M...m..madeleines

Munch's cousin A. dropped by for a visit today, just in time for us to try out a new madeleine cookie recipe. The one I've been using for years was passed on to me by a co-worker from back in the Williams-Sonoma days. It made a nice, tender sponge cake/cookie, but I wanted something with more crunch to the crust and more vanilla flavor. Although it was difficult at first to persuade A. that some kitchen time would be WAY more fun than playing with dump trucks, by the time he was licking the bowl clean, he was all in!





Here's the recipe. It doesn't make many, maybe only 18-20, but they're best within the few hours after they're baked, so you'll have just enough to enjoy that day!

2 eggs
2/3 c. sugar
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla
pinch (or two) of salt
1 c. flour
1 1/4 sticks butter (pref. unsalted), melted & cooled
powdered sugar for dusting over finished cookies

Grease and flour 2 madeleine pans (or re-grease and flour the pans after the first batch bakes). Beat the eggs and sugar until just blended. Mix in the vanilla and salt. Add the flour and beat to combine. Slowly add the melted butter and mix just until blended. Scoop a full tablespoon of batter into each "shell" of the madeleine pan. Bake about 15 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven until puffed and brown around the edges. Cool a few minutes in the pan before turning out onto a rack. Sift powdered sugar over cookies before serving.

Lovin' from our oven...

It was my dad's birthday last weekend (Happy birthday, Lolo!) so Munch & I got out the mixer to make him a special treat. I know he and AudioDad both like shortbread, so we made a nice, big batch:


We used a WHOLE box of butter- thank goodness for Costco!


A happy helper (probably from all the butter she sneaked...)


I just slice my shortbread into squares, but Munch wanted to get fancy-


Ready for the oven!

Here's the recipe (I doubled it):
2 sticks butter (unsalted is best), room temp.
2/3 c. powdered sugar
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. sugar (for sprinkling over tops)

Beat the butter and sugar until creamy and well mixed. Combine the flour and salt and gradually mix into the butter/sugar mixture. Roll out the dough- I go about 3/8-inch thick because I prefer my shortbread to be more tender. Roll to 1/4-inch thick if you like it more crisp. Cut into desired shapes, place on baking sheet, and poke holes lightly into the surface with a table fork. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle each cookie with a pinch of sugar. Return to oven for an additional 5 to 8 minutes. Watch them closely towards the end of baking time-remove when they're just lightly golden around the edges, but tops are still pale.

Raising a cook...

It's dinner time on a Friday evening at the end of the previously mentioned long, long week. (And there's almost nothing in my fridge, which even so, is still fuller than most people's- yes, I'm talking about you, Grandma P. & Auntie Mich!) Anywho, what to make? Breakfast for dinner, of course! After conferring with my sous-chef, who's already on her step-ladder, we decide upon eggs scrambled with goat cheese, chicken apple sausages, and sourdough toast. The triumph of the evening (I am so proud...) is that Munch cracked all the eggs herself- with not a shell (or finger) pierced yolk in the bunch! (We've been working on the whole "open-the-eggshell, don't smoosh it" technique every time we make pancakes or a batch of cookies.)

I am so glad to have someone who enjoys hanging out in the kitchen as much as I do (having failed in my attempts to interest AudioDad in anything remotely culinary- unlike Munch & me, he's of the "eat to live, food is fuel" mindset, but that's a topic for another post...) Munch loves to stand at the counter, flipping through the pages of her own photo-filled cookbook, just like she sees me do. We recently spent a morning identifying the various kitchen tools pictured in the book and what they do- "whisk is for mixing", she says. She knows muffin tins, rolling pins, wooden spoons, and rubber spatulas, but a sieve and a grater left her puzzled, so out they came for a little hands-on exploration:


She grated a cheese stick, sifted some powdered sugar, and smooshed the whole lot together for an impromptu snack: "Can I taste it now?"
Sure, pumpkin, have at it!

Thank God for Grandparents!

It has been a LONG, LONG week at our house. Even though she loves her daycare, Munch is definitely not taking to the back to school routine well. She's not a fan of getting up before the sun and our commutes have consisted of screaming fits, tears, and tantrums- and that's BOTH directions! Enough was enough when she threw a sippy cup at my head and opened her door to escape (in the middle of the highway! Where are those darned child locks anyways?) So, faced with an extra long work day that would stretch into the evening, (Back to School night for me, inventory for AudioDad) off she went to Grandma & Grandpa's for a little TLC and undivided attention. Fifteen hours later (yes, 6AM to 9PM!), Munch is my happy, bubbly girl again. Even though it was late, the three of us reconnected over a walk around the block, flashlights in hand, looking for bugs and stars. After tucking in her imaginary pirate friend, she happily climbed into bed- and it's my turn now, too. (AudioDad on the other hand, headed out for a run- gotta get those miles in!)
P.S. THANK YOU Grandma & Grandpa- We love you "this much"!

Where there's a will...

School started this week, so why am I sitting at home blogging? (and why is Munch sleeping under a chair?)
The week began well enough, with the Munchkin excited to see all her friends at daycare after the long summer break. She wasn't so excited though, to be the last one picked up after everyone else had gone home. The next morning, we were halfway through our commute, when she says, "I want to go home now. And Mommy stay with me." Yes, we have major separation issues after summer vacation. Anyway, sorry, kid, not happening- I had 40 kids coming to orientation later that morning. When I picked her up, the big hubbub was over another kid who threw up. Lovely. And did I believe Munch when she started telling me her tummy "had throw up" too? Nope, just figured it was her active imagination. By the time we got home, AudioDad & I knew we were in for a long night- and of course, the first day of school was the next day! Thank goodness he could stay home- couldn't you just see it? Kindergarten teacher skips out on first day of school- not good. Missing the second day, not so bad. AudioDad did great yesterday, he slowly got her to keep things down and make sure they cuddled and rested. By the time I got home, Munch was in good spirits, and as luck would have it, a package of dress up clothes I previously ordered had arrived in the mail for her. So this is a photo of our saltine-munching, stomach-flu ridden princess, providing further evidence that it doesn't matter what you do, like vomiting, as long as you look good doing it!

P.S. She's feeling much better today, thank you.