The Perfect Cookie & Friday Flowers

Yes that is me loosing my mind yesterday but  -Ahhh  Friday… how I have looked forward to you all week. Have you ever woken up on a Monday morning, and wish it was Friday already? Well, as I hit the alarm clock this Monday morning, I barley had time to rub my eyes from my ever so brief slumber, before I had to hit the road and start accomplishing my very- very long list of MUST DO’s for the week.

But on this lovely cold Friday morning , I have the satisfaction and bliss of knowing my hectic week, that seems to have become the norm for my crazy lovely life, is winding down – even if only for a brief moment. After literally being out of my house and on my feet from 5 am –12 am yesterday, a busy bee with all the preparations for the upcoming Bikur Cholim event  this Saturday night, I could not be more grateful for this upcoming Shabbos day!

As I linger for a few brief luxurious extra moments now over my morning coffee and watch my daughter take out every pot and pan I own in the house, I am grateful that life is hectic because of good things. When you are mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend and everything in between, those never ending brief moments of insanity are more frequent than not, and sometimes I forget how truly lucky I am.

My friend and Kosherstreet guest poster the Fashion-Isha, wrote a terrific post yesterday, that really brings home this life lesson all the more. After being briefly MIA for the last few days, I only found out this morning that Sharon L, was robbed yesterday in broad daylight . Her reflections & ultimate realization that a person can steal your stuff, but cant rob you of the things that are truly most valuable and good in your life – was an inspired lesson. And as I read her post in the early wee morning in bed today, it started my Friday off with a kick in my tired step, and with the help of a little caffeine a boost in my day! – so thank you Sharon!

The Perfect Cookie

Every Friday I am always looking for that last minute dessert . This Friday I was missing the smells of good food in my kitchen because I was not cooking for shabbos at all (eating out by friends – whoo hoo) So I decided to make my favorite cookies that are really delicious and perfect for noshing with a great book on a long Friday night after the meal.

It is my favorite cookie recipe , and my version of the famous Neiman Marcus cookies. For a great shabbos dessert, I sometimes keep these cookies warm in the oven or blech and serve them with my favorite pareve coconut sherbet or ice cream.

Recipe is the pareve version of the cookies from my first cookbook The Dairy Gourmet.

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine, softened
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder
• 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds, chopped up
  
• Directions 1.Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream the margarine with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy (approximately 30 seconds)2.Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract for another 30 seconds.

  3.In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds. Stir in the espresso coffee powder, chocolate chips and nuts.

  4.Using a 1 ounce scoop or a 2 tablespoon measure, drop cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges. Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie.

  Yield:
  2 dozen cookies

Friday Flowers

Yesterday I was literally swimming in 1200 carnations  – all for the Bikur Cholim event.

I believe carnations get a really bad rap in the flower world. What some might think are ‘cheap’ flowers, I think of as a beautiful inexpensive way, to brighten any table or surface in your house. When bunched together in one large same color bunch, or used in a contrasting colors these flowers always make a stunning statement.

The key to great carnation flower arraignments , is making sure to pick nice large bright individual heads to start with. not only will these flowers last for longer than most, your color choices are endless.

Have a wonderful and restful Shabbos!

Sarah