{sweet treat tuesday: molasses spice cookies}

My go-to cookie is not Malasses Spice.  Nope.  Nada.  Non. But, after this week....it may very well be at the top of my list.  Mister had a sweet tooth and as I was just about out of everything in my pantry, including chocolate chips, etc...I decided to pull out a newbie.  Now, for many of you this recipe is not new.  But, for me, it is!  {I love firsts...!} If you've never tried it, do yourself a favor and indulge, and if you have, don't forget about this simply, yummy treat. :) 

 you need...
1/2 C, plus 1/3 C sugar
2 1/4 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice*
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened {not a figure friendly cookie... :) }
1/3 C dark brown sugar*
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 C molasses {dark or light, okay}

1. Set oven to 375 degrees (rack in middle).  Spread 1/2 C sugar in a shallow dish for coating - set aside. 

2. Whisk flour, baking soda, spices, pepper and salt together.  Set aside.
3. Beat butter, brown sugar and remaining 1/3 C sugar in a large bowl, until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).  Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla until combined.  Beat in the molasses until incorporated (make sure to scrape down sides of the bowl, as needed).

P.S. Dipping your hands in water when rolling dough, helps prevents stickiness and helps adhere the sugar.  So.......

 

4.Using wet hands, roll 2 tbsp of dough into balls, then roll in sugar and lay on parchment-lined baking sheets (about 2" apart). Bake until the edges are set and the tops are cracked but the centers are still soft (underdone).  The cookies harden as they cool. Bake approx 10-12 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through.
5. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then serve warm or transfer.

 

*I found this recipe via here, but as usual made some changes.  I didn't have allspice, so just added some extra dashes of the ginger, cinnamon and cloves.  I also only had light brown sugar on hand.  

This cookie would be yummy with a glaze over top or with some orange essence/zest whipped in. 

In other news...

Besides the fact that I've been trying to find a job, (but seriously need to learn Spanish if I'm going to be a contender...) I've been knitting!  Here's a picture of my current project (I'm about half done), for a little baby who should be meeting this world in a couple of weeks.  It's a half blanket - perfect for a car seat. The photo doesn't do the color justice (color requested by the mum to be), but the pattern is displayed well!

Happiest of Tuesdays to you all!!

xx,
Tal

{happy birthday, maman}

Maman ~

Happiest of Birthdays to you, my dear Mom!! You are an incredible hero, confident, friend, sounding board, teacher, inspiration, supporter, dreamer, lifeline and prayer support. I hope you have the most amazing day and the best year to come.

Je t'aime, maman ! 

{Image via HERE}

{pretty, pretty}

I'm pretty much not an outdoorsy girl.  Most can attest to that. But...lead me to this pretty tent, and my heart would be happy outside!

Cheers to this lovely Thursday! {The weekend is almost here... :)}

xx,
Tal

{image via HERE}

{craving of the day}

I love switching up our bedding.  I LOVE it {and do it several times a year...to be fully honest}. Today, I want to switch over to this organic pin-tucked bedding by West Elm. 

Maybe if I close my eyes hard enough, a queen-size duvet will magically arrive at our house...

xx,
Tal

{P.S. They have new power prints, full + queen duvets starting at $59 right now!!!}

{lusciously lush}

Have you heard of LUSH?  I had heard about it while living in Seattle, but never took the time to check it out. {blast!} Luckily, during our recent trip to Scottsdale, my maman {mom} and two younger sisters and I were shopping.  My sisters wandered in and knew that I would be swooning.  What's not to love? 1) products, products, products and 2) all-natural/organic = PERFECTION.  Yes, Lush: Fresh  Handmade Cosmetics.  {Can you hear my heart singing?!}

Some of our favorite products included a luscious hand {or foot} treatment:

{lemony flutter}

{ocean salt}

{dream cream}

They carry everything from a-z in skin care, including bath bombs, soaps, lotions, hair care, facial care...so brilliant!

