Cookie Empress

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3

Coffee Musings - 012808
2008-01-28 12:24:00
I just started this book. I'm borrowing it from the library, but it was loaned to me in pieces. The librarian wrapped the rubber band around it. I hope I don't get charged for it. I have a problem with translations. The translator thinks that quality is based on quantity of words. I'm not just talking this translation. In many cases, the translator misses the nuance, the poetry of writing by trying to get in each translated word. Instead of reading smooth like a river, many translations are like a sidewalk; manufacturered and broken in places.Last night I made some biscotti alle mandorle, and I found out something very cool! If I use my serrated knife as a serrated knife then the cookies don't appear so smushed! Who'd knew. It only took me years to figure that out *bangs head against wall* Anyway, the ones that look rough (on the left in the following picture, and on the bottom in the picture after that) I pressed on the knife. The other biscotti were cut using the...
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 012708
2008-01-27 22:49:00
I've been listening to PodCastTools because one day I hope to have a podcast. I've subscribed to other podcasts about podcasting on iTunes, but these were short and sweet so I just listened to a couple. Paul referenced blogrush.com, and I signed up for it today. I have four personal blogs that I add to, and hopefully I'll be able to sign up the other 3. This is the only blog allowed for the moment. I guess the people behind the scenes need to verify that it's legit. Anyway, should be cool.
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 012408
2008-01-24 12:52:00
The moon has been really strong the past couple days, and it's been very bright and full. Pretty cool, but what a pull, eh? Less than a month and Becoming Jane will be out on DVD. If I stayed in house before then it will multiply 10 fold. I LOVE that movie. I love the blog I linked. I've been watching the new Sense and Sensibility on it :D
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 012308
2008-01-24 03:26:00
I was going to do something useful this morning, but I think I'll just read :) Actually, I ended up running, and my blog notes are on Given to Run. My grandma sent to me many biscotti recipes, and I'm really excited to try them. I'll probably post the recipes so that the world can share them.I heard Brian Roberts on the radio today. That was cool. He hasn't been traded, yet. No Pearl Jam tour news today, either. I'd like to learn about social bookmarking so I can have those cute logos on my blogs. From the video on social bookmarking it seems kindof cool. I'll try this tomorrow.
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 012208
2008-01-22 12:43:00
I need inspiration to run. I am so focused on this Cherry Blossom Run, that it's causing me anxiety which in turn is causing me to do nothing, but THINK about running. I'm asking all the help I can muster to inspire me to run, but instead I'm reading and baking cookies. This isn't a bad thing :) These are guittard chocolate chip cookies from the recipe on the back of the guittard package. I roasted the walnuts first. Also, I usually let the batter set in the fridge for about an hour before I bake it. Because I let it set overnight they didn't spread very much. Let's see, what hot news can I come up with today.I would like to run a marathon. I guess the Arizona Marathon just finished recently. One day, one day I'm going to run that baby.I may watch Cubs baseball this year on my computer.If only a Pearl Jam concert was in the works.
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 012008
2008-01-20 19:47:00
My twin came over last night to study, and I made her some coffee. I hang out at her place on Fridays so that an adult is home when her kids come home from school. My twin and her husband both work on Fridays, and my twin goes to Bar Exam preparation every weekday night. Yikes!It's cold out so I'm not going to do much today, but read, and needlepoint, and I even completed a few SuDdoku. I found a link from the Montgomery County Public Library to a free online course to learn languages. This is exciting! A goal of mine is to be fluent in five more languages. Even though I recognize that distance learning may have it's disadvantages, maybe I could use it enough to pass a competancy test for a Post-Bac in Italian. Who knows!I realized that the more I write about current topics, the more this blog will show up on a blog search. So, here goes:I have a blog devoted to Pearl Jam and running called Given to Run.I like to bake chocolate chip cookies, and drink lattes, cappuccinos...
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 011708
2008-01-17 12:41:00
Batteries for digital cameras don't last that long. Geez! I've only used this camera for a couple weeks, and I have to recharge the battery. Oh well. Now, I know why my image was blurry yesterday. I finally made hummous since I moved here! Oh man, I should have done this earlier. What ease in the making, and wonderful taste in the eating. I don't eat it with coffee, I just wanted to show what I did. I planned on taking the picture of the hummous still in the food processor, but my digital camera battery died. Lesson learned, eh?I planned on making cookies last night, but I was a little sick, and I planned on running this morning, but I didn't want to push myself back to sick. At least I had plan Bs! Read!
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 011608
2008-01-16 12:03:00
I'm reading Ralph Ellison, and it hasn't bored me yet. I'm only over 100 pages into the 500 or so page book, and I hope to finish it. Let me make sure my tone is coming through correctly . . . some non-fiction I've read just seem to be a regugitation of facts. They are interesting, but out of sight out of mind. This is interesting, and the words get under my skin. I wonder if I'll feel the same way later, but so far I'd recommend it.
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 011508
2008-01-15 14:17:00
My boss' birthday is today, and I just happened to have a package of chocolate chips. This is a new way of living for me. For many years I have been pretentious, and rightfully so, because I would only buy the hightest quality ingredients that I can - that means Callebut or El Rey or Guittard chocolates, and organic flour, sugar, butter, eggs etc. Well, finances being what they are that's not the case anymore. My recipe is directly from the back of the chocolate chip package, and it's not that bad. A little too much salt that I have to remember next time I make the cookies. Sometimes even a standard good is better than nothing at all. Also, I never get complaints :)I've read full length novels from E. Annie Proulx, Tim O'Brien, and Zora Neal Hurston, and these short story volumes add to the best of their best. I would recommend those 3 and the Robert Olen Butler if you need a quick source of inspiration. Tim O'Brien's book may not seem like a series of short stories,...
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 011408
2008-01-15 01:02:00
I stopped by Mayorga Coffee Factory yesterday, and I wanted to take a picture of the hot chocolate. Unfortunately, they gave me a to-go cup so it wasn't as glamorous as I would hope. I'll wait until I get a nice cappuccino frothy picture to post.Last night I made biscotti, and the image of Biscotti by Lou Seibert Pappas is in the picture with my morning coffee. They turned out pretty good. I've made them before. I had oranges, but they weren't organic so I used orange extract in place of orange zest. I have to watch for when the biscotti are finished baking. I think the way I baked them yesterday was fine, but I wonder if I baked them 1-2 minutes more for the first baking then they would have been drier, and not so easy to squish when I cut the logs. Needs a little more contrasting flavor to balance the flour.
More About: Musings

