of cowboys, ponies and barns!

GIDDYUP!
I post at least once a day, as you know all too well, except for when I don't!  I don't think I will bother Friday morning, for reasons that will become VERY clear Saturday, but I am making up for it with 13 (THIRTEEN! more or less) photos and a flippin' awesome cookie recipe.

From what I understand cowboy cookies are named that because:
(according to my mom): They are called 'cowboy cookies' because they traveled well in the cowboys saddle bags when they were out on the range and did not crumble as other cookies did. The harder outer shell was ideal.

although I myself am not a fan of hard cookies at all and my new recipe is decidedly and pleasantly SOFT.
I had never heard of them until my best pal Claudia made them the other day, mmm mmm they look good!  She made them for roofers..in the rain!  Any cookie that could satisfy roofers in Florida rain has GOT to be special.
The idea is you make an oatmeal-choco chip cookie and throw other things in.

I saw them and I was like "I wanna make them...vegan!" and holy CATS is this recipe spectacular!  Forget cowboys and roofers:  they are totally cat and Missus Tastycakes approved. **** I chose this particular recipe because:  it is simple, vegan, and I had these particular ingredients in my cupboard! MAKE THEM TODAY.



In other news, Peter from next door comes over with his mother last week and is like "WOW, I really like that mug there!" and I tell him "thanks, funny you should mention it, I have never made that form until today and I REALLY like it too!" and then I glaze it with a glaze experiment (take one of my light green glazes and double the copper OH WOW I love it! and sure, yes, I do have quite a few different light green glazes, don't I?).
The one with the elephant on the right.
It came out of the kiln and I washed it and I am USING IT NOW.
Don't worry, I am making more like it...



FINALLY, I was headed over to Yogi's house to babysit him and horse around!  My neighbor Tom sees me walk Yogi and is like "That dog is such a PONY! He looks huge with you but even bigger with his mama!".  His mama is, well, quite tiny....
ANYWAY, I asked the wife to come along, as Yogi has a yard with a very pretty old barn, and she wanted me to take portraits and it seemed like old barn boards would be a nice backdrop, and it WAS!
Have a great weekend, see you Saturday....

from http://www.thesnarkychickpea.com/2011/10/crazy-cowboy-cookies-vegan-mofo-4.html

Vegan cowboy cookies

What you need:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 8 TB vegan butter, softened but not melted
• 1/3 cup plus 1 TB sugar
• 1/3 cup plus 1 TB brown sugar
• 1 flax egg (1 TB ground flax plus 2 1/2 TB hot water mixed, then let set 3 minutes)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup old-fashion oats (also called rolled oats)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I only use Ghirardelli semi-sweet chips. They're accidentally vegan.)
• 1/3 cup plus 1 TB chopped pecans. I forgot to toast them first, but they were lovely anyway.
• 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment (if using parchment, give it a quick spritz of cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugars till it looks smooth and such. Then add in the vanilla and flax egg and beat until perfectly combined.
4. Using a hand mixer, blend in the flour in several batches. I used mine on the low setting. If you over-beat the dough, the cookie texture will suck. So, only beat until you see no dry spots.
5. All at once, pour in the coconut, oats, pecan and chocolate chips. Run your hand mixer around about 3-4 times. Then stop. Remember, no overmixing.

6. Use 1 1/2-inch dough scooper or tablespoon to plop them onto the cookie sheets. Be sure to put the dough balls 2 inches apart because they will spread

7. Put the cookies on the 2 racks of your oven. After 6 minutes, switch them around so the bottom goes on top, etc. It helps them cook evenly this way. Cook another 5 minutes, or until the edges are just golden. Remove from the oven and let sit on the pan for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack.