Candy Corn Cookie Fun

Since today is Halloween and I'm not big on dressing up, I figured I should still do something festive. So I decided to make Candy Corn Sugar Cookies. Now, don't let the name fool you, there are no candy corns involved in this process, other than the fact that the cookies look like little candy corns. I love to bake, and my office loves to eat the cookies I bake, so I figured it would be a perfect match.

This was probably the most fun I have had baking cookies in a while. And I decided to document the process with photos!

So I started with a simple sugar cookie mix. I didn't have time to make it from scratch, so I just used a box. Also, I have yet to find a sugar cookie recipe that I actually like, so the mix always seems to be the best bet for me. Once I had the dough, I divided it into 3 parts and left one section the normal color, dyed one section yellow and the last section orange. I lined a small bread pan with plastic wrap and layered the dough inside. First white, then orange, then yellow. I smoothed out the top and placed it in the fridge to chill for a couple of hours.


When I took out the dough, you could clearly see the 3 layers.



Then I sliced a 1/4 inch section and you could really see the layers.


Next I cut little triangles out of the dough.


I think if I had used a larger bread pan I might have been able to get more triangles out of each slice, but this worked just fine.



Once all the triangles were all cut, I set them all out on the pan. I put granulated sugar on some and some orange sprinkles I had on others. For one batch I dipped the ends into sugar and some I left plain. Not sure which ones turned out best, but they all looked so cute.


I baked them in the oven for about 10 minutes. (I like to leave them a little on the doughy side so when then cool they are nice and soft).


I let them cool on the pan for a couple minutes.


And moved them to a wire rack to cool.


They actually look like little candy corns. I was quite pleased!


Finally I layered them in a Tupperware to bring to work for my coworkers to enjoy!


Such an easy treat. But so fun!

Dinner Preparation

So I've found the recipe I'm making for next Roommate night dinner, and I am SO excited!

Pork Loin Chops with Cinnamon Apples.

Still trying to figure out what I'm going to make to go with it. I'll check sales this weekend, I'm thinking a good salad or asparagus or possible mashed potatoes? And I have to figure out which kind of wine is best of course.

Auto Independence

I changed a headlight today!

While that might not be super domestic, it is a step in the direction of independence. I had to drive home from Philly on Saturday night with only one headlight, so replacing the right headlight was essential.

Now, you have to understand, the list of car maintenance I am capable of is rather small, so adding something like replacing a headlight is definitely impressive.

I can:

• Check the oil (although I'm not sure what I'm looking for or how to refill it)
• Replace the tail-light
• Replace the headlight (definitely more complicated than the rear lights)
• Replace my windshield wipers
• Use my jumper cables to help someone else
• Call AAA (by far the most important)

I should learn:

• How to change a tire (thankfully I've never needed to do this, although I should probably know how)
• Refill the air in my tires
• Check and refill the wiper fluid
• Other things I don't even know about.

I feel like car ownership isn't as daunting as it once seemed. As long as nothing goes terribly wrong, I feel like I could fix it...maybe I should think about becoming a mechanic?

Roommate Dinners

Since L and I first moved into our apartment in May of 2010, we have had weekly roommate dinners. Each week, one of us cooks and we catch up on life. It has definitely been one of the highlights of my life post-college. When it first started, we were diligent about taking pictures of each meal, capturing proof that we could indeed cook and therefore were real grown-ups. I think we had intended to do something with them, but instead, I have about 50 pictures of random meals on my phone, and I honestly couldn't tell you what half of them were. I recently started keeping a spreadsheet of what we make, where we found the recipe, and whether or not it's a keeper (because some of the meals I've made should definitely NOT be repeated.)

For now, I will let you view some of our most beautiful creations (you might notice a theme: a LOT of chicken and pasta...)

An All-time Fav: Homemade Tomato Soup (thank you Magic Bullet) with Grilled Cheese

We honestly have had a large variety of foods. From summer salads to comfort foods like Mac and Cheese and Pot Roast, to Chicken and Pork and Beef with sides of Soups and Salads. I don't know what we would do without our Crockpot, it definitely comes in handy during the winter months.

Baby Meal!

I've definitely gotten better at cooking in the past year, but I still really only cook for myself and L and occasionally other friends. I'm still not really confident in my cooking availability.

So when I had the opportunity to make a baby meal for Carla (in my small group), I was excited, but incredibly nervous. I decided to make Chicken Curry Hotdish (Casseroles are super easy to prepare and just heat, plus I LOVED it growing up) and an Apple Pie.

Chicken Curry Hotdish is pretty simple:

I bought a disposable pan and lid and wrote the cooking directions on top (Bake uncovered at 350 for about 50 minutes - since the pan was slightly smaller). I included some French bread from Harris Teeter and a homemade Apple Pie (that I made myself with the help of my lovely roomie).

I then made an extra hotdish so I could eat it for dinners and lunch myself. It lasted 5 or 6 meals and reheated great.

I don't have the apple pie recipe, but I think it was pretty basic. Homemade crust and everything, we even made the edges look fancy. We had a little extra dough and filling so we made some cupcake sized apple pies for ourselves. Those tasted great so I can only hope the pie was as good.

The scariest thing about cooking for someone else and just dropping it off is that you can't check to see how it really tastes. Carla told me they enjoyed it and that the crust of the pie was so flaky. But since I wasn't there, I don't really know how it went.

Anyways, I feel a little bit more grown up. I'll have to add a few more dishes to my repertoire before I decide to make another baby meal, but the first one is down!