Hobbies

While I have been searching for jobs and babysitting this summer, I have noticed that I get extremely bored, extremely easily. Aside from the weekends, where I am usually traveling, I find that throughout the day that while I am trying to stay on top of my applying game, I twiddle my thumbs, I eat a lot (I eat when I am bored), and watch a lot of movies.

Sounds about right. Any college graduate who isn’t incredibly lucky to have landed a job already goes through this. But what I am trying to do is break the cycle. Yeah, I’m applying, but my god, I need a hobby. What am I to do?

Well, I went and searched the internet for a couple of cost friendly hobbies that are not totally weird.

What I learned from a little research is that, of course, pursuing a hobby not only helps keep stress and boredom away, but it helps to develop more talents as well. It is the best possible way to refresh your mind with something that makes you happy.

Some of the options were a little strange to me, and some just didn’t stand out to me at all. I liked the option to take pictures of nature but I do not have a very good camera for that so I figured maybe later in life. I also liked the hiking option but I like to do that with other people and, well, all my friends already have jobs so no luck there.

So as my hope started to fade, I tried thinking about something that really made me happy, and never seemed to let me down, especially at a time like this, when my boredom has reached an all time high. Well, its food. I love all food. But what I have realized is that I am really not that creative when it comes to straying away from a recipe. I can follow the rules, but I cant color outside of the lines, so my new found hobby is cooking. I want to learn to be a better cook and what better time to learn than when i am out of college and bored out of my mind. Plus it will help me in the long run if I ever want to be a good cook for my family.

I know I am a good baker so I didn’t want to specifically start going in that direction. But I went on Pinterest and found a list of different dishes that really stood out to me. Wow was my mouth watering. So many things stood out to me, from delicious casseroles to stuffed green peppers and different types of dumpling recipes. So I made a list, and today marks the start of my cooking spree.

Excuse me while I hit the grocery store to go get all the ingredients! Im thinking day one may be a complete disaster but I have to start somewhere! Wish me luck! YUM!

Home for the Holidays

One of the biggest things I miss about being home is the smell of my house. I am pretty sure my mom has something baking or on the stove at all hours of the day, because that is just who she is. She has a knack for cooking and baking, and someday I hope I am as talented as she is.

My favorite is when I come home and I smell cookies baking in the oven, especially around the holidays.

So for this post, here is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe found on pinterest!

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup cream cheese, softened (use cream cheese in a block or spreadable, don’t use fat-free, light or whipped)
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt, optional and to taste
2 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks (I used 1 cup chips and 1 1/4 cups chunks)

DIRECTIONS:

To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, cream cheese (measure it by smooshing it into a 1/4-cup measure), sugars, egg, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until well-creamed, light and fluffy, about 5 minutes (or use an electric hand mixer and beat for at least 7 minutes).

Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, optional salt, and mix until just combined, about 1 minute.
Add chocolate chips and chunks, and beat momentarily to incorporate, or fold in by hand.

Using a medium 2-inch cookie scoop, form heaping mounds (I made 28). Place mounds on a large plate, flatten mounds slightly with your palm, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 5 days, before baking. Do not bake with warm dough because cookies will spread and bake thinner and flatter.

Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat or spray with cooking spray and place mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet). Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, or until edges have set and tops are just beginning to set, even if slightly undercooked, pale and glossy in the center. Do not bake longer than 10 minutes as cookies will firm up as they cool (The cookies shown in the photos were baked with dough that had been chilled overnight, allowed to come to room temp for 15 minutes, and were baked for 8 minutes, with trays rotated at the 4-minute mark. They have chewy edges with soft, pillowy centers). Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing and transferring to a rack to finish cooling.
Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired.

This is not an original recipe, although I wish it was.

ENJOY

4th Act of Kindness!

We definitely were not prepared for this act of kindness. Although, moments like these are the ones that mean the most.

Laurie and I had just gotten all the ingredients we needed to bake our cookies and as we were waiting in line the man in front of us kept looking back and kindly smiling.

He then turned around and told us that we could get in front of him in line because he had more things than us, and ours would be quicker. Both of us thanked him, and went ahead in line.

***1 minute later*** Laurie jumps up and down and yells “OH MY GOD, that was a random act of kindness!” She then proceeded to tell him our story, take a picture with him, and remind him of how sweet his act was.

What people do not realize is that even the smallest things like holding the door for someone, or letting someone ahead of you in line can really impact a persons day. I know that the both of us were not only surprised, but extremely overcome with joy!

Please please please share with us your stories! We would love to hear.

*Recipe Toll House Cookies