Almond Cookies with Cranberry Glaze (Gluten-Free!)

    I've been in an absolute baking frenzy this week since I finished finals. I am finally in my senior year (after many many gap years) and am finishing strong with a couple of whopping 18-credit semesters. One down, one more to go! Almost thereeeee.

    These cookies are a fun, easy project for sure. I love that they don't use a mixer and have some lovely, fresh flavors that shine amongst the usual gingerbread/sugar cookie whatsit found at Christmas.

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies {Christmas Style}

   I'm sitting in a dirty laundromat spending a good chunk of my day off making sure that I have clean clothes for a few solid weeks. There's an old dude that keeps coughing and producing some crazy vocal yawns that at first sounded like some kind of a stroke. After the 50th one, it's not as startling. 

  Towards the front we have the homeless crew that frequent this place during colder times. They cycle from going in and outside, filling the place with the scent of old cigarettes. I'm perched in the middle of everything with my laptop on my lap, watching colorful loads twirl around in the wall of dryers. Some people have paperbacks and newspapers to pass the time, others just sit on their phones or stare at the running machines. 

  

Extra Dark Brown Butter Snickerdoodles

  I thought I'd found it.  I'd been to every advisor, run through every career test, and taken a wide variety of classes.  Walking down the stairwell of a library, I sent a group text to my family, trying to be happy with the announcement of my double major after so many undeclared semesters.

  Seconds after I reread the text, I stopped walking.  None of it felt genuine, none of it felt like me.  I saw books I didn't want to read, people I couldn't seem to fit in with or relate to, and so so much quiet stress bouncing around the numerous floors of the building.  Students in literal cells surrounded by books cramming their brains with something, all in an effort to make it in this world.

  I don't even know what making it means anymore.  A good job?  High-paying salary?  A resume?  A degree?

Pink Lemonade Crinkle Cookies

  It's June.  The months have been flying before my eyes these days, bookmarked by the occasional little blurb of a blog post.  I've had far too many people coming and going from my life lately.  I'm learning the ins and outs of latte art.  I'm working through a massive spring head cold.

Mint Chocolate Chip Meringues

  I think some of my earliest memories of pine needles come from the little fir grove on my grandparent's farm.  That grove used to seem huge to me.  The tall, curiously cloaked trees constantly dropping pine cones and covering the ground with their sleek leaves.  The shag carpet effect those dying needles created mesmerized me.  The way the light filtered through those trees was different, but I remember loving it.  It was always pretty there, no matter the time of year.

  While that grove was often my go to, other places on the farm also grabbed me.  The raspberry bushes, sunflowers, hammock, the back field where you could see all the land rolling out perfectly beneath you.  Living on a hilltop is not something to take for granted.

Salted Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies

  There are quite a few things that run through my head late at night, and a lot of times they have something to do with food.  I've gotten some of my best recipe ideas right before I fall asleep, sometimes even in my dreams, ya know.

  Anyway, I was visualizing pressing down peanut butter cookie dough with a fork, creating that lovely criss cross pattern.  Somehow this segued into pressing down cookie dough with a pretzel...and then sprinkling on a little extra sea salt.

  I might be the only one who thinks this is the best idea ever, and I did end up using a fork to flatten the dough initially anyway, but salflksdg;hasdlcken;aoishegea.sde.

  These were really freaking good.

Black and White Cookies & ALS Awareness

  I come to you today with cookies the size of your face and some disease awareness.

  In the midst of all these ice buckets and facebook videos, it's easy to lose track of what we're actually doing it all for.  ALS is a crippling and totally unfair disease, and this tearjerker video reminds us of that.

Soft Frosted Peanut Butter Chip Sugar Cookies

  Family trips to the grandparent's farm in the hilly terrain of Western Wisconsin are some of my favorite memories.  In that two hour car ride I'd memorized every landmark, and been to every Kwik Trip bathroom en route.  We'd hit the curvy back roads and I knew that soon I'd hear the familiar crackle and pinging of tiny rocks as we turned onto their gravel driveway.  Mounting that last hill, Grandpa and Grandma's little farm spread out before us, and the sweetest mutt of a dog named Heidi rang alongside as we pulled in.

  Upon entering the house, I was engulfed in a lavender/cookie scented hug from Grandma Edna, and then I'd run across the room to be swept up by my Grandpa Carmen.  And every time, as long as I was little enough and he was physically able, he always threw me up in the air and said, "Ellie May, you're gettin' so big!"  He's the only person who's ever called me that, and I'm pretty sure nobody else could ever get away with it.

Brown Butter Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

  "Why don't you go stay with Auntie Penny for awhile, run off to Phoenix!"

  I was sitting by a man-made lake in my college town, pouring my heart out to my oldest sister.  I wasn't happy, I was feeling unsettled, and the last thing I wanted to do was study for a biology exam.  I was quiet for a minute, what if?  What if I just did that?  School was driving me crazy, boys (or the lack thereof, at the time) were clouding my head, friends were falling apart and/or moving away, and even food was getting to be unappetizing.  This is coming from a girl who freaking lives for baking.

