Another Fine Mess

There is a tradition that lives in the kitchens among the women in my family, and it is known as "the lid drawer". This is where the tops of containers, lids of long-tossed jars and tubs, are stored for that one day when a suitable top is needed for a specific whatchamacallit and then *poof* the perfect lid.

I am the dark sheep in my family - act surprised - as I have no such drawer. Instead I have something far more useful. The contents of what WOULD be my "lid drawer" also suit lots of purposes, comes in handy for everyday uses and in an emergency? Oh heck - it's practically MADE for emergencies.

Behold - the chocolate box.

(Cue the choir of angelic voices ...)

This container of empty but oh so satisfying calories lives in the top shelf of my pantry. One would think it would be too tempting to just let it sit and live up there ... but honestly, it's fine. I know when I get onto my tiptoes and stretch all the way out that to get my fingertips to walk the bottom of the box to the edge of the shelf, and as it starts to tip over the top of my head that either (1) I'll miss and comedy will ensue or (2) good tasty things will occur. Or, at least the attempt to good tasty things. The goal is always (2), but sometimes I get the bonus of (1) as well.

In any event, the chocolate box was opened with the intent to make some magic for myself, for my work friends, for my coffee shop buds, but especially for my guy who, for reasons I can't quite put my finger on, I just think needs to be reminded that he's special and fabulous. Because he is special and fabulous.

As you know, I made these yesterday.

Oh sorry - too far away? Ok here. I made these yesterday. Lots and lots of these. In fact, I made a hundred of 'em
and then I grabbed some white chocolate from the box (not the morsels shown but other stuff that was further down), melted it down, and got to work. With no real pattern, I just let things fall where they may. The result was this

which, in my hand, looks like this.

I will point out that the boyfriend wasn't a huge fan of this look ... which was alright because I had more changes in store. Next I grabbed the bittersweet morsels, melted those down and, throwing all caution to the wind, I did this

I was concerned at first because, though the kitchen was not warm at all, the second "explosion" of chocolate was not setting up. A few minutes in a refrigerator did the trick and they look like the fine mess that I intended to makeand oh what a fine mess they are. In fact, having made enough adjustments to both pre- and post-baking the original recipe, I have no qualms in renaming these "Gracie's Fine Mess Cookies". Share them with someone special and fabulous today. I know that I intend to do so ...

New and Improved?

This is Memorial Day Weekend ... a time of reflection, of giving thanks for those who have given their very best so that the rest of us can ... uh hmmm well, do as little as possible, sometimes. Or, at least, have the OPTION of doing as little as possible.

In any event, this being Memorial Day Weekend, I took a moment and flipped the pages back over the past year and ... ahhhh yes - there it was. Yanno, last Summer, I found a recipe that was so good, I replicated it four times in one weekend. So it was that I decided this weekend, I'd revisit, reflect and - as this is America - revise.

I should state that there was nothing at all that actually *needed* tweaking from the original. It's just - well, we (as a culture) very rarely leave well enough alone. The Ford Mustang, New Original Reformulated Coke, The Dukes of Hazzard Movie ... sadly all visions of having the best of intentions with a good thing and ... well let's just say "new" doesn't ALWAYS partner with "and improved".

But ... well the original called for semi-sweet and white chocolate chips. So I did that ... plus milk and bittersweet chocolate chips, too. (Come on - if 2 kinds of chocolate is good, then 4 has GOTTA be better, right?) The original called for dried cherries - I used both Montmorency and Bings, to mix up the tartness and the size. I also added a splash of the fluid from the cherries to extend the flavor.

I tripled the recipe, finally finishing mixing the whole mess by hand and then blopping big unmeasured gobs of chunky cookie dough onto as many cookie sheets as I have. I made an even 100 cookies and - while they're not all the prettiest things ever to come outta my kitchen, they deliver plenty of flavor. (I know I know ... I hear you. "Pictures!!!" you cry out loud. Tomorrow, I promise.)

Annnnnnnd - speaking of "tomorrow", I will probably take a few dozen of the prettier cookies in the batch and ... oh, I dunno - maybe slather on some chocolate or ... something ... in an effort to improve on the improvement. This is America. It is what we do.
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(On a far more serious note, please take a moment tomorrow and remember WHY we have Memorial Day. Those that have served selflessly deserve so much more than a day but let us at least give them that.)

Reading for a Cause

Earn "good person" points! Make total strangers doing great work happy! Improve your Summertime weather!!! Wanna learn how? SURRRRRRRRE ya do.

So Summertime is nearly around the corner and ya' have a "wanna read" list that's pretty long, don't ya? I know I sure do. It may look like there's not much on my "read right now" list (via Shelfari ... to the right over there -->) but don't let my not updating that often fool you.

Annnnyway, if you find yourself wanting a reason to visit a bookstore but feel a little bit guilty for the pleasure of having new reading materials, how about if you handed a certificate to the cashier that made that bookstore donate a percentage of your purchase towards a worthy cause? Yeah? Ok - well then ... what if that worthy cause was one where you knew someone who had done that work? Right??????? Right!!!!

I can't promise that this will work for online purchases - but I DO promise that you will gain "good person" points, and that my "Hands On" friends in the Gulf will really appreciate it, and that the weather for your Summer will be a few degrees better just for you doing this.

Ok ok - I can't guarantee the "Summer weather" one - but those first two are true.