Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Staycation Baking

So for those of you who don't already know, last Friday was my last day at my previous job.  I landed a new gig at a different company starting May 31.  I'm mostly excited, a bit scared, and kinda hungry... (well it is snack time, people...)  Anywho, in honor of my last day, and because May is Zombie awareness month, my co-workers and I put together a zombie themed potluck.  Our lunch features such delicacies as brain loaf (meatloaf in the shape of a brain), brains and crackers (cheese spread formed in a brain mold), maggoty chili (chili with orzo pasta - aka chili-mac), and zombie cupcakes.  The zombie cupcakes that I made were red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing colored pink piped to look like a brain on top.  Here are a few pictures of the braaaaainz... *zombie drool*



And the brains and crackers that my friend J brought.


I decided to take a week off between jobs, so I've been enjoying my time at home this week as a staycation.  I've gone for runs every day, spent time at the puppy park with my 4 legged blonde companion, and been able to take time for myself to do things that I want to do.  Since baking is something that I love to do, and because my brother asked nicely, and because I love him, I made a batch of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies today.  I attempted to mix in the chips and nuts with a rubber spatula - fail... I think there were just as much of those as there was dough, so I had to fall back on old faithful - the wooden spoon.


 See?  A much better mix!


Then I dropped them onto an ungreased cookie sheet (lord I need new ones... the wedding can't come soon enough!) and baked them for about 6 minutes a pan.


While I was baking I popped a few of the macadamias, looked at the nutritional info, and then remembered why I never keep them in my house.  So bad for you. So delicious. So still have half a can in my pantry. Trouble.


When they came out of the oven they looked amazing, and of course I had to taste test 1 or 4... Reason 531 why I'm chunky.


Mmmmm... cookies...


Coming soon to a Northern VA address near you.