Sockrrz etc.

Madeleine Cookies

For the last year I have been addicted to carbonated water and madeleine cookies. Since I can't make carbonated water at home, I decided to go hunting for a madeleine cookie sheet so that I could save myself the money I've been spending at Starbucks on their cookies.

I found the cookie sheet last week ($30.00 was too much, I suggest looking at second hand shops) and I have been trying out some online recipes. If I ever find the perfect madeleine cookie recipe I may turn it into a cake recipe so that (if I ever get married) I can have a big madeleine wedding cake.

Here is the recipe I tried this weekend. These are not quite as moist as I would like but still very good. They are also dead simple, I whipped mine off in a matter of minutes!

2 eggs

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon grated lemon or orange peel

1 pinch of salt

1 cup flour

10 tablespoons unsalted, melted butter

Preheat the oven to 375 F. My cookie sheet is non-stick but if yours is not then it must be well-greased and floured.

With your electric mixer blend together the eggs and sugar.

Add in vanilla, lemon peel and salt.

Add flour and beat until blended.

Slowly poor butter over mixture while beating.

Add 1 tablespoon of batter to each space on the pan and bake until lightly browned around edges. This was 10 minutes in my oven, but could be anywhere from 10-15. The first batch that I made at 15 turned out way too brown.

Gently remove them from the pan and keep going until you are out of batter. I got 24 cookies out of this recipe.

Feel free to dust the cookies with powdered sugar.

A new desk for back to school.

I actually reno'd this desk last year as a back to school present for myself. I found someone selling an old white desk on craigslist. I liked the little details like the thin drawer on the right, the post legs and the carved trim. It was in solid shape but desperately needed a makeover.

I painted the whole desk light blue, then stenciled the drawers and sides with red. I wasn't satisfied with any of the stencils that I found in the art stores, so I bought sheets of laser cut paper in a design that I liked and used that for the stencil. This was tricky as paint-soaked paper will only work for a few minutes before it begins to fall apart, luckily I bought a few sheets.

I then hand-painted the trim around the drawers green and purchased new hardware to replace the yucky plastic knobs it had.

I love it, this one's not for sale!

Love these little bags. They are the protectors of all things small.

Where are my glasses?

Each small bag/case is lined with felt to protect electronics or glass. They are washable. I soaked mine in the ocean and got it dirty at the beach, it cleaned up nicely. Bags snap or button close and have a small loop for easy carrying. Fits inside almost any purse.