Snickerdoodle Snafus and other Cookie Complications

So. Its been awhile.  Since the last post we have moved to our new place. And we had to settle in, and then I didn't cook anything new for a long while. And when I did cook something new, I plum forgot to take pictures. And that's about it. Is there some grammar rule that says you shouldn't start sentences with and? Oh, well.

I love cookies. They are the best of the best.

I stink at making cookies.

Aside from No Bake Cookies(no baking involved) and my Gramma's Christmas Sugar Cookies(been making my whole life) I cannot make cookies.

I really like Snickerdoodles. Its like eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch in cookie form. Can't go wrong with that! After eating a rather disappointing Snickerdoodle(dry, and well stale[still ate 2])I thought,
"Well, garsh! I'll just make my own!"

Bahahahaha. How naive. 

Let me give you some history to my cookie making blunders. Something ALWAYS goes wrong. Are they edible? Yes. But they aren't "Oh my, this cookie is so good, I'll have more!" good. They are more like, "Well, that was a cookie."

There are too crunchy, or they burn, Or something. I don't know if its the high altitude, or just me. Baking is for sure a science. And I don't remember much about science. Something about photosynthesis?

Back to the Snickerdoodle story. A month ago, I decide to make Snickerdoodles for the church pot luck. I follow a recipe(Thanks for nothing, Trisha Yearwood), I am feeling really good about the batter, and I go a little heavy on the cinnamon, but that's just my preference. Well, first thing is that the oven rack was to close to the bottom. So they burn on the bottom. And they don't cook on top because they are too big. You now know that it is possible to burn and not cook something at the same time. This happens to the batch. They were no good for church, or for anyone. But that didn't stop me from scraping off the top and eating like, 4, while almost crying. It was that time of the month. I cried over Snickerdoodles.

So I throw it out and tell myself, not to give up. Just let some time pass, and try again. And here we are. A month later and another church pot luck. I didn't take too many pictures, thinking it might be another disaster. The result? 

Well, they are cookies.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened, 1/2 cup shortening, 2 eggs, 2 3/4 cups all-purpose or unbleached flour, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt,, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 ºF. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening and eggs in large bowl. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Here I am, mid process. I have a question. What is Cream of Tartar, exactly? Its not creamy, and I have no idea what Tartar is. Is that like Tartar sauce?

 Its not the best raw cookie dough, but yeah, I still ate it.

Okay, there they are. How did they come out? I think, just okay.They look like Snickerdoodles, which is way better then my first attempt. But they aren't great. I know Snickerdoodles are supposed to be soft and fluffy. Mine are thin and crunchy. They taste fine, but its defiantly not what you would expect. I will take them to church. There are enough children without discerning pallets who will eat them.I think I will just have to call it. I can't make good cookies. I'll stick with Oreos.

Sloppy Joe, slop, slop, sloppy joe.

Howdy!
Guess what! We are moving, again! Yeah, I know. Its been a few times. Husband got a new job, so now we get a new address. I type this when I could, nay should be packing. But I am kinda over packing at the mo. I sit in my living room that is filled with full boxes and empty ones that I told my husband to go trolling for this weekend. I'd rather have to many boxes than too few.
So, I thought I would post one last recipe from our current domicile. Its a super easy and simple one, and guess what else! I actually will eat this one. Wonder of wonders, it has happened.
Who doesn't like Sloppy Joes?
I did make some minor adjustments to the recipe. I will post it in its entirety, and I will tell you what I left out. It rhymes with Bunyan.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard, 3/4 cup ketchup, 3 teaspoons brown sugar, salt to taste, ground black pepper to taste

 

So, yeah I left out the onion and the bell pepper. I did say that I wanted to eat this, didn't I? If you feel inclined, include them. And I could totally be a spokes person for Kroger. I always by their stuff.

Since we are moving I thought I would take a picture of what I left in my utensil drawer. I do have a few large stirring spoons that I for some reason thought I would need. And an ice cream scoop. Lets be real, you always need an ice cream scoop on hand.

Directions:
In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion(if any), and green pepper(if any); drain off liquids.

Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Whoop, there it is.
I know what you are thinking, "Surely, you can't be serious?"
"I am serious, and don't call me Shirley."
Sorry, that quote was right there, I had to do it. Anyway, I digress.
It was very simple, and upon tasting(yes, again, I did eat it), I found it very good. It had just the right amount of everything. I even added some onion powder, since I had left the onions out.
I am sure there is a more flavorful Sloppy Joes recipe, but the reason I chose this one was simple. I had everything on hand. And it worked out well. Even if I did eat it in a hot dog bun since I forgot to take the hamburger buns outta the freezer. Same difference.