Just a Drink News update:
We are having a SALE! Fall Fest tees are only $5.50! The Orange are available in: L, M and Youth XL. Yellow are available in L,M,S and Youth XL. Brown (coffee spill hiders!) Embroiders Tees are only $11.50 or 2 for $20 and available in XL and Small!
We also have Bea’s Ho-Made Jams for 20% off. We have Chopped Cherry, Four Berry and Apricot available.
Saturday morning is here again! So we are talking about cookies again! Today, there’s more to discuss about butter.
Last week, we talked about the importance of USING butter and of getting it to room temp before beginning your recipe. Today, I’m telling you about the importance of beating the butter. This is another very common short cut that people like to take. I’m telling you, IT MAKES a DIFFERENCE! Beat the butter and sugar together for at LEAST 3 minutes. Set a timer and walk away. This is where the sugar gets nice and coated with fat. You want that mixture to be pale and fluffy. This makes your cookies nice and soft and delicious. If you really want to see the difference, make two batches side by side. Do one as you would normally mix your butter and sugar and do the second with the new 3 minute method.
Merry Mixing!
oh la, it got kinda nasty all of a sudden. it’s sort of misting and such. Ergo, you need to get in here and have some Spicy Corn and Potato Chowder to warm up!
It’s Winter Fest this weekend, get up here!
It is actually a beautifully sunny morning here in Door County. I’ve really started to notice it getting lighter earlier now. It seems like there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Another bit of news, JJs in Sister Bay is open again after their fire over the summer.
We’ve got a nice little dusting of snow again and it is really pretty. Get up here!
I just started making a new muffin for the shop. It is made with whole wheat flour and very little sugar. It’s a cream cheese and honey filled fig muffin. It is SO heavenly. You’ve got to try it.
Soup today is Spicy Potato and Chorizo Chowder.
I often get asked “what’s your secret?” about my cookies. Truth is, there really isn’t one “secret.” There are a series of things though, that home bakers often don’t do. In the next few saturday posts, I’ll be talking about one of those things!
Today, we’re talking about butter. Really, for home made taste, this is my baking fat of choice! There are definitely times when you should use shortening, but I am NOT a fan of using margarine or butter substitues. Shortening is for crust. No need to use it for cookies, unless you have a recipe that specifically calls for it.
When you bake with butter, it’s really important to get it room temperature before you start. This is a common “cheat.” Here’s the thing: that first few minutes, when the butter and sugars come together is the key to fluffy soft cookies. The sugar molecules get coated with the fat. This keeps everything nice and moist and delicious. If you use butter that is too cold, it doesn’t coat the sugar as well and then your cookies will have a different texture. The same is true for butter substitues. The sugar is not coated in the same manner and these will change the makeup of your cookies.
Hope this helps! Merry Mixing!
Soup is Asiago Cheese Bisque!
It. is. cold! And I guess it’s meant to get colder! Yikes bikes. Well, this is a hot chocolate day if ever I’ve seen one. Come and get it. Anne is bringing a wonderful new soup today, so you know that’s going to be great!
Sooo, I guess winter is back. That little hiatus was fun while it lasted. Take heart though, we have Asiago Cheese Bisque today! All is not lost.
It’s been a quiet week in Door County. Really nothing to report other than the weather has been nice. It’s sunny and mild for January. It’s not balmy or anything but it’s ok to walk to work. Soup today is Basil Chicken Chili and it’s the perfect thing to take the chill off.
I have been in such a hot chocolate mood lately! We are getting a brand new sugar free flavor this afternoon to try. I’m going to have sugar free almond hot chocolate later. I can’t wait! We also have sugar free: vanilla, english toffee, hazelnut, coconut, irish cream and raspberry! The sugar free flavors are all sweetened with Splenda and have no calories. So, a small skim sugar free latte has about 110 calories and 10 grams of protein. It’s a really good choice! Keep those resolutions, right?
Soup is Vegetable Beef.