Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe and Dotted Rays

There are certain events and foods that you encounter in this world that are so unique that you remember forever where you were when you experienced it.  And that is how it was for me when I first tasted macadamia and white chocolate cookies in my early 30s while living in the Midwest. Before then I had not been a fan of white chocolate and if I had not receive those cookies as a gift that probably would have continued to be the case.  But ever since my first bite of this delightful combination I've been a huge fan.

Finding the right recipe to repeat that taste sensation however proved elusive. What I wanted was a cookie that emphasized the macadamia nut, wasn't too sweet, and also wasn't in proportions to feed an army. Having been disappointed in recipes I've tried in the past I decided to come up with a recipe myself.  The result I'm happy to report is a crispy cookie with a slightly chewing texture that isn't too sweet that I absolutely love.

The reason cookies are on my mind (and the impetus for this recipe) is the long flight we are facing for our upcoming trip to Israel.  After researching how to survive a long flight (as knitting is not allowed) I decided to pack a picnic basket to help us pass the time more enjoyably.  Because while our airline is know for it's excellent security it is not known for its delectable cuisine.  To say I found that piece of information disappointing is an understatement. However, I have chosen to rise above it. Now despite the probable discomfort, boredom, and length of the journey I know that I will have wonderful cookies and other tasty treats squirreled away.   I feel happier already.  And I hope after you try these cookies you will feel happier too.

Macadamia Nut Cookies ~

~yield~ 2 dozen good sized cookies

Ingredients:

5 oz. (10 Tbs.) unsweetened butter, softened
1/2 cup white granular sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup macadamia nuts (I used dry roasted with sea salt), coarsely chopped
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup flake coconut (sweetened)

Steps:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat.

2.  In a large bowl using a wooden spoon or mixer set on low speed combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla.

3.  Combine flour, soda and salt in a small bowl.  Add to the butter mixture using a wooden spoon or mixer set on low speed.  Combine until mix comes together as a dough.

4.  Stir in nuts, white chocolate, and coconut.

5.  Drop by rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheet and flatten slightly to promote even baking.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are golden in color.  Remove from oven and let sit 30 to 60 seconds on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.

6.  Store in air-tight container or freeze left over cookies.

Dotted Rays Forever ~

This is Stephen West's Dotted Rays design which is a super easy and fun knit.  I think it also looks fantastic with my jean jacket so I'm seriously considering taking it on our trip!  It's one of those pieces that is easy to throw on and makes you look stylish without any effort.  As Simcha can attest.

I asked Simcha to model this project to show how it can also be worn like a cowl.   I was, to be honest, surprised at his level of cooperation and enthusiasm for the task.  He was a model german shepherd throughout the session.  Just like the brochure claims all German Shepherd Dogs are. Hahaha.  Frankly a few years ago I could not have envisioned ever saying that about Simcha!  But those early years are all forgotten now.  We do love him to pieces and he's been an amazing gift to us.  Did you know that his name translates to "joy" in Hebrew?  Steve named him Simcha because after the sadness and loss of Mr. Puffy he brought joy back into our lives. And he truly has.   

You might notice that on one side my scarf is not shaped like a smooth crescent.  That's because I creatively blocked that end to create a flared scallop edge which I think makes the scarf more dynamic and interesting visually.  This is an example of how doing something very simple such as creative blocking can change your piece into something original and an expression of your own personality.  For more creative blocking tips I refer you to my Lunna Voe post.

Particulars:  Dotted Rays designed by Stephen West; US 6 needles; Fiberstory Sock Gradient set (colorway "summer punch") 560 yrd 100% merino.  I had less yarn than the pattern calls for so I simply knit until I ran out of yarn.  It's still a nice size, although I wouldn't recommend going any smaller than this.  Blocked relaxed dimensions:  52" by 14."  I say "relaxed" dimensions because merino wool will not hold a block well.  Already it has shrunk from it's 58" immediate post blocked length and it might continue to shrink and require reblocking periodically if it gets too small. That merino wool will not hold a block well is something to consider when choosing a shawl yarn.  Previous Stephen West designs I've knit are his Doodler Shawl and Pogona Shawlette.

Until next time be well, love well and whether you are traveling or staying at home this summer I hope you will take time to enjoy a picnic and if you do be sure to toss in a cookie or two!  And perhaps some crusty sourdough bread too.

