Adventures

Since I have this new 5 quart, 325 watt KitchenAid stand mixer, I *have* to put it to good use. This is forcing me to not only make more cookies and things that I already know how to make, but I'm also going to branch out and make things I've never made before. Dustin is my test subject to see if the product is good. If it is, I'll distribute said product to his coworkers, my coworkers, and my family.

However, to break in my KitchenAid stand mixer, tonight I went with an old favorite: Chocolate Chip Cookies. I made a double batch so I have plenty to share with friends. :-)

( C is for cookie and cookie is for me! )

Yesterday, my friend psychococa made funnel cakes. She posted the recipe and after looking at her pictures and PMSing, and justifying it because it's my birthday week, I decided I wanted to try it, too.

So today after work, I stopped and got powdered sugar and flour from the grocery store. Then I came home, read the directions again, and realized that I only had two eggs when the recipe called for four. Dustin offered to go out and get me more eggs. When he came back, I noticed I had 8 eggs (2 from earlier, 6 from Dustin's trip out) and thought "Well, I'll just make a double batch!"

Ha ha. I shouldn't have made a double batch. First off, I made a total mess of our kitchen adding all the ingredients together. Even after cleaning up, I still have flour all over the floor and oven, batter against the cabinet door knobs, and oil splattered on the stove. Secondly, the recipe calls for a mixer, and as we have none, I just used my hands. Not such a good idea because my batter turned out lumpy. Then I poured it into the hot-as-hell oil, nearly burning my hands. As I watched the batter pop and crackle in the oil, I flashbacked to early years when I was taught how to put out a grease fire when my brother nearly burned down our house making popcorn (always use baking powder, never water). Finally, though, the batter floated and turned brown, and I was left with a decent-looking funnel cake. So I decided to try it again! Unfortunately, though, the oil had gotten cooler so the second batch didn't turn out as well as the first because I gave up waiting for it to turn brown and it all kind of lumped together. I added a dash of powdered sugar on top so they looked like authentic county fair funnel cakes. It tastes alright- not quite as good as county fair funnel cakes, but not unbearable, either. The unfortunate thing is that I have enough batter to make probably 7 more funnel cakes, none of which I want to make or eat because I've satisfied my funnel-cake taste buds for the next six months.

( Click to see pics )