Thanksgiving 2011

The whole week preceding Thanksgiving, I checked, double checked, and triple checked the weather forecast on my iPhone. The whole week it told me it would rain. I'll admit initially I was a bit disappointed because I seem to associate Thanksgiving with a warm 5 o'clock sunset that lights up the house with an autumn glow. But as turkey day approached, I became content with the belief it would rain on one of my favorite days of the year. 

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the rain. But there are certain moments that I look forward to and visualize in a certain way, to the point where I'd think even the slightest disruption would ruin it. 

I don't think I'm the only person who thinks this way. I am sure others have their own perfect moments too. Perhaps it's relaxing after a long day at work, settling back home after being away a while, embracing someone you love, taking a bite out of something delicious, or relieving yourself on the toilet. We've all got one. Here were just a few of mine:

-Chopped stuff for stuffing. (Or dressing, if you're picky about the name)

-Pretty potatoes. 

-Peekin' in the oven. Like a creeper. Lookin' good.

- Warm, sunny autumn glow! Yes this day was perfect.

After working in the kitchen all day, a few hundred hugs, and a forkful from this plate, I'm pretty sure there was nothing that could ruin my bliss. Not even the rain.

For me, Thanksgiving is more like a day filled with perfect moments. Good food, good company, and good food babies.

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. And I couldn't be more happy. And hungry. School and dance have been kicking my butt and now it is finally time for rest.


And stuffing my face.


Even though I'll be heading back up home to beautiful and foggy San Francisco in a few days, I thought I could fit in another round of baking. I wanted something really easy and with few ingredients. While scrolling through a few blog archives, I found the perfect recipe from Joy the Baker.

Just four ingredients! The frugal college student in me couldn't be happier.

Peanut Butter. Good start.

Sugar. Yes, this did lead to one or two spoonfuls of sugar coated peanut butter. Don't tell me you wouldn't.

Then just one egg and baking soda. Thats it!

I had never done anything flourless before, so I halved the recipe just in case they wouldn't turn out and end up wasting perfectly good peanut butter. But it turns out that these are probably the easiest and most foolproof cookies imaginable. They were light and crispy on the outside with a slight chew in the middle.

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

(adapted from Joy the Baker)

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar (1/2 white, 1/2 brown)

1 egg

1tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, beat together peanut butter and sugars till well incorporated and there is no loose sugar on bottom of bowl. Then mix in egg and baking soda. Using your hands, form balls of the dough or drop rounded tablespoons onto the baking sheets 2 inches apart. Using a fork, lightly press ridges into each ball. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

English Muffins

Who doesn't love english muffins? Lathered with butter or whatever spread you desire, an english muffin can set you up for your day.

But so what Molly? It's a muffin. Anyone can just slice open a store bought one and go on with their day.

But wait! 

I made these. Hold up... I made these? Yessiree!

I started with one. I was very cautious about actually trying the recipe because using yeast has been an intimidating task for me, and my first trial with yeast didn't exactly work out (by which I mean my whole wheat bread never rose and I was left with flat, dense toast for 3 weeks). So, I decided to see how the first one would turn out and judge whether it would be worth continuing. But I was semi-pleased with the result and continued with the batch.

And before I knew it...

I had finished! And had a good pile waiting to be eaten.

Or maybe just one. Look at it! Nooks and crannies and all.

Okay, I only ate one cause I made these around 6 pm and wanted to save the rest for the week and actually enjoy them in the morning. But of course I had to try a fresh one. Hurray for success!

I used used this recipe with a few tweaks:
- used whole wheat flour
- cooked them on a non-stick pan over low medium heat
- I got about 9 muffins out of the recipe

Turned out great. Try it for yourself!