Speckles and Brights and How to Wear the Latest Yarn Craze!

I'm loving the current speckles and brights trend!  I know there is a lot to be said for knitting natural colors for wearability and usefulness yadda yadda yadda.  But when it comes to fun summer knitting you can't beat bright color and if you toss in some speckles it's color and brights and fun oh my oh my!

This shawl practically flew off my needles because it was so mesmerizing watching the yarn flow into a river of colorful fabric.  I am always mindful mind you that I do want to actually wear what I've finished knitting.  So my compromise was to pair this neon pink bright speckled yarn with a rich beautiful solid neutral color.  And I am really happy with my choice.  I think the dark solid blue toned down and gave the bright speckled yarn a sophisticated finish. If I had used another speckled yarn or bright contrasting color I think this could have been a little over the top at least here in Southern California.  Maybe in the Netherlands they are wearing all neon all the time but here in SoCal not so much.

This is a cool new pattern called Breaking Bad and I chose it because I happen to be a fan of the TV show (of the same name) and knitting a neon pink speckled yarn seemed to fit with breaking out of the hum drum colors I've been knitting lately.  Admittedly I've chosen something much more tame than cooking meth (as in the show) but then it is the spirit of the gesture and I can also sleep at nights.

Ah, and I nearly forgot!  Another advantage to using dark navy as a contrasting color is that this is a very denim friendly shawl and will fit easily into a casual lifestyle.  It's interesting.  Because our climate is changing to drier and warmer conditions I find that I wear my shawls more than anything else I've knit.  My new style of dressing is to skip the sweater and style a shawl as either a cowl or scarf and I'm good to go.  At least that's the way I wear my shawls.  If you want to see some hilarious tips on how to wear your shawls check out Stephen West's video How to Wear Your Shawl.

Particulars: Breaking Bad Shawl designed by Jessica Anderson (blog: All in a Day's Fun)  1 skein Hedgehog Fibers, Twist Sock, 399 yrds/100g (colorway Miami Nights) 1 skein The Plucky Knitter, Primo Fingerling, 390 yrds/101g (colorway Bohemian Blue).  I slightly modified the pattern at the start so that CC rows 26-31 are stockinette (versus garterstitch) as I think these stitches look best in stockinette.  I also twisted the yarns together intarsia style to prevent any gaps in the fabric in the early segments where the yarn changes color in the middle of the row.  Lastly I shortened the edge ribbing to give it a lighter feel for summer.  A very easy and fun pattern to knit.  Previous projects made with The Plucky Knitter yarns: Stripe Study and Kelmscott Socks and those made with Hedgehog Fibers: Carson; Sand and Sea; and Starshower Cowl.

Was that an El Nino?

As the winter rainy season fizzles to an end I have to ask what happened to the "monster" El Nino with the extreme amounts of rain predicted?  Far be it for me to criticize the professionals, but I did invest in an umbrella.  But I'm not looking for a refund on my umbrella, just the rain they promised. It doesn't seem fair to raise our hopes that way and then not deliver.  In point of fact rainfall this season was well below even an average year. So much for the experts and our drought conditions continue.   But I am trying to focus on the positive and the mountains in Topanga did received some rainfall and as a result the wildflowers have been particularly abundant and beautiful.

Until next time be well and love well and have fun breaking out of your typical colors and explore ways that the brights and neons can spice up your summer knitting!  I have a fun month ahead with a trip up to Santa Barbara to visit my parents, a few days in the desert and then down to San Clemente for the Doheny Jazz Festival and I'll definitely be taking this shawl with me!

Ribbon Tank and Chinese ChrysanthemumTea

Thank you so much for the lively discussion on the Blog Cafe! I enjoyed hearing everyone's views on organic food/farming and came to the conclusion that freshness probably is the biggest factor influencing taste and we are darn lucky to live in a country that has conventional farming capable of feeding the masses at an affordable cost.

Summer Ribbon Tank

I'm still recovering from the time difference (15 hours) and the jet lag so haven't been knitting much. Instead, I'm going to share a project I knit a few years ago (but never blogged) that is a great Summer project. It's a simple tank knit with a ribbon yarn.

