Another Gouda Day

Today's Advent cheese surprise was Mediterranean Gouda. It had little flecks of um, Mediterranean stuff. I wound up just nibbling at it while baking cookies. 

I worked a little later this evening. I try not to grouse too much about going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark, but it's hard to stay motivated. 

My goal for this evening was to do some inside holiday decorating. 

I didn't manage to do a lick of decorating. Or cleaning. 

I did bake another batch of Snickerdoodles and popped them in the freezer. That counts for something, right? 

I'm working at Second Helpings early tomorrow morning and the Red Key tomorrow evening. Tomorrow's at-home chore list is small - eat cheese! 

Gouda Evening!

Happy December 3rd...or Black Pepper Gouda Day. 

My intention was to melt whatever the cheese of the day was on to a serving of turkey chili for my dinner, but somehow black pepper cheese on chili didn't sound appetizing. 

I'm really struggling with my weight. I'd stayed at my Weight Watchers goal weight for three years and let it go to hell two years ago. Somehow I've managed to lose six pounds during the pandemic and just need to lose four more to get back to my goal weight. 

I've really been buckling down on counting points and trying not to blow the progress I've made, but it's been a struggle the last two months. We have so much candy floating around Second Helpings and I've been baking.

 I tried to make this meal last....the next struggle is not to sample the Snickerdoodles I'm baking....I wouldn't take any bets on my willpower. 

snickerdoodle dandy

After twenty years of entering cookies in the Indiana State Fair I finally got the first place ribbon. The snickerdoodle category is typically hotly-contested, with many entries.

My English Toffee also got a ribbon - fourth place, and my dairy contest entry got second place.

I decided that for any sort of pitch-in/bring a dish event in the next year, I'll bring snickerdoodles. I've made twelve batches in the last two months - which could have something to do with my lack of weight loss...

They are super easy to make. If I can do, so can you. 

Snickerdoodles

1-cup soft shortening
1 ½ - cup sugar
2 – eggs

2 ¾ - cup flour
2 t. cream of tarter
1 t. soda
½ t. salt

4 T. sugar
2 T. cinnamon

Mix the shortening, 1 ½ cup sugar, and eggs together; mixing until smooth.

Sift together the flour, cream of tarter, soda, and salt. Stir into batter.

Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls.

Mix the 4 T. sugar and cinnamon together in shallow bowl.

Roll the dough into the sugar/cinnamon mix.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 – 10 minutes.

Nora hints: Make the dough ahead, you can refrigerate for a couple of days. You can also roll the dough in the the balls and refrigerate or freeze. Wait to roll in the cinnamon/sugar mix until you're ready to bake. Make sure not to overbake - the cookies should be pale or very light brown on the bottom. 

Happy baking!