happy may

Friday, May 01, 2009

Plisse has been giving me quite a few fits lately.  I've moved onto the pleated section of the body, but every time my mind would wander or one of my kids would try to talk to me, I would get off pattern.  I actually had about 5 inches of the body completed, and decided to rip it back and start over.  I searched for every stinkin' marker I had and put one in between each pleat. SO much easier.  Although a little annoying, I wish I would have done that the first time around.
On the weeks I don't try a new cookie recipe, I make the old standby.  Chocolate Chips.  This week I made them twice.  They are made so often that the recipe is etched in my brain.  I can fly in the door 30 minutes before the bus gets my kids home and have these ready.  It is just the nestle toll house recipe except that I use bread flour and add 1/2 cup and add an extra tsp of vanilla.2 3/4 cups of bread flour :: 1 tsp baking soda :: 1 tsp salt :: 1 cup butter, softened :: 3/4 cup sugar :: 3/4 cup packed brown sugar :: 2 tsp vanilla extract  :: 2 large eggs :: chips and nuts....optional :: bake 350˚ for 11-13 min.

Happy Friday.

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57 comments

  1. why the bread flour? are they softer? chewier?

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  2. stacey... thicker... softer... BETTER! :)

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  3. I am going to try these your way -right now! - but I want to know, too, why the bread flour? btw, you are an inspiring knitter!

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  4. OK... My question is about the brown sugar. Cuz that alone can take me half an hour to deal with. My standard practice (start a new bag and then shove it into the freezer...) isn't too practical. (And not just because bricks of brown sugar fall onto your feet daily when you reach for ice cubes. How do you deal with your brown sugar not hardening?

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  5. Sorry Plisse is giving you a hard time. The markers are a good idea though. In the end, it will be gorgeous. I love the color.

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  6. Your sweater is looking pretty! Are you going to leave it like the pattern with any closures? Or are you adding buttons or something?

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  7. That's a lot of markers, but I've been there and it can really help.

    Hubby just looked over my shoulder, "hhm, cookies." Then I got a little bit of a nudge ;)

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  8. plisse is lovely -- I don't think I've seen that one before, and i love the green you chose! Enjoy the cookies...

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  9. I've never tried baking cookies with bread flour ~ thanks for the tip, I'm going to try it soon.

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  10. my standby recipe too. I will have to give the bread flour a try- and the extra vanilla couldn't hurt either :)

    and MadMad- If you keep a saltine cracker in the bag of brown sugar you can keep it in the pantry and it should stay relatively clump free. (they also make a fancy terracotta disk you can put in there, but I think the cracker is probably handier)

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  11. the sweater is looking gorgeous! Love it.

    Those cookies look delicious. So delicious that I can't make them because I will eat them all.

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  12. The sweater looks great. The cookies look yummy. :)

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  13. The cookies look delicious. I'll have to try bread flour some time. And MadMad, I didn't know about a cracker, my mom (and now me) always used a crust of (still good, not dry) bread in a tupperware with the brown sugar. The moisture in the bread keeps the brown sugar perfect.

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  14. leslie,

    after ripping back a project 3 times, i have resorted to the very same thing myself...very helpful.

    great ideas for the cookies - reminds me of my mom, she does almost the same thing!

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  15. Ooohhh, bread flour. Who knew? Like you, I have the recipe etched -- I use the same recipe but add 3/4 c. extra flour. I'm definitely going to try adding the extra vanilla. Thanks!

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  16. Oh, pleats are kind of a pain in any craft... but they're worth it once you're through!

    Dem cookies are looking good, too. Yum.....

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  17. Yum. You really can't beat chocolate chip cookies, can you?! Baking some just moved to the top of my to-do list!

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  18. Anonymous5/01/2009

    I get the big tub of Toll House dough in the dairy section of the grocery store. Then if I'm not in the mood to SLAVE over putting it on a cookie sheet, I let the boys spoon it into their mouths while sitting on pillow cases watching tv.

    All hail the "Laziest Of All".....ME!

    I really should give your recipe a try, I'm not that strapped for time.

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  19. Lovely knitting project! I love the yarn color, it looks so soft!
    Pretty picture of the cookies, it makes me want to eat them right away!

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  20. Bread flour...now I've a reason to buy that big old package, the only one I can find around here. I know I can always make cookies if the bread I'm dying to make totally flops. You give me the best stinkin' tips for life living, which now includes baking! :D

    I really just wanted to pop over and say, "A wonderful, bright, rainbow rockout weekend to you & yours!"

    XO,
    Ana

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  21. I love your sweater - it looks like a fun challange. We were talking about real knitters today and you're clearly the real deal.

