WTAF Cookie Baking Edition

 I am making 600 cookies for my kid's squadron and shipping them to his base. Fine, done this the last few years because I love my kid and love baking so it's a win. Right? It's a fucking win when the stupid ass cookies bake correctly and not spread like the legs of a whore! I mean, come on! It's fucking chocolate chip cookies, there should not be this much of an issue! I have made this standard fucking recipe for like a decade, and this is just stupid. Ok, they do still taste good but it's annoying me and disappointing me that they look like clusters of chocolate chips with a thin spread of cookie surrounding them. Ugh.

Fucking stupid ass cookies.

 I've adjusted my temperature and I sit in front of my oven trying to time it just right so that they aren't so brown on the edges and the center is done. It's just really stupid. Stupid stupid. Triple stupid.

I was reading on Reddit (don't @me) and it seems that has been some quality issues with butter lately. My other ingredients are all fresh, nothing is over 3 or 6 months and again it's a standard recipe. The only thing that could be a bit sideways is the butter. And ok, I do not measure the vanilla, I guide that by instinct but whatever!

Wait. The chocolate chips are older, but that should be what's affecting the spread.  

Watching cookies bake was not what I thought I was going to be doing all day today.  

Wowza the time has flown by

 It's been a hot moment since I've written. I don't know if that's good, bad or not anything to be honest.

Hysterectomy is done and gone, been over a year now. SOOOO many things with that, ok not the surgery directly, that went perfectly smooth. The whole HRT and menopause stuff is a bit annoying to say the least. That will be another post I'm sure.

The baby Jessie had is now an adorable toddler. Wish I got to see him more.

Still miss my son, but I love that I talk to him so much and we are going to visit him next year. That will be a bloody awesome trip! We are going to Disneyland Paris while there and so we've been looking into the different restaurants and things to do while there. I am submitting my passport here shortly for that. Going to France and the UK will be very exciting! I've only been outside the country once, and that was via a cruise. 

Baking  - now there seems my forte. Cheesecake, lemon bars, cookies. I sent close to 400 cookies to Raven for his shop. I've made Bailey's Cheesecake, Strawberry Cheesecake, Lemon (with lemon curd) Cheesecake and Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake. Mini, full size - cupcake size. Lemon bars are still a big fan favorite. Raven said my cookies helped morale and that's honestly the best feeling ever.

I feel like there are a 1,000 things to write about and I keep getting stuck and not being able to put a word down. 

I am crocheting a lot more. Have several blankets done and working on more <3 I do love crocheting blankets and things for people. I am also hoping to have a few saved for Raven/Jessie/whoever in the future for when I can't crochet anymore.

Ok, good first post in a long time. I want to write more often again. 

Decisions about Money

I've been looking at my budget and credit cards and one of my goals this year is to really get my 1 credit card as close to paid off as possible. Don't get me wrong, if there is a decent balance then there is, I am just really hoping to get things into a better spot.

I do know that getting my shower fixed is basically going to whack that hard, but whatever.

So whatever taxes I get back on going to pay off a portion of my credit card.

I really really really want to stop eating out as much as possible (last week was hard, due to burst pipes, so there is always exceptions). I just need to kick myself in the ass a little bit more and get a cracking at cooking and baking. I know that this spring/summer will be harder, but oh well. It can be hard to say no to my Kid with that, I mean, pizza out every once in a while or chinese ordered in? It just adds up :( Plus he's had a friend spend the night a couple times and who knew that boys eat that much! Oh and speaking of that, my freaking grocery bill is going a wee bit whacky. I have a feeling my kid is gonna is another growth spurt because his stomach is not getting bigger and he's eating a lot more it seems.

I was using the excuse of my classes for some of this, just not having as much time. Well, fuck that. If I end up staying up later then so be it. That is life it seems! I like cooking too, so it's not a hard leap here lol. Dishes are a pain, well, especially with the burst pipes and cold weather.

It won't hurt us to get outside and do things, pack a lunch or picnic, ya know? Once it's warmer at least :) And it won't hurt to eat a little bit less either.

And it's not going to be never eating out again. I just want it more limited for a while. It should be a treat, not a habit for us.

Well, it's a start at least :)

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

So the Cheesecake was a hit :) I personally think it was a little heavy on the clove. They did say that it was lighter than most cheesecakes but that they liked it and it tasted good. I will totally admit it was pretty damn yummy.

Yes, I will be making this again, probably for my birthday or something. Yum!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

All I know is that when I used the knife around the edges before it went in the fridge, it tasted just like Pumpkin Pie. MMMMMMMmmmmmm

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Yes, mostly organic ingredients :) I think the thing NOT organic was the alcohol I added and the spices. I need to work on getting organic spices :) (and ironically, I felt bad about buying Annie's because I know that company sold out to a large crappy company recently)

So I decided that since I have the house to myself to attempt to make cheesecake, from scratch.

