Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Mine was busy but productive if you count buying a new fireplace (YAY!), going to Home Depot 3 times (don't ask!), working, grocery shopping at three locations, going to a friend's place Friday night, having friends over on Saturday night, and all while avoiding chemistry like the plague, a productive time-well-spent 2 days. Phew that was a lot! Is it Friday yet? No? Dang!
Anywho, I wanted to share with you a little adventure a couple of weekends back that I had with my mom when she was here visiting. We went hazelnut and walnut picking!! In my neck of the woods nuts are pricey and so I thought why not get a little exercise and save some dough at the same time.
They use sheep to keep the grass down because they don't spray! Love that idea
A big hazelnut just fallen from the tree!
A rooster having a grand 'ole time
It was all fun and games until this guy came around. He must have been the head honcho of the group as he stood his ground. He even stomped the ground a couple times and I got far away as I didn't want to be rammed!
A hazelnut still in the tree before I nabbed it!
The fallen ones! They were everywhere, no slim pickings here!
I apparently forgot to take pictures of the walnuts we got too. There weren't as many around and they still were covered by the greenish shell which means that the walnut needs to be cleaned thoroughly before it actually looks like anything you would want to eat.
All in all, it was a good time! I loved picking the hazelnuts and walnuts in their natural environment, instead of from the bulk bins. If you have the opportunity to pick nuts in your area, you should do it! You'll save some money and maybe get to meet a curious sheep or two!
Sorry for the lack of photos. I'm having issues with my camera again and so the rest of my pictures are not accessible right now (if ever!). I was going to show you some amazing cookies I made yesterday but instead I'll direct you to the site where I got the recipe. Deal?
Okay so head on over to Katie's blog Making Food and Other Stuff. If you aren't already reading her blog, you should be! It's funny, it talks about fitness, it talks about baking, it talks about crafts, and even the occasional tornado makes an appearance. Yesterday she posted a cookie recipe I could not resist! They are called chocolate chips cookies with a little something extra. Sweet name, right?
So, I made them and they rocked!! Super yummy and fluffy, and a little bit chewy. Perfect cookie if you ask me. I made them vegan using egg replacer but you do whatever floats your boat! I love them, as does my taste tester! So if you have the baking itch (like me!) these cookies are a great place to start.
Don't forget to enter the CSN stores giveaway. The contest ends tomorrow at midnight!
Have a great rest of your day! I hope to be back soon with a casserole recipe and maybe a soup one too:)
