Author: Sadie

Library of Congress

Sadie2 Comments

Last weekend was my mom’s birthday, so as a treat, we met up in Washington DC and had a little girls weekend.  Neither of us have spent much time in DC recently so it was fun to try some new restaurants and do some sight seeing.

LOC
A slightly blurry pic of the super decorated main hall

One of the highlights of the trip for me was visiting the Library of Congress.  I know that sounds kind of nerdy, but hear me out.  As you may or may not know, I am a big fan of Mr. Thomas Jefferson. The Library of Congress was basically started by TJ selling Congress his personal library.  So we took a tour at the main Library of Congress building (there are several ancillary buildings around DC), and there were several references to TJ throughout the tour. There was even an exhibit that was a replication of his original library as he would have laid it out in his house.

The building was a lot more ornate on the inside then I was expecting. It was basically decorated wall to wall with paintings, mosaics, and sculptures. Every piece of art was chalk full of symbolism of muses, historical references, and lots of famous faces.  I took a couple shot on my phone but they don’t do the building justice. You should definitely stop by if you’re in town!  There are several rooms and exhibits that don’t allow pictures so there is plenty more to see!

The ceiling of the main foyer of the building
The ceiling of the main foyer of the building

Cookie Tray

Sadie5 Comments

So I volunteered to make some cookie trays for a “coffee talk” at school. After some self inflicted hemming and hawing on my part, I put together a list of five different cookies to include on the trays. I thought since it’s for a coffee and tea break, I should include simple cookies that pair well with a hot beverage.  The event was late morning so it needed to be things that weren’t too sugary, but past the breakfast pastry stage.  This immediately brings me to shortbread or similarly dry cookies like biscotti.  I’ve already made the standard shortbread several times for things at school so I thought I would add some variation.

With those considerations in mind, I decided to make Cream Cheese Walnut Cookies, Ricotta Cookies, and Double Chocolate Walnut biscotti (to add some chocolate to the mix).  Then since it was near purim, I felt compelled to make Hamentashen.  And to roundout the tray I added some small brownie squares.

Voila!cookies!yum

Over the next couple weeks I’ll be posting the recipes for the Cream Cheese Walnut Cookies, Ricotta Cookies, and Double Chocolate Walnut Biscotti.  Get Excited!

Five Things

Sadie1 Comment

I haven’t mastered in the kitchen:

1. Challah Bread. I am still trying to develop a good working relationship with yeast.  I’ve heard that making challah bread is difficult, but I don’t think my dough rose enough before I baked it.

2. Caramel.  I either under cook it so the sugar isn’t really melted all the way, or I burn it. Maybe I should get a candy thermometer.

3. White Mountain (or seven minute) Frosting.  Sometimes I pour the hot mixture into the egg whites too quickly and the frosting falls flat, and sometimes I pick a bad recipe that seems doomed from the start.  I will get this one eventually.

4. Rice. This one seems simple but I can’t do it. I’ve only tried a handful of times and I always feel like it’s under done or over done.  i think the problem is that I don’t eat or make a lot of rice, and I’ve never put much research into the proper method.  On the plus side, I’m not really picky about the done-ness of rice so it doesn’t keep me up at night.

5. Pie Crust.  This is for two reasons: 1. it intimidates me, and 2. it’s not my job in my family.  My mother spent years perfecting her pie crust (psst- she uses actual lard), so I don’t try to steal her thunder. In our family we tend to divide and conquer.  I don’t try to make apple pies because that’s my Mom’s jurisdiction, and she doesn’t make pancakes or granola.

What are you still having trouble with in the kitchen?