cookie #13: salted peanut crisps

recently i've been neglecting my cooky book project, neglecting new cookie recipes in favor of testing out others, like coconut-key lime bars, toasty coconut wedges, brown sugar cheesecake...mother's day is coming up you know but more on that later. so this week i was happy to get back to cookies with my 13th recipe from the betty crocker cooky book, salted peanut crisps.

 

recipe:
-1 cup shortening (part butter or margarine)
-1 1/2 cups brown sugar (packed)
-2 eggs
-2 tsp vanilla
-3 cups flour
-1/2 tsp soda
-1 tsp salt
-2 cups salted peanuts

heat oven to 375. mix shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla thoroughly. measure flour by dipping or by shifting. blend together flour, soda and salt; stir in. mix in peanuts. drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough about 2" apart on lightly greased baking sheet. flatten with bottom of greased glass dipped in sugar. bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. makes about 6 dozen.

recipe from betty crocker cooky book

my notes:
very tasty! the cookie is a yummy, chewy brown sugar cookie and the peanuts make wonderful, salty, little polka dots. i could eat another or a handful!

xo,
carly

Ellie waiting for a cookie during the phoot shoot.

an observer

my earliest memory of my grandpa chris is vague, just an image of him quietly observing a family gathering with a camera around his neck. of course i'm not sure when this memory might be from because i suspect it's a compilation of many holidays, birthdays and family dinners. my grandpa was always the quiet observer, documenting the day's events. and he always had his camera. he never asked anyone to smile or say "cheese!", he just quietly captured moments. and every once in a while he stopped to tell a funny story or poke well-deserved fun at a silly family member in his gravely voice.

we celebrated my grandpa's 87th birthday not too long ago. after losing my grandma this past winter it was more than nice to see him smile. he told a few funny stories and teased a few family members. in fact he told my mom he was allergic to strawberries when she had baked him a super-special-old-family-recipe-strawberry-birthday-cake, but he couldn't contain his laughter for long. mostly however he observed, even without his camera. 

the "torch" has been passed and now it's my turn to carry around my camera, trying to document the special moments with my family but i don't think i captured this moment, this beautiful shot of my grandpa, i think he might have given it to me. 

xo,
carly

happy birthday!

happy birthday to my sweet & wonderful husband, seen here studying on his birthday (and really appreciating the impromptu portrait session).

he's such a dedicated student isn't he? we plan to celebrate this weekend, so i just wanted to publicly declare my love for him and my pride in him today on his actual birthday. he's an amazing man and i'm so very lucky he's my husband.

xo,
carly

surfacing...

hi again,

i know it's been a bit. i have a few "excused absences" like a spring flu and then a terrible cold right after. but i've also been doing doing a bit of lolly gagging. is that how you spell "lolly gagging"? is there a correct spelling for made up words? i'm getting off topic...

so besides being sick and then recovering, i've been really enjoying my hubby's new spring school schedule. winter quarter was impossible for both of us, he was so busy! i barely saw his face for 20 minutes over dinner each night. now he has one less class and they aren't quite as demanding so it's just been nice to hang out a bit. but i'm getting back into the swing of things and i'll be back crafting & baking very, very soon!

xo,
carly

beautiful kate

in the weeks, months and years i guess...has it really been 2 years already...since we relocated for my sweet, wonderful husband to go back to school, i have taken a break from photography. a break from my business. and sometimes even a break from my beloved camera. there are some months i take more photos with my smart phone. a little sad but true.

so recently i was honored and overjoyed to be the photographer for my sweet friend tammy t's daughter kate. we had a long session to celebrate her upcoming 16th birthday. kate has always been one of my favorite models (along with her wonderful sister sam). i can't believe she is turning 16 and i can't believe how she just gets more & more beautiful. here are just a few of my favorite photos from the day:

i love you kate.
xo,
carly

cookie #12: butterscotch brownies

recipe:
-1/4 cup butter, margarine, shortening or vegetable oil
-1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
-1 egg
-3/4 cup flour
-1 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp vanilla
-1/2 cup coarsely walnuts

heat oven to 350. if using butter, margarine or shortening, melt over low heat. remove from heat; stir in sugar until blended; cool. if using oil, just blend oil and sugar. stir in egg. measure flour by dipping method or sifting. stir flour, baking powder and salt together; blend in. mix in vanilla and walnuts. spread in a well-greased square pan, 8x8x2. bake 25 min. do not over bake. cut in bars while warm. makes 18 bars about 2 1/2 x 1".

recipe from betty crocker cooky book

my notes:
of course there are bunches of cookie recipes from my beloved cooky book that have become family favorites. and ok, so there have been some recipes that are just so-so but this is the first one that is a real fail. perhaps i'm judging them too harshly. the texture is nice, that really good fudgy brownie texture. but i was hoping for a better butterscotch flavor i think. not my favorite...not at all. sorry betty.

etsy treasuries

as a little girl i used to organize my crayons & markers by color for fun. everyone did that right? and then when i achieved a driver's license i started shopping for fun and then organizing my closet by color.

 

since joining the world of etsy in the fall i've found a another snappy new past time, creating etsy treasuries. in case you don't know, an  etsy treasury is "an ever-changing, member curated gallery". i think it's my love of color coordinating, organizing and SHOPPING that makes creating etsy treasuries so super cool!

 

here's a bit of my etsy window shopping so far...

 

minted

 

 

blue skies

 

i can clearly see how this new hobby might get me into some trouble but i'm also finding some really spectacular stuff!

 

xo,

carly