Cookie Bake-Off

Ever since I made the orange cookies, I have been inspired by the simple cookie dough recipe that allows me to play and shape different flavors in fluffy cookies - here comes the kanipshin.

Trying to find the exact flavor I wanted was a bust - I had coconut, I had raisins, I had extracts, coconut shavings, cocoa powder and white chocolate; still nothing came to mind.

Four delicious flavors to choose from!

The solution? Create several different flavors and report on the combinations and which ones were the winners! I broke the simple cookie dough into 4 different cookie types, and came out with the following - Choco-White Raspberry, White-Coconut Raisin, Coconut White Chocolate, and Black and White Chocolate.

Read more to find the simple cookie dough recipe and the preparations of each, as well as my ratings of the cookie flavors!

Orange Sun Cookies

With the arrival of summer-esque weather, I was inspired to attempt a cookie more in tune with this time of year. Summer for me is a bright and sunshine-filled, and what better representation of this than the flavor of orange?

Orange-you glad to have this recipe?

These cookie orbs are reminiscent of the sun, and pair well with fruity drinks. I found whipped cream or some powdered sugar worked well to offset the flavor as well.

Below is the recipe, which I found online and then adapted to the ingredients around me. My cookies came out wonderfully, perfectly golden and puffed - read more to create these little rays of sunshine yourself!

Summery Lips and Cheeks Cheat

While getting ready this rainy May morning, I felt a punch of color would be appropriate as I got ready for my job at a local cupcake boutique. Since cupcakes are feminine and cute, and only my face is visible between my smock and hat, I thought some light feminine pink would be appropriate.

Then came my no-matching-blush kanipshin. So I used a little trick that comes through in a pinch - no one believes it when I say this works, but here is proof in living color - no pun intended.

Read on about this shade and technique suggestions, and stay tuned for more ideas for summer beauty!

Ham, Broccoli and Cheese Dijon Pasta, Couscous Stuffed Tomatos and Banana Pudding Fruit Pie

The first meal for my blog seems elaborate, but they were all items that I developed from the available items in my kitchen.

My recipes are listed below with short directions, just click the "read more" link to see the recipes as well as some small techniques I learned along this mighty journey that may make yours easier. Enjoy!

 Pasta and tomato finished product

Introductions First

They always say "put your best foot forward," and with this first post on my blog, I think it's important to cover the basics.

First off, Kanipshin is a word. Yes, you can look it up and the proper English spelling is a sterile-looking "conniption" meaning to "throw a fit, or an anger tantrum."

Kanipshin means the same thing, only I chose it in it's original Yiddish spelling, first because it's fun to read, and second, because I think it's something everyone does everyday, and life is usually a barrel full of kanipshins waiting to happen.

Second, this blog isn't to be a blog about my life and woes solely, but I think a bit of learning comes from examining other people's experiences. I will do my best not to fill it with "he said, she said" and try to cut it down to the raw parts - the feelings, the thoughts and most importantly, the food.

Yes food and emotion go hand in hand. I cook to de-stress, and I cook to laugh, and I cook because I love to cook. I have been told that I am a good chef by family and friends, albeit a bit of a dare-devil.  Alongside my creative cooking twists, I also have been declared a fashion-crazed clothes hoarder. And while I DO have an overabundance of outfits and shoes, they are all quite essential in that I need plenty of materials to experiment properly. In that way, my style and cooking correlate rather well, with risks being taken in both areas, and the mix of
delight and disaster being both sides of me that I love.

So, we begin. It is my hope that with this blog I will give advice and good recipes to those in similar situations as myself, as well as give a hint of humor and creativity to those who are not.

Be ready for a Kanipshin - especially tonight. I am making a cheese and broccoli ham pasta dish, with a side of couscous stuffed tomatoes for dinner for my boyfriend and I. There will also be a surprise dessert - I'll let you know what it is, when I figure it out myself.

I will post the recipes for all of my dishes later on, and explain some basic things on developing the meal the right way. I won't hide the mistakes either.

In closing, thank you for any of you who have read this post thus far. And, maybe it's time to stop and ask yourself.

Have you had your Kanipshin today?