Stephanie says

(The sprinkled cookies in the foreground) Brown butter gives these cookies a rich and nutty flavor.  I took a batch into work and everyone commented on the excellent flavor.  I altered the directions slightly while making this recipe.  Instead of rolling the dough into balls before refrigerating, I packed the dough into a container then refrigerated.  I won't do that next time! The dough was hard to shape and the sprinkles wouldn't stick.  Brown Butter Sugar Cookies Recipe from sallysbakingaddiction has very detailed directions   Yield:  3 Dozen Prep Time: 45 minutes (includes chilling) Total Time: 1 hour Ingredients: 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 230g) unsalted butter 2 cups + 2 Tablespoons (265g) all-purpose flour  1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar 3/4 cup (150g) packed light brown sugar 1 large egg, at room temperature 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract optional:  sprinkles and/or non...

More on brown butter!  The delightful flavor of brown butter adds oomph to the usual recipe.  I took a plate to work and everyone commented on the delicious taste. 6 tablespoons   butter 1 package (10 oz., about 40)  Mar shmallows -- OR -- 4 cups   Miniature Marshmallows 6 cups   cereal Melt and brown butter over medium heat, whisking occasionally.  Remove from heat for five minutes. Turn down heat to low.  Return pan to burner, add marshmallows.  Stir until completely melted. Add cereal and stir until well coated. Butter 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan (or use cooking spray if you're not an absolute purist, ahem).  Press coated cereal evenly into pan using spatula or wax paper.  Cool.  Cut into 2-inch squares.  Best served same day. 12 Servings  

Miss Clementine on the occasion of her second birthday.  She didn't understand the concept but she wasn't a bit shy about basking in all the love coming her way during the song. This recipe is from King Arthur Flour.  I baked two batches of the cake recipe (as we were expecting a crowd) and made a caramel filling for between layers.  Brown butter adds a distinctive flavor - "The frosting tastes like Christmas," says my daughter. Caramel Cake AT A GLANCE PREP 45 mins. to 60 mins. BAKE 25 mins. to 27 mins. TOTAL 1 hrs 10 mins. to 1 hrs 27 mins. YIELD 1 layer cake, 16 servings Many Southern cooks use an often-tricky caramel-fudge recipe to frost their cakes; this one opts for caramel syrup throughout, for flavor and moisture, and a dependable brown-butter frosting. Caramel Syrup 298g granulated sugar 74g water 170g additional water Batter 361g  King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour 248g granulated sugar 2 1/2 teas...

Scored a pound of roasted green anaheim chilis at the Eugene Saturday Market!  Their fragrance while roasting draws me in every time.  Bought a package of locally grown and smoked bacon too which got me thinking SOUP SEASON!    Ingredients:   Onions – diced – 1-1/2 lbs Potatoes – peeled & diced – 3 lbs Beef broth – 2 cups Salt, 2 tsp 3 cups milk ¼ cup wine Charred peppers peeled and chopped medium – 1 lb Corn off cob – 2 ears, about 1 cup Bacon fried and diced – 6 slices Celery tops, finely diced for garnish (or parsley) Saute onion in oil.  Add beef broth and potatoes, salt.  Cook 20 mins. Or until tender. Puree - I use an inversions blender and puree right in the pot.   Puree until smooth.  Soup will taste salty at this phase.   Add milk and stir.  Add wine and stir.  Cover pot and heat slowly while preparing the remaining ingredients.  A...

Phoned  Velma to wish her a Happy 97th Birthday. We were catching up when I said, My daughter just turned 36 Velma said, "I wish I was 36." I replied, "I was 36 two years running. 35 got lost in the mix. By the time I figured that out, I was 36." Velma chuckles at this.

One of my clients stopped by today, a devout Methodist, likely mid-seventies, she runs the local food bank in this community.   She was telling me about a conversation with her son about the social issue of this year:   Sexual harassment. A long time friend came up and gave him a big hug. Crystal and her son discussed whether that was sexual harassment.   Crystal’s point was an affectionate gesture between two people wasn’t harassment.   I’m in total agreement.   She was missing the point while dismissing the real issue.   Her son had no financial power over his friend.   They have an affectionate and fond relationship.   I was hearing some pooh-poohing of the very concept of sexual harassment.   Crystal wondered why it took so long for some women to come forward. “I hear you,” I said.   “That clouds the issue. Up until right now.” I asked her if she’d every been sexually harassed.   “Oh, no.   Of course no...

I cleaned my mother’s silver belt tonight; I’m giving it to you for Christmas.   I’d always thought it silver, but now think another metal, maybe copper or tin, is overlaid on a silver base.    This belt is so recognizable to me, and I fondly find it pretty. Mom had it forever.   She dressed like a gypsy, walnut stained face and many layers of necklaces, to read fortunes at my third grade school carnival, and wore this belt clasped at her waist over voluminous skirts and slips, hoop earrings, scarved red tresses, and striking green eyes.   She nailed it.   I was amazed by her performance – yeah, like an eight year old.   So proud!   You can thank her genetically for your waistline – apparently it skips a generation…    Helene would delight in you wearing this!