Monday, December 15, 2008

Cookies and cards

Hi everyone,

Now that the marking is done it's time to organize cards
for all the people at school. I also bake cookies for both
of the main offices, and this year I'm giving packages
of my own art cards to everyone I know at work.



Nanny Muir's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here's the recipe which I gave to my students when Christopher, my
oldest and I taught an after school cooking class at our local public
school.

Nanny Muir’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

* Ingredients: 1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup wheat germ (if you don't have wheatgerm, rolled
oats work just as well.)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup raisins
(Note: if you’re allergic to chocolate
use caramel chips as a substitute)

1. In a mixing bowl blend the butter and sugars.

2. Add egg and vanilla and beat the mixture well.

3. Sift flour, soda and salt together and stir into the cookie
dough, with wheat germ.

4. Add chocolate chips, (or caramel chips) and raisins.

5. Using two spoons, spoon mixture onto greased cookie sheets.

7. Bake 10 - 12 minutes until golden brown in a preheated
375º F. Oven. Note: place the oven racks in the middle of
the oven for baking.

8. Let cool, put on a plate and serve with a glass of milk.

When we taught I was asked to include the Manners Tips
and Nutrition Tips for the children, so here they are:

Manners tip: If you are the team captain, host or hostess,
always serve your friends or guests first. Take the cookie closest
to you on the plate; don’t reach for the biggest, or the one with
the most chips. That’s rude and we want to be polite.
Nutrition tips: Raisins are another “feel good food” releasing
a form of sugar that causes tryptophan to rush to the brain
and create the relaxing chemical serotonin. Raisins and grapes
also fight against gum disease. Wheat germ is a good source of
B vitamins, Vitamin E and fiber. The B vitamins nourish your
nervous system countering depression, stress and fatigue.
Vitamin E increases your energy and stamina by enabling the
body’s muscles to function with less oxygen.


So it's been a busy day and I'm heading off to bed.

Nanny Muir is my mother -- her grandchildren call her
Nanny.



White poinsettias in the hallway

I have just about nothing done for Christmas, but I always feel
better when we get the white poinsettias for the front hall
table.

Have a running-around-like-a-happy-kid day

4 comments:

Liza Hirst said...

Sounds delicious, that recipe, Barbara! Thanks for sharing it with us - I hope I get round to trying it out.
Your pointsettias look stunning!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Thanks - it is very good, I should
have added that you can put some Skor
caramel bits in for part of the
chocolate chips or raisins, and it adds something wonderful.

Happy Holidays,

Barbara xoxox

Theresa Rankin said...

The cookies sound delicious and almost guilt free with your info on vitamins!! I will have to give them a try....since cooking baking is on my list too! The poinsettias are gorgeous against the red wall and gold edged mirror! Where do you get all your energy!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Theresa,

Your question about energy is funny.
Maybe I've been running on empty. How can you talk about energy? You impress me so much with all you do!
Anyway today I slept until noon. The semester was over yesterday, and I guess I was tired, because I haven't slept that long since I was 19.

xoxoxBarbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!