Part XXXIX: Chocolate Orange Dreams

Yesterday was such a typical Portland day. While most of the country had warm, sunny weather for Memorial Day weekend this is what we had.

The temperature didn't reached past 60 degrees. It was so overcast I don't think I saw the sun once. Yuck.

The recipe called for sour cream. I'm hoping that a cup of sour cream reverses my dry cookie trend. Next to the sour cream you can really tell what a fake yellow color the butter flavor Crisco is. I definitely don't want to know what is put in there to give it the color of a yellow highlighter.

My handy birdie zester to the rescue again!

I needed fresh orange juice for the batter and the glaze.

Once they finished baking, I immediately brushed them with a glaze consisting of orange juice, powdered sugar, and orange liqueur. I used Triple Sec. I tried to capture how shiny they looked after brushing on the glaze.

Why doesn't Phyllis sit still so I can take a good photo?

Verdict: I think the sour cream DID help! These cookies were much softer and more moist then the previous two recipes. Unfortunately I don't think the Triple Sec added a good flavor to the glaze. I didn't realize how sweet Triple Sec was on its own, and combined with powdered sugar it made my teeth hurt. The fresh squeezed orange juice couldn't cut through the painful sweetness. I would make these cookies again, without the glaze.

Next Week's Selections:

Butterscotch Sugar Drops

Double Chocolate Cranberry Chunkies

Chocolate Oatmeal Chippers

Part XXXVIII: Chocolate Chip Almond Oatmeal Cookies

On Saturday we decided to have BLTs for dinner. Since I was taking up all of the counter space in the kitchen hubby J cooked the bacon on the front porch. He used an electric griddle that we got as a wedding gift. There is an outlet right near the front door, perfect for outdoor frying. Classy!

This is some quality bacon! We get it at the local butcher. Delicious.

Back to the cookies. Brown sugar, white sugar, and a blob of my favorite butter flavor Crisco.

The slivered almonds look like a collection of blunt fangs

Verdict: I think over baking was a theme this week. These cookies were also dry. However, they were more flavorful then the peanut butter cocoa cookies.

Next Up: Chocolate Orange Dreams

Part XXXVII: Peanut Butter Cocoa Cookies

This week I don't have much text or many photos. I was feeling pretty uninspired yesterday, both picture and cookie wise.

All three of this week's recipes called for butter flavor Crisco. Yum?

Brown sugar clot

Surgically removed

Don't have quite the one cup called for in the recipe. Wonder how much of a difference it will make?

Verdict: Dry. I think peanut butter makes for a dry cookie, and it didn't help that I over baked them. A friend suggested they'd be good for dipping in coffee or tea, like biscotti. I think that would be a capital idea for this batch.

Next up: Chocolate Chip Almond Cookies