  So, what if indeed?  I called my aunt the next night, working out some tentative details.  I went home that weekend and sprung the idea on my family.  And you know what?  For the first time in a long time, I got excited.  I got really excited.  I was taking a year off of school (I'd prefer forever, but we'll see), why not travel?  See some new terrain?  I've yet to get out of the Midwest, and while I love it dearly and it will always be home, I gotta get, man.  I just gotta get.

Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

  These little circular delights have been sitting in my drafts since winter break, and I just couldn't stand leaving them there any longer.  They are the last things I baked in the home we just moved out of, and baking is all I can think about doing right now, despite the fact that I'm in the library surrounded by piles of homework.  I get some kind of sweet delight in not doing homework when I'm going to the library, it's about as rebellious as I can let myself get this semester.

  I like the library, and it's a good thing, since I spend half my life here now.  Whether it's with friends, by myself, doing homework, studying, or running around leaving funny notes at empty desks.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Fudge Crinkle Cookies

  Gluten.  The enemy of many a person's body.  The cause of so much almond flour.  What is taking the blame for so many ailments.  What is causing me to google xanthan gum.

  I won't pretend that I completely understand this sudden craze to go all GF, but I do know that in the midst of it, there are some people who seriously can't eat it.  At least, not without major consequences.  This article does a pretty good job of explaining the craze, if you're curious.

Caramel Pumpkin Black and White Cookies

  I've got the crunch of leaves stuck in my head.  And if there was some way to combine the aromas of cinnamon and damp earth into a cookie without being totally gross...I'd do it.

  Dear autumn, I'm stuck on you.

Fall-Spiced Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

  There are eaters who will eat the best part first and save their least favorite part for last, and there are others who will only eat the best part or who will save the best for last.  And I guess there are also those who really don't care, food is food.

  Sorry, was that confusing?

  Okay, example.  Most everyone likes the tops of muffins best, it's just a thing.  Some will eat the top right away, then will begrudgingly eat the bottom.  Others will only eat the top, and others still will save the top for last.  And some will just down the whole muffin in one bite.

  Most of the time, I save the best for last.  What kind of eater are you?

Chai-Spiced Vanilla Bean Snickerdoodles

  I'm fighting to keep my eyes open right now, and it's only 3:30 in the afternoon.

  WAKE UP.

  Every day of this week has felt like a constant battle between me and falling asleep.  It's what I think of when I wake up in the morning, it's what I daydream of doing while reading Marine Biology, it's on my mind all through dinner, and it's all I can do to brush my teeth before collapsing into a dead heap. 

  Or whatever.

Banana Caramel Whoopie Pies

  Life has been a bit of a whirlwind around here.

  My sister's making a movie, so when I'm not staying up until 1:00 AM helping the crew film, I'm at home helping my mom prepare meals. 

  This semi-chaotic schedule has been going for nearly two weeks now.  About this time last week, I actually found myself with some time to kill.  After rolling out of bed at an inordinately late morning hour, I needed to make something.  But not just anything, I wanted to make something that would require my whole brain to function.

Nigella's Snickerdoodles

  It's August, people.  That means next month is September.  And once September hits, it's only 23 more days until fall. Spices, bonfires, musty leaves, cool breezes...I'm so ready.

  But...it's still not quite here.  Until then, snickerdoodles will have to do.

Raspberry Lemon Cream Cheese Whoopie Pies

  Hello lovely people!

  I'm excited to say that I'm guest posting on my friend Tiffany's blog today, A Clove of Garlic, A Pinch of Salt!  Tiffany is a sweet lady that I've just recently gotten to know, and you should definitely check out her blog, and not just because I'm there today!  Her posts always make me smile, and her photography can be described in two words: warm and inviting.

  Check out the whoopie pies I whipped up especially for the occasion!  See you there.
 

Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies, Perfected

  "I am in serious need of Nutella cookies after this week."

  So read the post on facebook from my sister Emma.  Emma is smart, she's doing some intern research on cancer cells and stuff.  It's definitely harder than it sounds.  And it's definitely worthy of Nutella cravings.

  I can't help the fact that she's living out of a hotel for quite a few weeks or that she doesn't know anyone, but I can send cookies.

Chewy Chocolate Ginger Cookies

  The cookie jar was empty. 

  Sooo I made some cookies.  Don't fall out of your chair or anything.

  Thing is, I made these cookies Wednesday.  Today is Thursday, and there are no more cookies to be had.

  A good sign, eh?

Puffy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

  Sometimes, when I'm feeling confused, crushing on someone, or dealing with a heavy case of premature senioritis, I need to fall back on something.  I need to sit down, and if there's a mirror involved, really look myself in the eye.  I give myself a good talking to.  And, depending on which of the three scenarios I'm dealing with, find someone to give me a few sound kicks.

  Answer to scenario number 1: Get a grip, stop over-thinking, and read a non-conflicting book.  It'll all come when it's good and ready.

  Scenario number 2: Really?

  Scenario number 3: Bike like a maniac, mow the lawn, weed the garden, count how many times you can circle your property, don't think about your ACT score, buy a new dress, type random words into your favorite blogs' search bars, make cookies.  Some of these may also be used for scenario number 2 remedies.