Though there is no local store where I live {:(} they have their products online.  Yippee!  I did hear that you have to be careful when ordering online...as products may melt, but hey - stick them into the fridge and make them solid again.  Just be aware if you decide to order. 

Let me know if you're currently a LUSH user and what you think of their products!!

Happy Wednesday lovelies! 

xx,

Tal

{sweet treat tuesday: summer fruit tart}

Yes - I told you that I was back...and with it comes some good recipes!!!  I just made this the other night and Mister was swooning with delight.  {I know something is good when he takes a bite of something and without any effort says a quiet "yummmmm".} ...music to my ears!

{This -obvious- photo is from the cookbook....though I have some personal pictures below, we got so excited to eat it and failed to take a photo of the end result!!!  Trust me....it looked THIS good!}

 

I love this tart because it's so much like the essence of summer {to me at least}.  What do I mean?! It's a free-form tart...meaning, no pie dish or tart dish is needed.  And the crust...it's perfect against the fruity center.  This recipe came from one of my favorite cookbooks - The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, Heavy-Duty Revised Edition  All credit for this can only go to them...and they deserve it!

DOUGH
2 tbls sour cream
2 tbls ice water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup fine-ground cornmeal (it makes a difference!!)
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
7 tbls unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (chilled)

FILLING
3 cups mixed berries - or pitted stone fruit, cut into 1/4 inch slices
2-3 tbls sugar
2 tbls unsalted butter, cubed into small pieces
1 tbls water

1. For the dough: stir the sour cream and water together in a small liquid measuring cup and refrigerate until needed.  Process the flour, cornmeal, sugar, and salt in a processor until combined. (I used a blender, as i don't have a food processor). :( Scatter half of the butter pieces over the top and process, using short pulses.  Scatter remaining butter and continue to incorporate.  Continue to pulse, while pouring the sour cream mixture through the feed tube, until dough just comes together.  Turn dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap and press into a 6-inch disk.  Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

2. When ready to roll and bake the tart, preheat oven to 400 degrees (adjust oven rack to middle position).  Roll the dough between 2 large sheets of parchment paper (NOT WAX PAPER!!!).  Roll out into a 13-inch round.  Slide the dough, still between the parchment paper, onto a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm...about 20 minutes. 

3. For the filling: discard the top sheet of parchment and pile the fruit in the center.  Leave a 2 to 3 inch border.  {I used frozen fruit that I had...so defrosted it first.}

Sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of the sugar over the fruit (depending on how tart the fruit tastes) and dot with the butter. 

4. Fold the edges of the dough over the fruit.  Brust the top of the tart with water and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar {I used raw sugar}. ...This below picture is pre-water/sugar.

5. Bake until the crust is golden brown and crisp and the fruit is bubbling, about 40 minutes.  Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack and let tart cook for 10 minutes.  Slide tart off the baking sheet and cool on the rack until warm or room temp, before serving.  Add a some homemade whipping cream and your heart will be ever so happy!!

Let me know if you try this...and if so, take a photo, so I can post it! 


Happiest of Tuesdays to you. :)


xx,
tal


{P.S. Tart dough differs from pie dough.  It should have a crisp texture...not flaky. Definitely use this dough recipe for free standing tarts.  It's sturdy enough to hold up to the juices, etc.}

{home knit home}

I'm home.  :)  And though I'm happy to be back in my routine {which I haven't truly gotten back to...} I'm longingly remembering my recent trip to Scottsdale.  Our whole family joined for a perfect little vacation.  I love my family.  Seriously.

Through all of my adventures this summer, I still managed to find time to knit. {My newest obsession...}I'm knitting through my entire home. A great place to start: the kitchen!  These washcloths are so scrumptious to the touch.  Made from organic cotton, they are a perfect compliment to a sink full of suds. 

I've had a couple of friends request them...so, let the knitting continue!  :)

First though, I must get reading through all of your blogs!!  My blog reader is full to the brim of new wonderful posts....How shall I ever get through them?! I also have some fun new recipes to share this week.  

xx, 

tal