Washboard Cookies

My hair is falling out. I know it may just be the result of having a baby five months ago and now my hormones are shifting back and my hair, which has been thick and full forever, is now thinning terribly. Or at least that's what I want to believe. But I went and posted about my hair loss fears on my facebook page and then all sorts of people replied with what they think might be causing it. Now I'm worried about my testosterone levels, my thyroid, my protein intake and whether or not I need to start wig shopping. All of this worrying is just making my hair fall out in larger clumps and I can think of pretty much nothing but going bald.

To fight these consuming thoughts I have been baking and cooking round the clock this week. From cornbread to cake, I have been trying and experimenting with all sorts of recipes with an average of three new ones a day. Unfortunately, several of them have been true bummers and a true waste of ingredients and effort. Others have been a nice surprise. I was really wanting to make a coconut cookie and came across Coconut Washboard cookies. I thought I had found a decent recipe to try on Allrecipes.com when I realized halfway into setting out the ingredients I had gone and chosen a recipe that called for absolutely no coconut. I'm telling you, the focus on my hair loss has me wondering if I should be doing anything that requires thought or concentration. Because I had already measured out the dark brown sugar and because there was such a short list of ingredients, I went forward with these cookies that are just simply Washboard Cookies. Not Coconut Washboard Cookies. Maybe another day.

These cookies were so simple and put simply, rather good. Not the most amazing cookie but they turned out soft and chewy and are a good cookie to freeze (I have already frozen and defrosted some).

All you need is a half hour and a short list of ingredients which makes this a perfect choice when you want a cookie without a lot of hassle or a trip to the grocery store.

Washboard Cookies

borrowed directly from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• sugar for dusting

Directions

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, brown sugar and egg. Stir together baking soda, water and vanilla; add to creamed mixture. Add flour and mix well. Shape into walnut-sized balls. Place on greased baking sheets; flatten with a fork that has been dipped in water. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 325 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool on waxed paper.

Yields 2 dozen

Chewy Coconut Cookies

I began this blog because I had been baking a lot in the fall and realized how much I loved to be in the kitchen with my fists in the flour container and because the amount of time I was perusing cooking sites had surpassed the amount of time I spent on all other sites combined. I thought it would be fun to bake and cook and have a place to share my recipes and experiences as well as a chance to work on my food photography.

I realized however that where as I had measuring cups galore and half a dozen loaf pans, I didn't have but one or two plates on which to present the decadent things I was baking. I decided that I would begin collecting plates and platters of any size and design and that in and of itself has been a bit of fun.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, the plate in the picture above was a surprise a week or so ago from my brother's girlfriend. I had told her about my plate collecting venture and she had found this at Target and thought of me. The plate and my brother's girlfriend are grand, are they not?

Ok, so on to today's cookie. Remember when I told you I was losing my hair? Well, I can't forget because every morning I have to unclog my drain. But after making those cookies that didn't have any coconut in them I decided to bake up a cookie that was almost nothing but coconut and boy were they simple and sweet. I took half of them to my grandmother today because it looks as though I am the only one around here eating them. Coconut is not everyone's favorite fruit but keep in mind that it has more protein than many other fruits, it also has many minerals your body loves like iron and zinc. My point? I think you should give these cookies a try even if coconut is not your usual thing . If coconut is your thing I definitely think you will find these chewy treats a must.

Chewy Coconut Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/3 cup flaked coconut

Directions

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, soda and salt.

2.) In medium bowl cream butter and sugars until smooth. Add egg and vanilla. Gradually stir in flour mixture and then add coconut.

3.) Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Cookies should be 3 inches apart.

4.) Bake 10 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool or racks.