Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Granola Grabbers

This week's TWD recipe was selected by Michelle of Bad Girl Baking. I bought two kinds of granola, Mona's and Kellogg's, figuring I'd use whichever one I liked better in the recipe.


I suspect that Mona's is much more authentic, and would probably be preferred by true outdoorsmen, but I am an inside girl and I liked the Kellogg's better. Kellogg's was clumpier than Mona's -- the recipe said to break up large clumps by hand, but there was no way that those bad boys were coming apart by hand. So I broke out my faithful rolling pin and let the marble do the work:


This is a great recipe to make with small kids. It contains small quantities of many different dry ingredients, so kids can help with pouring everything into the bowl and mixing things together.



Things were humming along nicely when I got to the butter creaming part. I am not the best planner in the world. You can pretty much bet that any butter that I need for a recipe will be in the freezer when I need it. This one called for room temperature butter, so I decided to defrost it in the microwave 10 seconds at a time. But I got cocky at one point and went for 20 seconds, and this is what I got:


That would be melted butter, not room temperature butter. I just kept thinking about my friend Julie's wise words: "disasters are much more interesting." I thought long and hard about just using the melted butter, but since this is my first TWD recipe, I decided to do the right thing and start over with new butter.
I snuck a taste of the batter -- so good!



And the finished product:


I love these cookies. I was amazed that I could so thoroughly love a cookie that contains ingredients that I don't ordinarily like on their own, such as wheat germ and coconut. Some cookies are at their best warm, right out of the oven -- chocolate chip being the classic example. But I think these cookies are best the next day, once they are thoroughly cooled and set up. My husband wanted me to add that they go really well with beer, thanks to the peanuts. A cookie that is equally at home whether it is accompanied by milk or beer. We can call off the search; we have found the perfect cookie.

17 comments:

Amanda said...

YAY CATHY!!!!! GREAT first challenge!!! I have had many similar butter experiences!! Your pics are fabulous! I am so glad you joined the club!!

Prudy said...

Hooray and welcome. I think your whole family will love your TWD assignments. I know mine does. What a good helper you have. I loved this cookie and it really is a family friendly pick. I'm looking forward to stopping by your blog next week.

Lady Baker said...

awesome, cath!!! wow they look really good!
I'm anxiously awaiting my cookbook and I'll see you soon on TWD!
:) Lisa

Debbie said...

We were lucky!! We got an easy first week... It's nice to have a starting partner. :~)
I do that with butter all the time. ???
Your cookies look great.
Here's to next week!!

Lori said...

That's actually a good rule for life: disasters are much more interesting. exhausting, usually, but interesting. or "interesting." Welcome to TWD!

Anne said...

Welcome to TWD! It looks like you guys had a great time and your cookies turned out fabulous.

Anne said...

I forgot to say... I always do that with butter! I hate that! Mine is always in the freezer, too. I have a little better luck softening at 10 or 20 percent power but I more often then not I end up with a big mess. I'm glad it's not just me!

Anonymous said...

These were great all weekend. Your helper is adorable!

Eleganza Strings/ The DeLadurantey Family said...

Welcome to TWD! Glad everyone liked it!

Pamela said...

Great job! Welcome to TWD! I got confused and posted on your other blog. Sorry about that! I love your picture by Ann Taintor. Nice job with the cookies and a great post.

Nancy/n.o.e said...

I had to laugh at the image of eating these cookies with beer! And boy, does that butter picture look familiar... Your cookies look yummy. I'll bet your family will enjoy TWD as much as you will!
Nancy
The Dogs Eat the Crumbs

Marthe said...

Your cookies look great!!!

Laura said...

Your cookies look great! This was my first TWD assignment, too, and I agree with Debbie and am glad we got off a little easy (even with melting butter - that happens to me allllll the time). See ya next week!

TeaLady said...

Welcome to TWD. We have fun with the great recipes here. Lots of great ideas before and after. Cookies look tasty. Glad the kids enjoyed making them. They HUMMMM!!!!

Rebecca of "Ezra Pound Cake" said...

Welcome to TWD! Breaking up the granola with a rolling pin – brilliant.

Judy said...

Welcome to TWD! I'm pretty new to the group too. I think it's great that you have your kid(s) involved - I never had much patience for cooking with my kids.The kitchen was always my sanctuary!

Peggy said...

Those pictures are beautiful and very professional baking. Welcome to TWD! I'm so glad you are here.

 
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