Ribbon yarn is comfortable to wear and creates a nice drape to the fabric. A simple shell tank is easy to knit in this yarn and your local knit shop can help you calculate your gauge and dimensions. I added the flowers to jazz up this tank and Betty at Binding Off used tuck stitches to embellish her stylish Tuck Stitching Summer Top.

Particulars: Personal pattern; ribbon yarn (can't recall brand but a nylon blend) Note: Larissa (Stitches in Play) left a comment and I thought I should clarify that the ribbon yarn I used was slightly serrated. I believe this helped the fabric have a nice bounce and hold together well, giving it something like a slight felting effect similar to what happens with Shetland wool. I added a picture of the ribbon on my Ravelry notebook [here] so you can see what I'm talking about; US 7 needles. Simple tank design: single ribbing at the bottom and double crochet to finish armholes and neckline.

Chinese Tea Series: Chinese Chrysanthemum Flower Tea

I discovered in China, to my chagrin, that I didn't know as much about tea as I thought I did. China is a "tea culture" and Chengdu has 20 millions residents and only slightly fewer Tea Houses. Some are elegant and others don't offer much beyond rickety chairs and a wobbly table. The picture below is the roof of one of the prettier ones we visited (although not in the traditional style).

The Tea Houses primarily serve herbal tea which is brought to your table as a scoop of loose herbs dumped into your glass with hot water sloshed in. There are no scones or cakes, which was a disappointment. I have to admit, though, that the Chinese teas are not well suited to sweet pastries. Rather, the fruits and nuts served in small condiment dishes suit them better, unless you are hungry. I'm not going to apologize for having a healthy appetite, I'll just say that a small dish of sunflower seeds for a table to share either requires that one use restraint or adopt a brazen attitude.

The women in China (at least in the tea houses) primarily drink Chrysanthemum Flower Tea (pictured above) whereas the men generally drink Jasmine Flower Tea. I was told that the women believe the Chrysanthemum Tea enhances beauty, and Chengdu is a city where that seems to matter. I was struck by the number of Chinese people who told me that Chengdu is known for having the most beautiful women in China. I drank lots of the Chrysanthemum Flower tea while there (and am currently drinking copious amounts) and I'm still waiting for the miraculous beauty benefits.

The Chinese put great store by their herbs and your selection of tea can be revealing. Steve, of course, is never one for conforming and instead of drinking Jasmine Tea like other men he chose a passion flower tea, to the amusement of the tea house attendant, and my slight embarrassment.

Chrysanthemum Flower Tea: A full bodied cooling tea. This tea is best brewed in glass or ceramic/porcelain to avoid taint to the flavor. The water should be very hot but not boiling and your glass can be refilled with hot water many times before the flowers lose their flavor. Because the flowers float this tea is served with a straw for sipping. This tea usually has wolf berries added (the red pods seen above) and rock sugar is sometimes added as a sweetener. Both the Chrysanthemum flower and Wolf berry are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Recommendations for Stories set in China

The White Pagoda, by Fay Angus. I am sorry to say that I've not read this story..... yet it is written by a dear family friend who has written many inspirational books. The Angus family were a huge part of my childhood and while I knew my Auntie Fay had written a book about her time in a concentration camp in China, I was too young when it came out to have read it. I'll read it now with great interest. I borrowed this review off Amazon: The White Pagoda by Fay Angus is a quick, interesting read. Set in the Shanghai of the 1930's, Angus gives a brief look into the foreign culture of pre-war china that continues through her time in a Japanese concentration camp during WWII. She explores her childhood and adolescence in an environment very different from that of most American teenagers. I would recommend this book, particularly to teenage girls, as a brief glimpse into the life of a girl growing up in another time and another culture. A good introduction to studying Asia during the second world war.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I loved this story which gives a fascinating glimpse into the culture and time surrounding the binding of girl's feet in rural China.

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. A classic. If you've not read this book yet, it's time. The characters in this story are so richly drawn you are unlikely to ever forgot them.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon This is a movie (make sure to get the English dubbed version) which will take you into the mysterious life of the Chinese warriors. The story is poignant and the scenery is stunning.

Until next time, be well, love well, and this Summer try experimenting with different types of teas!

P.S. I will also be writing about green tea and traditionally brewed black Chinese tea for those interested.