First off, I should have probably used a better grade mixer than my poor little hand held one. I tried to not over tax it. Secondly, I need a bigger mixing bowl! The batter was to the edge basically (I think I will ask the boyfriend to use his freaky large mixing bowl - if I make this again) oh and I should really have a roasting pan, because you're supposed to give it a water bath while it's cooking (if, like me, you are confused by this terminology, it means to have it cooking in another pan than holds it and water - which is how I actually make my bread pudding). So, yes I am adding things to my Amazon Wish list. Again.

Anyways, I have it on a cooking sheet, with the hot water in that. Ahem. Will see if this actually works or not...

I did modify the recipe, following what someone else did and still tweaking it a bit.

Learning lesson: Graham cracker crumbs?? Hmmm. Maybe crushing them in a bag would have been smart. Not attempting it by hand.

Lesson #2: Soften cream cheese does not get light or smooth so much as softer and stuck to the mixer.

Lesson C: Make sure you have your spices grounded already so you don't feel so rushed to get the clove into the damn batter.

Also, I have quite a bit left over batter, so I will see if I use them in some form of muffin/waffle thing this weekend. I hope.

Random Also: Here is my basil (grown from seed!) Working on another now :) I plan on taking this one to the boyfriends!

And yes, I am doing laundry, drinking wine and the only thing I've read tonight has been the recipe. And dinner? Ha, I forgot about it until the cheesecake was in the oven and laundry started. It was a bagel, and a cheese sandwich. Bad I know, but whatever. My period is almost over so there.

Bits and Pieces (again)

So I have another company coming in on Saturday to look at my shower and try to quote me something I can't afford. I was really hoping Home Depot wasn't going to be "We're part of Home Depot, but a different part." Because this guy just told me that the showers the rep will show me are NOT the ones that Home Depot sells. Ummm, what? I mean, seriously? They are ones more on the higher end. To which I said, I am really looking for something simple, I don't need one all blinged out. He said then tell the rep that and the rep won't show me the blinged out ones. Well. Hmmm. I asked if they do have someone that does installs of things bought at Home Depot. He's all, yep and here's their number. So, in a nutshell, if Home Depot can't sell me this on Saturday, Home Depot can let me buy it from them and they still install it. Oh ok then. Isn't that what I was asking for in the first fucking place when I got this damned appointment set up? Because, hello, single mom with a tight budget here! But I need and want my stupid ass shower fixed!!

I am hoping they have something in my price range that won't require a 2nd car loan payment. Because, damn.

My lovely monthly lady friend is visiting. I am inhaling chocolate at an alarming rate (hahaha, I wish I was) and I've been a bit crankier this time around. Probably because I was really bad about not taking my supplements this month and those do make a difference. I know I'm bloated like a cartoon whale right now. Ugh.

I ordered some books and am really excited about reading Visions from Anne Bishop. I am hoping, hoping, I can read tonight and drink some wine. I seriously doubt that will happen though because I just freaking remembered the Kid has more classwork to finish (oh, what a long story that is) to be turned in on Friday.

Otherwise, work has been keeping me busy. Oh but I will be baking one way or another this weekend. Either cookies or lemon bars or maybe attempt a pumpkin cheesecake :)

Also: I seem to have an obsession with...socks. Don't ask...I will explain later.

Freaky Friday

I was really good last night about not putting a lot of weight on my foot. Score me :)

Though I did make some Lemon Cupcakes :) I even saved some for the Kid :) The rest were given away :) I just felt like baking. And to be honest, I will be cooking some more this weekend. Not just cupcakes, but also making Cinnamon Raisin Bread (I need to check my levels of raisins at home) for some Bread Pudding on Sunday. Ohhhhh, wait a second. I am making that for a Pagan thingy on Sunday. I should warn them I busted my foot and will need help!!!

I am still resting my foot, putting ice on it and just taking it easy. It's going to be interesting trying to do ANYTHING this weekend, but oh well!

I did have some help putting the Kid's shower head in the downstairs bathroom, but it's done and used it this morning. I really did like having that large shower again. Makes me sorta think about my smaller one upstairs. Hmmmm. I am going to ask around about how much work it takes to make mine a wee bit larger. And if it's too much work, it can wait! If it's not though, then I might just do that. At least for right now, I have the bathroom downstairs that can be used :) Being clean is a good thing!!

Since I made a mess upstairs looking for my insurance card, I should probably take some time to get my filing done and at least clean that part up. And if I am working in the office, then I can at least get that room more organized without putting too much strain on my tootsie.

Also: how is that I just drank coffee and feel like I could fall asleep instead? And I am pretty sure I went to bed earlier last night than I have in a week. Hmmm.

Work, hahahaha, is quiet and I'm not doing as much as I should be. End times people, end times.

Ok, I am going to see if I can hobble around for a little bit and look productive :)