Giant Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

I have a serious lack of motivation today. It involves my school work. I spent the day on Thursday, observing a reference desk for 4 hours. Then I went back to the Natural History Museum and discussed a possible volunteer position cataloging the museums artifacts. Needless to say I am suffering from major brain overload. Also, the week before I went caving, got a new job and then went to class yet again. Pair that with a dead laptop, a knee that will not stop aching and a seriously messy house. I am overwhelmed.

So my solution? Bake and blog

Today's recipe comes from good ol' Martha Stewart. Now her cookies are hit and miss. She tends to add complicated ingredients or under-use flavor. The chocolate chip cookie recipe is gross. No flavor what-so-ever. Ick! However, her old fashion sugar cookie recipe is divine! This one uses vanilla beans and is a bit labor intensive. It is worth the work. The cookies are massive, chewy and have a nice crackled surface! Yum!

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 350

Ingredients:

3-cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of course salt

1 3/4 cup of granulated suga

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 vanilla beans, split and scraped

2 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter at room temp

2 large eggs

Fine sanding sugar

water for brushing

Directions:

1. Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together- set aside

2. Beat sugars and vanilla bean scrapings on med speed for 1 min. Add butter and beat another 3 min on med speed till light and fluffy.

3. Add eggs one at a time mixing well.

4. Reduce speed to low and slowly add the flour. Make sure it mixes all the way through.

5. Using a 2 inch ice cream scoop (3 tablespoons), drop cookies on a lined baking sheet. * If you do not have a scoop use a table spoon with 2-3 generous scoops. Round it in your hand an place it one the sheet*

6.Flatten the dough with your hand and sprinkle with sugar. Brush with water and sprinkle on more sugar.

7. Bake until slightly brown and the tops are a bit crinkled. 14-17 min. Mine took the full 17 and were still chewy in the center.

** Val additions- Since I cannot follow any directions! I added a about 2 tsps of finely grated lemon peel.

Enjoy!

VEB

Vintage Owls

There is a wonderful Antique shop here in town called- Funtiques! I absolutely love this shop. Most everything there is 40's through the 70's. They have clothes, furnitute, housewares, pictures, jewelry and much much more. The last time I was there I found these wonderful vintage lithographs. They date from 1972 and were priced $8.00 each. I thought they were a steal and the colors are so much fun! I also cannot pass up cute owl items. These will be put in frames and hung over my book shelves.

Great Graphic Novels

Author Note: I decided to make this blog into a book review and crafting site. Since I am working on becoming a librarian, I thought this blog would be good practice!

I have recently been introduced to graphic novels. I have never been a comic book gal and have always preferred my imagination over predrawn pictures. However, graphic novels keep getting better and better. I have found a new genere to love!


Definition from Wikipedia:


A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format. The term is employed in a broad manner, encompassing non-fiction works and thematically linked short stories as well as fictional stories across a number of genres.
Graphic novels are typically bound in longer and more durable formats than familiar comic magazines, using the same materials and methods as printed books, and they are generally sold in bookstores and specialty comic book shops rather than at newsstands. Such books have gained increasing acceptance as desirable materials for libraries which once ignored comic books.


My husband found a series on his Iphone called "The stuff of legend- The dark" written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith; illustrated by Charles Wilson.

It is set in the WWII era and all the graphics are in a sepia tone. The story begins with a young boy being captured by the boogieman. (he does exist and is very frightning) His toys come to life and rally to save him. They include a tin soldier, a ballerina, a jack in the box, a teddy bear and a few others. The plot takes rather dark twists and has many psychological elements that older readers will find intriguing. This is not a story for little ones. Trust me!

I thought the story was brilliant and well thought out. There were so many suprises and shocking moments as well as heartfelt sentiments as we learn more about each toy. It has betrayal, comedy, violence, mystery and a tiny bit of romance. The graphics are simply beautiful. There is so much detail and the coloring really brings out the time era of the story.


The second novel is called "The stuff of Legend- The jungle." Here the story continues with the toys still searching for their boy and their adventures in the jungle. Again the illustrations are in sepia with a slight greenish tone. I cannot tell more about it other than the twist at the end will leave you shocked and begging for the next one!


So if you are looking for a good read in a genere that you never venture into, I highly recommend this series.
There are two books published so far and the third installment is on its way.

 Happy Reading!


VEB