Cookies and a bit of reality

This blog seems to have become "Kim and Dar's adventures as seen by Dar." Perhaps this is because I have nice chunks of time at work to write up blog posts. I apologize for depriving everyone of Kim's writing.

I had written up a few stories of drunk people from working Saturday night, but have since scrapped that idea. Do you really want to read a post about a guy so drunk I was worried about him passing out in the store and a man dressed (poorly) as Princess Peach who creepily tried to get me to give him a snickerdoodle cookie for a penny? If so, just elaborate in your mind for a while. Those were the only two stories; most people were jovial and easy to joke with.

I've decided that we need to quit hiding behind work-related stories and tales of weddings. Let's come clean:

Kim doesn't have a job yet; my job involves more sitting and waiting for something to happen than I'd like; I don't have a car; we have no furniture except two floor lamps; we sleep on borrowed camping maps; our kitchen only has 3 plates, 3 bowls, silverware for two, mugs for two, glasses for two, a crockpot, 3 pots, 2 pans, a few baking dishes, measuring cups, a wooden spoon, a spatula, an electric wok that doesn't have its power supply, knives, and a can opener; our entire kitchen has almost no counter space and minimal storage; and our shower makes me sing Katy Perry (you're hot then you're cold).

Our kitchen before we painted it red. After pictures will come when I find my camera.

I don't mention this to complain.

I want to say that we're doing fine despite all of this. Yes, occasionally one of us wants something that requires a blender, for example, but we usually come up with something equally delicious and blender-free.

Our latest obsession are cookies. You'd think after working all day in a store that makes cookies that I'd want anything except cookies, but it's actually had a very different effect. After working as a cookie minion all day, I seem to want to prove my cookie-making independence. This seems to have extended to include old recipes.

I haven't made the old standby of peanut butter chocolate chip in a few months. The current favorite is double chocolate with various goodies. This started because Kim likes the taste of the s'mores cookies from work (think chocolate cookies with marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate chunks, and then realize how many times a day I repeat that phrase), and decided that I could make a better one. Buoyed by her faith in me, I decided to try it.

The first attempt failed because I didn't realize that marshmallows turn into pockets of extra-fudgy cookie unless frozen before added to the dough. As a not-a-marshmallow-fan, I made myself ones with walnuts and dried cranberries that first time. We both fell in love with the cookie base and have since added dried cherries (not a good idea), chopped Andes Mints (delicious), and a peanut butter swirl with a few peanut butter chips (also delicious).

On a side note: the local grocery store has a bulk candy section, so we can get small amounts of just about anything to add to cookies. The list of delicious things to put in said cookies will probably grow.

Our most recent cookie adventure is the one that inspired me to feel empowered by how well we're getting by despite most of our possessions being 15 hours away by car. We made pumpkin pie spiced sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting to celebrate Halloween. Since they were sugar cookies, of course they had to be shaped, so we had ghosts, witch's hats, cats, and pumpkins. To make this clear: we made them without a rolling pin, a mixing bowl, measuring spoons, cookie cutters or much counter space. We just use an empty jar, a casserole dish, eating spoons and estimation, paper printouts and knives, and the wooden living room floor (to decorate).

They were delicious, and adorable. My personal favorite is the hat that Kim decorated to look like the Hogwarts Sorting Hat. I haven't eaten it yet in hopes of finding my camera to take a picture.

In final news, I've decided to do NaNoWriMo this month. For those unfamiliar with that, it involves writing a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. The idea is to focus on just writing and not worrying so much about whether it's good. We'll see how this goes...