dreaming@echonyc.com

cookie #2 (not pictured) is a spice/toffee/pecan affair, good enough to be background but nothing of particular note. if i have time at the end of the baking, i may replace it with something closer to scrumptious.

but cookie #3! ah, cookie #3. cookie #3 is an almond shortbread, which past recipients might remember from last year. this year it's back and it's better, with almonds that are impeccably fresh and a hit of almond extract just for good measure. i don't know yet whether i'll add a chocolate drizzle; i may just leave them plain and pristine to allow the butter and almond to shine through. so it'll be a bit different this time around. the shape, however, was too good not to duplicate.

Posted by dreaming at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by dreaming at 01:32 PM | Permalink

here is what charlie does:

• jerks the string repeatedly so that the balloon bounces against his face with an audible *bumpa*bumpa*bump*
  
• drags the balloon doggedly around the room with him as he slithers hither and yon
  
• attempts to fit the entire balloon in his as-yet toothless mouth

special bonus excellent mother points to me for having faithfully installed plug covers before charlie sticks paul's swiss army knife into an outlet.

Posted by dreaming at 01:08 PM | Permalink

it has begun.

the holiday baking started this year with chocolate snowdrops from carole walter's great cookies: secrets to sensational sweets. instead of the pure white nonpareils walter used, i used colorful ones from lake champlain chocolates — festive and, fresh out of the oven, marvelous.

these cookies are fairly labor intensive, as they require the dough to be:

1. shaped into a rectangle before chilling;
2. divided into 48 equal squares;
3. rolled into balls by hand;
4. flattened with the bottom of a drinking glass; and
5. crowned with a jam-smeared nonpareil.

i think they're absolutely worth it.

Posted by dreaming at 11:56 AM | Permalink