[ o57; ]
IT HAS BEEN AGES SINCE LAST I POSTED. I finished The Demon's Lexicon. Wasn't terribly impressed. I've been baking some recently. I don't have pictures this time, but I do have a recipe for those interested. They were some pretty good brownies, which were meant to be turned into a sort of brownie-cookie hybrid, but by the time the batter was mixed I was feeling sick to my stomach and unwilling to put the extra effort into the cookie-molding bit of the recipe.
8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (I used a couple of bars of Ghiradelli 60% cacao)
3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) butter (I used margarine, but butter is usually better)
1 cup (7 1/4 ounces) sugar
3 large eggs (Next time I'll use 2 eggs to make them less cake-y)
1 teaspoon espresso powder (I eliminated this completely, but I guess it would be good)
1 teaspoon vanilla -- (I upped this to a tablespoon)
1 cup (4 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (6 ounces) chocolate chips, optional (didn't add this, but it would have been good)
Okay, I'll start with the bastardization of the instructions that I used for my own brownies, and then the actual instructions for the cookies.
Melt the chocolate and the butter in the microwave. Do this in 20-second intervals so the chocolate doesn't burn, stirring after each interval. In a separate bowl whip together the eggs and sugar. Add the warm chocolate stuff to it. Add the vanilla. Add the baking powder and salt. Add the flour. Add chocolate chips if desired. Mix to combine between each addition. Pour into a greased 9x9 pan, shove in a preheated 350 degree oven until a toothpick comes out fairly clean. That took me about 38 minutes, but I'm at sea level. I've never really known if that's mattered before.
ACTUAL INSTRUCTIONS: In a double boiler, or in the microwave, gently melt together the chocolate and butter. To avoid heating the chocolate too much and possibly burning it, the best method is to heat till the butter is melted and the chocolate has partially melted, then remove from the heat. Stir till all the chocolate melts.
In a separate bowl, beat together the sugar and eggs till they're thoroughly combined. Add the hot melted chocolate, then stir in the remaining ingredients, including the chocolate chips, if you're using them. Refrigerate the batter-like dough for 1 hour, to make it easier to handle.
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets, three if you have them.
Drop the cookie dough by tablespoonfuls (about the size of a small ping pong ball) onto the prepared baking sheets. A tablespoon cookie scoop makes this task extremely simple. Leave about 2" between the dough balls, as they'll spread as they bake.
Bake the cookies for 11 to 12 minutes, until their tops are shiny and cracked. They won't crack until the very end, so keep a close eye on them; when they're cracked all the way across the top surface, they're just about done. The point is, you want these baked all the way through, but just barely; additional baking will make them crisp rather than chewy. Remove the cookies from the oven, and top each with a kiss-shaped chocolate, a nonpareil, or a bittersweet chocolate wafer, if desired. Wait 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool.
--stolen from HERE
My brother has been in town for a week, and decided that we're going to a convention. I may try to enter the fanfic contest, though I hold little hope of winning anything. But what do I have to lose, besides my self-esteem, right? WE SHALL SEE. We may not even be going, so I'll wait until that gets decided.
My uncle is also staying with us for a while. It's not so bad, except for the part where HE AND MY BROTHER DON'T PUT THE TOILET SEAT DOWN AFTER THEY PEE. I have -not- missed sharing a bathroom with dudes at all. AT ALL. *rages*
Uhhh, I had something else to say, but it's gone now.
Oh wait. I've been listening to a lot of silly pop songs about love. It makes one lonely.
Also there is going to be a garage sale here in six hours and I want to kill myself. HOPEFULLY THE RAIN KEEPS UP AND WE WON'T HAVE TO DO IT. Ugh my aunt is gonna be here. I'm a little tired of her, honestly. This wedding cruise thing is making everyone crazy, especially me. Since I'm the one trying to coordinate everyone and everything. SOMEONE PLEASE PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY.
I've been wanting to rewatch the X-Files recently.
That is all.
8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (I used a couple of bars of Ghiradelli 60% cacao)
3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) butter (I used margarine, but butter is usually better)
1 cup (7 1/4 ounces) sugar
3 large eggs (Next time I'll use 2 eggs to make them less cake-y)
1 teaspoon espresso powder (I eliminated this completely, but I guess it would be good)
1 teaspoon vanilla -- (I upped this to a tablespoon)
1 cup (4 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (6 ounces) chocolate chips, optional (didn't add this, but it would have been good)
Okay, I'll start with the bastardization of the instructions that I used for my own brownies, and then the actual instructions for the cookies.
Melt the chocolate and the butter in the microwave. Do this in 20-second intervals so the chocolate doesn't burn, stirring after each interval. In a separate bowl whip together the eggs and sugar. Add the warm chocolate stuff to it. Add the vanilla. Add the baking powder and salt. Add the flour. Add chocolate chips if desired. Mix to combine between each addition. Pour into a greased 9x9 pan, shove in a preheated 350 degree oven until a toothpick comes out fairly clean. That took me about 38 minutes, but I'm at sea level. I've never really known if that's mattered before.
ACTUAL INSTRUCTIONS: In a double boiler, or in the microwave, gently melt together the chocolate and butter. To avoid heating the chocolate too much and possibly burning it, the best method is to heat till the butter is melted and the chocolate has partially melted, then remove from the heat. Stir till all the chocolate melts.
In a separate bowl, beat together the sugar and eggs till they're thoroughly combined. Add the hot melted chocolate, then stir in the remaining ingredients, including the chocolate chips, if you're using them. Refrigerate the batter-like dough for 1 hour, to make it easier to handle.
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets, three if you have them.
Drop the cookie dough by tablespoonfuls (about the size of a small ping pong ball) onto the prepared baking sheets. A tablespoon cookie scoop makes this task extremely simple. Leave about 2" between the dough balls, as they'll spread as they bake.
Bake the cookies for 11 to 12 minutes, until their tops are shiny and cracked. They won't crack until the very end, so keep a close eye on them; when they're cracked all the way across the top surface, they're just about done. The point is, you want these baked all the way through, but just barely; additional baking will make them crisp rather than chewy. Remove the cookies from the oven, and top each with a kiss-shaped chocolate, a nonpareil, or a bittersweet chocolate wafer, if desired. Wait 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool.
--stolen from HERE
My brother has been in town for a week, and decided that we're going to a convention. I may try to enter the fanfic contest, though I hold little hope of winning anything. But what do I have to lose, besides my self-esteem, right? WE SHALL SEE. We may not even be going, so I'll wait until that gets decided.
My uncle is also staying with us for a while. It's not so bad, except for the part where HE AND MY BROTHER DON'T PUT THE TOILET SEAT DOWN AFTER THEY PEE. I have -not- missed sharing a bathroom with dudes at all. AT ALL. *rages*
Uhhh, I had something else to say, but it's gone now.
Oh wait. I've been listening to a lot of silly pop songs about love. It makes one lonely.
Also there is going to be a garage sale here in six hours and I want to kill myself. HOPEFULLY THE RAIN KEEPS UP AND WE WON'T HAVE TO DO IT. Ugh my aunt is gonna be here. I'm a little tired of her, honestly. This wedding cruise thing is making everyone crazy, especially me. Since I'm the one trying to coordinate everyone and everything. SOMEONE PLEASE PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY.
I've been wanting to rewatch the X-Files recently.
That is all.