so much easier and just as delicious in my opinion (but it lacks oats). I'm finding that with the boys a quick cookie is the only way to go.
Ken took the boys to the snow while I was at work yesterday. I love seeing what they did while I was gone.
And I'm always so happy when they get to experience some real wintery weather.
The other night I rounded the corner to find Rainer engaged in playing with these toys. He'd gotten them out and arranged them all on his own accord. He was playing that they were having a train crash. Very boyish, I think.

Thanks so much for all the kind blogaversary wishes yesterday. You're all so sweet and make blogging so fun for me. Thank you.

12 comments:

Sarah said...

I have the Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook too. I enjoy reading it, but haven't cooked much from it. I just add oats to my chocolate chip cookie recipe. I also chop walnuts so tiny that nobody can possibly identify them. They add a nice...hidden...flavor ;)

Kristin said...

I live in So. Cal too (Moorpark)- where did you guys go to the snow? I've been wanting to take the kids- but not sure where snow is "locally".

Thanks!

jessica said...

In my house, you would think that all vehicles exist to participate in crashes - yes, very boyish!

ames said...

Christopher Kimball is the man! I have The Cook's Bible checked out from the library right now, so far I've only tried his chocolate glaze and it was indeed mighty tasty.

I wonder if you could use steel cut oats and mini chocolate chips instead? There's a Chocolate Chip Oat cookie recipe on the back of the *big* bags of Nestle chocolate chips, I think it's basically just Tollhouse cookies with oats added. We liked them :)

Mozi Esme said...

Looks like yummy cookies, but I am all about easy! Love the pic of Rainer's westerm play set & the train crash!

Jessica said...

I made similar cookies the other day and while they were good I fall back on the same 'normal' chocolate chip recipe.

Eva said...

Sounds like the Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookie recipe. Definitely a lot of work but I think it's worth it once a year or so.

Kristin said...

Those cookies look delisious to me! Not ugly. I understand needing to do things the easy way though.

I love the boys sweaters. So nice. They would be ondoor sweaters here in Maine!

Happy 2 years!

secret cake said...

I'm an Alton Brown fan, too, but my favorite is the chewy recipe that uses cake flour.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/the-chewy-recipe/index.html

Happy blogiversary! I've really enjoyed reading your posts.

Machelle said...

Your blogging is fabulous and I thought you should know. You do inspire others. Thank you. I personally deemed today as leave a comment on every blog I visit. Have a good weekend.

Mary Beth said...

Hi Kristin. Just go up highway 33 past Ojai to Rose Valley or continue on another 20 minutes to the Pine Mountain Ridge Pass parking area (on the left). Good luck. I think there is snow this weekend!

hanna said...

I made your favourite choc chip cookies this weekend - LOVE them! thanks so much for sharing. I've been looking for a good choc chip cookie recipe for ages. They are all gone already! so I'm going to make some more today and I think I might take your suggestion of less sugar as they are very sweet aren't they.