I am taking a break from the Martha Cookie Project until after Christmas. Or probably more like New Years. I have so many other baking projects, that there just isn't enough space in our tummies! All apologizes to my husband's co-workers for not getting their weekly cookie treats!
I am making some Christmas gifts, and needed canning jars. I guess in Winona you have to special order those things as well. So, I decided to re-use jars that had store bought jam in them. But the glue on the label was hard to remove. I tried extremely hot water, which worked pretty well. I read somewhere to try peanut butter, so I did. I put a pretty thin layer of creamy peanut butter where the glue was, and scrubbed away with an old dish cloth. It actually worked well. Give it a try.
So, these didn't turn out to look as fabulous as Martha's, but they are tasty. I was suppose to make them in a 11 x 17 pan, which I didn't have, so I used a 9 x 13 and a 9 x 7. One is made with apricots, and the little one was made with strawberries. Just to mix things up. I also don't have a pastry bag and set, so I did the trick where you put it in zip-lock bag and cut off the corner. I cut the corner a little big, so the piping was bigger than I would have liked, but it kind of worked. So, basically they don't look that nice, but they are pretty good tasting. Check out what they are really suppose to look like here.
With Thanksgiving last week, I didn't have time to make up a cookie. Sorry.
Johnny really liked these. I had to make him swear he liked them before I told him the big secret....THERE IS CHERRIES IN THEM! He is strongly apposed to cherries. I thought they were too crumbly. I had a hard time finding dried apples, I don't know why though. They are on Martha's site, but her site is having troubles today, so you may not be able to open it.
I found these guys at the grocery store today while on a hunt for dried apples. They were located by the raisins, craisins, and other dried fruit. They were on sale, so I thought I would give them a try. I have never really ate figs, unless you count Fig Newtons. I was pleasantly surprised! They have a really complex taste and texture. The inside is full of tiny seeds, but so small they don't bother your teeth. There is a weird stumpy end that I just toss to the dogs. I am not sure how to use them in cooking, but they are fabulous for snacking. Ultra high in fiber. I would really suggest you try them! I bought ones that came in a resealable plastic pouch, Orchard Choice Brand Mission Figlets.
These were super good. The recipe called for Grade B maple syrup and maple extract that was not available in Winona, so I had to use Grade A and vanilla extract instead. Also, they were suppose to be 2 inch rounds cut outs, I used a flower shape. My husband wondered how I got them in such a nice shape.....cookie cutter (duh). These are not on Martha's website. So, ya gotta buy the book!
These were very good. Nice and chewy. I did not have Lyle's Golden Syrup, Hy-vee does carry it, but I didn't want to buy a huge jar of it for 2 tablespoons. So I used honey instead. If I make this cookie again, maybe I'll splurge for the Lyle's. ANZAC stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corp. No eggs, so good for those allergy folks. Check out the recipe on Martha's page.
