continuing adventures of a snowed in phinnia

[phinnia]

Many good things today. Looks like snow is melting finally: sidewalk outside our apartment is clearing and road is clear. Should definitely be passable with wheelchair (which is arriving Monday: SO EXCITED!!) Therefore I should be able to leave the apartment Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. First stop: picking up packing supplies to send gifts. I'm hoping to get them all packed and ready to send out Wednesday between or before writing-date with shadowgoddess42 (which might actually happen after several weeks of planning!) and picking up gizmometer at the airport.

Still no packages from UPS/Fedex. Hoping for Monday. Frustrating. But given that is the worst thing right now, I'm pleased.

Today's maillove:

Card from geekchick (yay!!)
Box of assorted crutch things to make ice more passable (now that I may not need them - but still is better to be prepared, always)
DVD with pictures from photoshoot I did with silenceleigh (they are AMAZING.)

Our sofa is on its way from Everett. Should be here in about an hour.

I have TWO kitties beside me even without the magic blanket of cat summoning!

Sean is playing quietly in his room.

I will have time to write this afternoon which is always good; have a House-fic I'm working on (well, actually several) and the misfit-toys-steampunk thing is going nicely. Also I should think about writing goals for 2009.

Planning on baking cookies this afternon or tomorrow. Also will see zaratyst and mholmesiv tomorrow at some point, bearing cake!

Should call birthmother at some point (is her birthday today.)

other chores today: quick pass with vacuum, move current sofa to new location so this spot is free for new sofa. clean cat box. Finish doing Amazon Fresh order (will be shipped tomorrow morning). Laundry. Plan meals for coming few days/week. Research types of ice cream to make whilst gizmometer is here. Work out plan for holiday cookies (four types I think if possible: nanaimo bars, butter tart bars, gingersnaps, shortbread of some type.)

How are you?

Comments

[circumspectly.livejournal.com]

What, oh what, is a salt and pepper cookie? I'm dyin' to know, and need a recipe!!

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Recipe it is! This is from Mark Bittman's How To Cook Everything Vegetarian. My family loves the saltiness of these cookies, but I have learned from experience that a little goes a long way and I shouldn't overdo the sea salt and/or pepper!

Mark says: "With their slightly salty finish and subtle sweetness, these cookies offer the best of both worlds."

Brown Sugar Cookies with Sea Salt

1/2 lb butter, softened
1/2 cup dark packed brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1 cup semolina flour (or finely ground cornmeal or all-purpose flour)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
About 1 tsp. coarse sea salt for sprinkling

Use an electric mixer on low speed to mix the butter and sugar together just until combined, about 30 seconds. Still on low speed, beat in the egg yolk, then the flours and salt, until the mixture barely holds together; this will take a few minutes.

Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and shape it into a round, triagular, or rectangular log about 1 inch in diameter; wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze until firm (about 30 minutes). (Or freeze the log, well wrapped, for up to 3 months).

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Unwrap the dough and slice it 1/4 inch thick, put the slices on an ungreased bakin sheet, sprinkle each with a little sea salt, and bake right away until the cookies are firm but not browning, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, let them cool in the pan for a minute or two, and then transfer the cookies to a rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Variation: Black Pepper Cookies: With a kick of black pepper and a fine grainy texture: Substitute granulated sugar for the brown. Add 1/2 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper. Proceed with the recipe, but instead of the sea salt, sprinkle an additional grind of black pepper on top of each cookie just before baking.