Day 9: Brandy Alexander Pie

Listed as one of the 10 worst cocktails by Esquire magazine in 1934, a Brandy Alexander is a sweet brandy based cocktail that reminds one more of a milkshake than a drink that leads to a good night but a terrible hangover.

But that, dear reader, is precisely why it makes for a fantastic a pie.

A Brandy Alexander Pie has a crumb crust and a mousse like filling that includes creme de cacao, brandy, and heavy cream. Absolutely terrible for you but totally worth it. I tried it for the first time today and you can absolutely taste the alcohol in this thing so don't say you weren't warned. If you are like me and you actually like the flavor of brandy then you will most definitely like this delicious desert.

You can find recipes for it here, here, and here. I hope to make my own version of it sometime in the near future.

Until Tomorrow,
Cat

P.S.
The picture above comes from here

Day 6: Ginger Cookies

For christmas Mamma Bear got me this fantastic cookie jar and I have been dying to fill it up ever since. 

But the question was, what on earth do I put in it it? The very first cookies I put in my first very own cookie jar (so many firsts!!)....Obviously, it needed to be a recipe I have never made before but I don't have a big sweet tooth, especially for cookies so there was nothing coming to mind. That is, until I discovered a recipe for Ginger Cookies!

I got the recipe here but wanted to give you all some step by step directions.


Ingredients:

•      2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
•      2 teaspoons ground ginger
•      1 teaspoon baking soda   
•      3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•      1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
•      1/4 teaspoon salt
•      3/4 cup margarine, softened
•      1 cup white sugar
•      1 egg
•      1 tablespoon water
•      1/4 cup molasses
•      2 tablespoons white sugar
• 
  

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 

Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside

In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. 

Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses.

Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. 

Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. 

Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. 

Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Overall: Makes about 40 delicious ginger cookies! They are really easy to put together, chewy, and not overly gingery for those of you who are not super fans like myself. I highly recommend them!

Until Tomorrow,

Cat!

Day 2: Dog Treats!

This adorable little cow dog is Angela. She is the keeper of my schedule, decision maker of my day, and hogger of both beds and couches. Because she dominates so much of my day I thought that it would be perfect to start the year with a first dedicated to her: Homemade Dog Treats!

I have had a dog treat cookbook (yes, I am that girl), that came with cookie cutters in the shapes of a house, fire-hydrant, cat, heart, and giant dog bone, for over 4 years now and it was time to put it to good use. The first recipe I used is for Applesauce Cheddar Biscuits.

Applesauce Cheddar Biscuits 

Ingredients:

• 1/3c shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/3c applesauce
• 1/3c water
• 1 1/2c flour
• 1/2c oatmeal
• 1/4c parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat Oven to 375°F

Combine cheddar, applesauce, and water in small bowl

Combine flour and oatmeal in larger bowl

Pour cheese and applesauce mixture into the dry ingredients, mix and knead into a dough and turn out onto floured surface

Roll dough to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters

Arrange on baking tray and sprinkle with parmesan cheese

Bake for 20 minutes

Outcome: This was a moderate success and something I will probably be doing again. Angela liked them (although she seems to love most food things) but they seem to have come out hard as rocks and a little difficult for her to eat. Making your own dog treats, however, is actually cheaper than buying them at the grocery store and, start to finish, only took about 40 minutes. If you are a dog owner- make these!

Other dog recipes to follow include Peanut Butter Sandwich Bones and Herbalicious Biscuits.

Until tomorrow,
Cat