on the coach

do you ever sit on the coach and find yourself crying or wanting to - at commercials mainly which may prompt thoughts of how much I love my children, my family, how I don't want them to grow up and leave (I do of course but dread the pain of missing them), I miss my sisters, my mom...I am at this point tonight.  Who am I talking to right now and asking this question - laughing at myself - because really I am just writing to me ;)
Just felt like writing - Allen is at "man night" and I am here - on this coach - crying - crying all the overdue tears and stresses of the day.  Feels good to let it out with my rooibos bourbon vanilla tea and chocolate chip orange scone - and I thought I was not  going to write about food in this entry - but really tears and comfort food go together - it had to be mentioned.  So - I don't usually like orange and chocolate together - orange flavored anything really - but this is REALLY good and it works. My friend Joyce made them - I have not yet made them - but now I will.  Will write the recipe out when I do.
Oh gosh - here comes another commercial - a boy with his backpack on, saying goodbye to his mom...here come the tears again.

Ode to Levain Bakery in NYC

 Us eating Sesame Street Style NYC

New York City - one of my favorite cities - makes me feel alive.  2 weeks ago my mother in law and sister in law took off for 5 days of so much fun.  One of our stops was Levain Bakery in the upper west side of the city.   My friend told me "if you like cookies, you must go here"  So off we went - our pilgrimage to yet another bakery.  The thick cookies were right up my alley!  Dougnut Plant was pretty darn amazing too.

Dougnut Plant - We ordered 6-7 between the three of us 

So here it is, a rainy day, a day for baking.  I tried to get some levain-thickness in my cookies - and this is what I came up with.  They are pretty good!  I used cinnamon chips and oatmeal.  Still want them thicker though.

Oatmeal Walnut Cookies - attempt at Levain Bakery cookies ;)

 

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

*cream together until thickened and fluffy

*add

2 1/2 cups unbleached flour

1 cup oatmeal

1/2-3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

2 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp cornstarch

*blend in mixer

*add

2 cups walnuts

1 bag of cinnamon chips

*mix again and referigerate for 1/2 hour

Bake at 385F for 10-12 minutes, ping pong shape balls