(Will you bear with me for one moment while I digress to gripe that I can’t believe how long this whole process is taking? I thought the first one was bad, but at least that time we were trying to sort out various banking and mortgage complications at the same time. This time, our financial paperwork is more or less in order. And still it’s been five weeks…and counting…and no closer to knowing when—or if—this one is going to work out. It makes me want to go scream into a pillow. Maybe I will. Excuse me.
......
Okay, better now. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Sorry to drag this into a blog post, but I'm kind of obsessing about it at the moment.)
I remind myself almost daily that these are first-world problems. We can afford to buy a house, and keep a more than decent roof over our heads while we wait out the process. And it will come to an end, probably sooner rather than later. I’m pretty sure we won’t be here for another four months. (Please, please, please….)
One good way to identify first-world problems is whether they can be ameliorated by chocolate. I’ve got money to buy chocolate, an oven to bake in, a computer to search the internet for baking inspiration, and cable to watch the NHL playoffs while I consume my efforts. So my problems are definitely first world.
Serious chocolate sandwich cookies
Both of these recipes are described in loving detail on the respective websites where I found them, and since I followed them more or less to the letter, I won’t rehash here. My major innovation was combining them.
1. Brownie roll-out cookies from smitten kitchen*
2. Filled and sandwiched with The Best Frosting I’ve Ever Had from Tasty Kitchen**
* The only change I made to this recipe was to shape the dough into logs, refrigerate, and then slice and bake, rather than roll out.
** I’m going to go out on a limb and disagree with the recipe name--this was pretty good, but not The Best Frosting I’ve Ever Had. (It might have been better if I had been able to use a mixer; I wasn't thrilled by the texture.) Next time I might use my favorite buttercream recipe, using minimal liquid to keep it on the stiff side.
Makes about two dozen sandwich cookies, with frosting left over (yield will vary depending on how thick your cookies are).
Hang in there, Nancy. It's been a long four months, and the feeling that you're treading water is soooo frustrating. Glad to know chocolate is providing temporary relief! :)
ReplyDeletei know it's hard to keep perspective when you're in a hole. but keep in mind, things could be worse. as long as you're healthy you can overcome anything. have hope!
ReplyDeleteCelia & Dana, thanks for your words of encouragement--especially about health, something that is worth remembering every day. Finishing another day of keeping my chin up!
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