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  22. I admire you being able to rip it out..I typically quit at that time. :)

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  23. That shade of green is going to be beautiful on you. You have such sweater-knitting patience.

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  24. Your house must always smell yummy with fresh baked cookies!

    Happy Friday!

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  25. your plisse looks lovely, soft and spring

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  26. That a LOT of markers to keep track off!

    Could I sub normal flour since I haven't seen any bread flour at the store. Hmmm.

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  27. There is nothing wrong with a chocolate chip cookie and I am thinking I might try mine with bread flour next time.

    The sweater is looking beautiful Leslie, some knits really test our patience but I think this one will be worth it.

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  28. Anonymous5/02/2009

    I would like to reach those biscuits and take one of them.... slurp! ;-b

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  29. I am so going to try these cookies with bread flour! (I am a choco-chip adoring fan from waaaay back)

    And yes, inquiring minds want to know, how the heck do you keep your brown sugar soft, so that you can fly into the house at the last minute and make these (grins. I either have to use up the whole bag, or buy a new one every time it seems.

    Am loving Plisse. Are you using the yarn shown on the pattern page as well?

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  30. So do you own stock in Nestle? hehe!
    I'm sure my kids wouldn't mind chocolate chips more often...

    That is a lot of stitch markers- can't wait to see the completed sweater!

    Happy knitting-
    ali

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  31. That spring green is just gorgeous! Mmm... classic chocolate chip cookies. Your family is very lucky!

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  32. the old stand by- is always in the freezer- for the quick pick me up... just pop in the oven, and ready to go.... to happy little hands and happy mouths with smiles.

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  33. I'm making chocolate chip cookies this afternoon...maybe with this recipe..... Thanks!

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  34. Chocolate chip cookies are always a favourtie around here. I'll try making them with bread flour now.

    Mary

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  35. bread flour! hmmm. have to try that. (i'm that way with my chocolate chip cookies, too - could make them in my sleep.)

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  36. Anonymous5/04/2009

    Happy may indeed! I use bread flour too. And an extra egg yolk and a couple tablespoons of milk. I can't remember the recipe exactly, but it's the best cookie ever. Man, it took a long time to find the right recipe for chocolate chip to make them just right.

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  37. interesting. but i am curious too. why bread flour? what's the difference?

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  38. just some clarification....1/2 cup of bread flour as well as the 2 1/4of regular flour as the recipe states?

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  39. reneew....
    the toll house recipe calls for 2 1/4 cup of flour.
    i use 2 3/4 cup of bread flour. so i substitute bread flour AND add 1/2 cup.
    hope that helps!!

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  40. I'm so trying the cake flour. This is an old standby in our house too.

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  41. oh, that sweater looks wonderful. so sorry you had to rip back. i hate that. i can't wait to see it though.

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  42. My husband is a chocolate chip cookie fanatic, so I just had to try this recipe with bread flour. When he came home from his business trip on Sunday, he was greeted with a welcome home present...he sends many thanks to you, Leslie! We both loved this improved favorite.

    And, your sweater looks fabulous. The yarn and color are out of this world. Can't wait to see more updates.

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  43. Mmmm....they look delish! Now I want to make some chocolate chip cookies.

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  44. Now I want to get bread flour and make cookies! The plisse looks great!

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  45. ouch i feel your frogging/marker pain. sometimes when i frog 5 inches i wonder why i knit in the first place. looks like it's going to be worth it though.

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  46. Just made them last night. Used semi sweet and milk choc chips and pecans. Hubby must have had a dozen himself. LOL thanks, I now have a new choc chip recipe!

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  47. I can't wait to see your sweater done...it is beautiful.

    I am going to try the bread flour one time.

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  48. Béatrice de Lausanne Suisse.5/15/2009

    Gourmande ! Je n'ai hélas pas le temps faire des douceurs. Béatrice de Lausanne.

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  49. Béatrice de Lausanne Suisse.5/15/2009

    Gourmande ! Je n'ai hélas pas le temps faire des douceurs. Béatrice de Lausanne.

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  50. Béatrice de Lausanne, Suisse.5/15/2009

    Si vous allez dans les archives de mon blog, vous verrez des modèle de tricot que j'ai créé moi-même.
    Je vous découvre par le blog CREAZIONI LITTOS qui s'est abonné à mon blog.
    If you go to my blog archives, you can see knitting that I have created my self.I discoved your blog throuth CREAZIONI LITTOS who is a member of my blog.Good Lord, do you have time tu read all your massages ?
    http://beatrice-De.blogspot.com

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  51. I, too, use the Tollhouse recipe but tweak it a bit---now I'm going to HAVE to try these with bread flour. I would suspect it makes them a bit chewier? I LOVE a new kitchen experiment! :-)

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