This morning has been a domino effect of bad baking experiences.
-- First, I ruined a cookie by I don’t know how. It just wasn’t good.
-- Second, I messed up a brownie by forgetting to add half the flour.
This has happened enough times for me to know that when one thing goes wrong in the kitchen, a series of mistakes will follow and the best thing to do is just clean the kitchen and get out of the house.
But before I get in the car and drive aimlessly around Austin, here’s a picture of one cookie I did manage to pull together. This is a Magnolia Bakery Peanut Butter Cookie recipe which was adapted (of course) by Smitten Kitchen. Since we’ve been discussing trendy NYC bakery cookies, I think you will enjoy the blog entry that accompanies the recipe.
My cookies are flatter than Smitten Kitchen’s, but they taste okay, which is the best I could hope for this morning. Now I’m heading out. Maybe to Walgreen’s to look at make-up or to the Goodwill store….
Julie O'Hara says
I bookmarked that recipe when it was on Smitten. I'm glad to hear you liked it too. I hope you try the state fair PB brownies again. I'm sure you'll have great results on a brand new day...and the weekend's here--yay!
Kitchen Scrapbook says
*Sigh!* Great! I'm glad to know other people have flops in the kitchen! 🙂 Too bad about messing up the cookies and brownies though.
Your photography is so good! Seems like I could just pick cookies right off the computer screen! Maybe because it's close-up and life-sized.
Kelly says
Anna, I never made it to Levain Bakery during my stay in NYC. I did manage magnolia though - their cupcakes are not very good. I prefer crumbs. I didn't try any cookies, but I made it to Eleni's in Chelsea Market and they had wonderful macaroons! The best dessert I had during my stay was Cheesecake from Juniors! I know they have their own cookbook out but I am not sure if you tried it once or not (maybe I am thinking of someone else?) Anyways, their spongecake crust is HEAVEN! haha 🙂 I am looking forward to trying these!
Karen says
I made a lemon poppyseed cake for my brother's birthday a couple of weeks ago. I poured the batter into the cake pan and wiped a little drop off the rim and licked it. Blecch. In horror I realized I had left out the sugar. I scooped out the batter and added the sugar, but the cake didn't rise very much and was kinda dense and gummy. Sigh.
I made the dulce de leche cheesecake bars from Smitten Kitchen just a couple of days ago. WOW! Divine. I didn't use the gelatin and they didn't need it.
Katrina says
It's good to know that even a "pro" like yourself has bad days in the kitchen. But Sorry.
There's nothing that can cure the kitchen blues like a little shopping.
Make rice crispy treats, those are hard to mess up. 😉
The PB cookie looks good. Don't get me started down that road again!
Anna says
Well, they are very good and easy to make.
The other recipe I was working on was a state fair winning peanut butter brownie with a chocolate swirl and peanut butter topping. I had to throw the whole batch away because 10 minutes into baking, I realized I'd left out half the flour. I'll try that one again tomorrow.
Hallie says
This is my boyfriend's favorite cookie, by far hands down. I made these as well on my side, see here: http://babablacky.blogspot.com/2008/03/peanut-butter-chocolate-chippers.html
I would strongly recommend any one to try these cookies they are a classic flavor combination remade into lovely cookies. I've made these a number of times since first trying the recipe and no matter what they are always winners. 🙂
VeggieGirl says
Ahh, so sorry about the kitchen mishaps :0( But they happen to the best of us!!
Personally, I think your cookies look better than the original - yum!
Therese says
Hey Anna!
Oh how I wish I lived by you! These cookies look fabulous! I was having a wreck of the day in the kitchen myself....a runny cheesecake. First attempt at a new recipe....argh! It hurts more when the ingredients are tres $$$$!
Love the Walgreens myself!! It is sooooo fun to shop for makeup there!!!! I love to go with my daughter and take a peek at there stuff!!
Celine says
these are beautiful, Anna! don't beat yourself up: I think we all go through a day or two when the best thing to do is indeed to run away from the kitchen, preferably not screaming like a banshee. although I always do.
Hélène says
We all have bad baking experiences. I have to try this cookie. The kids will love them.