Crackle Cookies MkII

Now I don't normally make the same thing straight after learning a new recipe, but the kids love these and I have a couple of people wanting to try it for themselves. So I decided to make it better. Up to you which one you try but I have it on good authority (the boys) that these are "way better".

The recipe:-

1 cup all purpose flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt - mix together in a bowl. Add 4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter (I rubbed this in like breadcrumbs but it may be better to use melted butter!?). Mix in 3 large eggs until a stodgy dough (quite hard work) and add a cup of chocolate chips (I used milk and white)

Put oven on 375*F and chill mixture for 15 minutes.

Cover your hands in icing Sugar and put some in a bowl

Use a teaspoon and make a ball (walnut sized) and drop into the icing sugar and roll around till completely covered (this reminded me of truffles). I made about six, dropped them in and whirled the bowl till covered. Put the balls on a baking tray greased or with baking parchment about 2" apart.

I made 30.

Bake for 10 mins.

Leave to cool before touching as they are quite delicate. Once you can move them put them on a cooling rack and try not to eat them till cool.

I have to say the mixture is lovely to eat (possibly if you don't eat the mixture you may get more cookies than I I did ha!). The cookies straight out of the oven are lovely to eat too.

Once again, let me know if you try them and especially which recipe you chose. ENJOY xxx

 

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Chocolate Crackle Cookies

I am fortunate enough to work with a lady who bakes the most amazing things for us to eat each week. This week she presented us with a plate of Crackle Cookies. oh my goodness, they were amazing. In fact so amazing that I had to find a recipe and make them that very night. So I am sharing this wonderful recipe.

Mine were a bit flat, possibly because I wasn't patient enough to chill the mixture and I didn't time them. They should be more cookie shaped and more icing sugary. Also I let my two boys get stuck in!!

1&1/2 cups of all purpose flour (6.25oz)

1&1/2 cups sugar (10.5oz)

1&1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3oz) melted and cooled

3/4 cup cocoa powder (2.25oz)

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cups of chocolate chips (I used semi sweet and white)

3/4 cup icing sugar

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl and mix. Mix the butter and cocoa powder together making sure there are no lumps. Mix the vanilla essence and eggs together and whisk together with the cocoa mixture. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Oven 350*F. Line two baking trays with parchment. Scoop dough with teaspoon and roll into a ball which you then dip into the icing sugar and roll around until completely covered. Place on tray about 1&1/2" apart. As they bake, the cookies will spread and the icing sugar will crack. They need about 12-15 minutes. The longer they are in the crispier they are.

I like them crispy on top and soft in the middle. Please do let me know if you make them and send me a photo. I guarantee you will like these.

 

 

I used the recipe from About.com.

 

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WOYWW #229 - not quite a pair!

Hi woyww'ers. How are we all today? As usual please go here to find out what this is about. In the meantime I guess you want to see my desk.

A slightly different angle to normal. My bag, which was given to me by my lovely friends in England before I left, and it's contents looking very 'pink' with the snake not too far from being finished. Next to that is my sock. One is completely done (thanks to the wonderful Donna at my knitting class who put me right) and the other is progressing well. I managed the fiddly wrap and turn stitches and am now working up the leg. You can see the finished one posing next to my ever increasing pile of socks for Christmas. Apart from my Union Jack bunting glass of water I think that's it for me this week.

We have visitors about to turn up from England and their 'space' is the other half of the loft I work in, so I may not be here next week, or I may be on a different table.

Can't wait to see what everyone is up to this week, there were some truly amazing desks last week and I struggled to get round all the people that visited me, some I wasn't able to leave comments which is a shame.

 

 

 

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WOYWW #228 - not a Willy warmer!

It is nearly Wednesday again here which means it's time to show our workdesks for What's on your Workdesk Wednesday. Once again Brenda jogged my memory by posting her WOYWW. (what would I do without her.)

So my desk is the coffee table in front of The Great British Bake Off.

This week I have abandoned all socks in favour of a snake. Yes a snake, not a willy warmer. This is for a friends baby. I am hoping it will be nice to cuddle. I am knitting it on four double pointed needles with no pattern.

I am off to eat my banana bread now. (You can just make out the bake off team analysing my bread).

See you x

 

 

 

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Cosy Christmas Socks

I finished Small's Christmas socks at last and got him to try them on.

I really like making these and I have already made a pair for Huffle.  Now I need to make a pair for Smallest and I would like some too.

They were knitted on four double pointed needles with Cascade Cream, Red and Grey Merle.  No fancy pattern just knit, purl, decrease, increase.

They are based on the original Work Sock and are the sock that is used to make the sock monkey which is why I think they look so cute.  I can imagine the sock monkey winking at me.  Hopefully these don't get holes in too quickly else that is what they will end up being.  These will be put on the sock pile now for finishing, ie tying up any loose ends, blocking and wrapping for Christmas.

WOYWW #227 - olè sock

Hello here I am sitting at my desk on a Tuesday evening because it is really Wednesday in the UK. Julia of What's on your worksdesk fame started this craziness so click on her name and all will be explained.

My desk.......

At the front left is Huffle's IPad (he lent it to me to post this as Small had mine). Next to it is a colourful thing that looks like a sombrero but is in fact a tea cosy. I am crocheting it and trying to get it wide enough to fit my Brown Betty. Next to that is the 2nd of Small's Christmas sock, the first one is next to this one. I love this, it is so cosy and warm and really easy to knit though I have gone back to the four needles instead of two circular but there no fiddly patterns.

At the front of my table was the surprise of the day. I came home to find a parcel from Marks & Spencers with the words 'scissors' on the front. Who would send me scissors? My lovely friend from England sent them for my birthday (last Friday). M&S, Kirsty Allsop in a floral case - HOW HAPPY AM I?

Right corner is my remote control for my new speakers (also birthday) from Huffle. Now I can sit and blast my music (Adele is on there at the moment - fabulous).

Two balls of cream wool are covering two cream lattice patterned socks that I was working on last time I was here. They are both at the same stage - needing wrapping and turning and I am not getting on so well so I am having a break from them. That's me for this week.

P.s. I was asked to show Leftover Leo now that he is finished. Smallest decided he didn't want him to have a scarf after all and I found a crocheted heart I made ages ago and sewed it on.

He is showing off and trying to take over the picture so that raggy doll doesn't get a look in (I am still waiting to deliver her to her new owner).

 

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