Coffee Musings - 011308
2008-01-13 20:46:00
This is a good book so far. I was reading the Unnatural History of the Sea, and becoming less and less inspired with life, so I knew I needed a change.I'm having the worst time getting motivated to run. I think I just live life to pleasurably. Why work if I don't have to as long as I fit into my clothes. See, see this attitude! I definitely feel better after a run, it's getting up to run that's a chore. Ai yai yai, send me inspiration!
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 011208
2008-01-12 16:34:00
I LOVE Saturdays. I don't do anything on Saturdays, it's wonderful. The true cuddly person in me comes out, and just rolls around on any couch or fluffy blanket available.I have a bit to do, though including needlepoint, run, read, write . . . you know the usual that I have everyday that I may or may not do. Happy Saturday to you!
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 011108
2008-01-11 14:37:00
It's Friday, and I'm working from home - yippee on two fronts! Ohmygawd, I haven't telecommuted in over a week, and I'm feeling it in my bones, and my brain. A 45-minute commute, and expensive lunches just don't rub me the right way. I was able to accomplish a lot of reading. There is no way my life should be difficult. I have an easy simple life, that's all there is to it. However, this week, I attended many meetings, and I was meeting-d out by the end, and antsy. I should reconsider a latte before a meeting if I haven't had one in a few weeks - ooops :) Ahhhhhh! Fridays!Here is a stash of yarn that I'm using for my parent's Christmas present. Hopefully, I'll have it done by March 1st. I LOVE March! There is something rejuvenating about March. It's like a second New Year's.
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 011008
2008-01-10 13:17:00
I finally refinished this book by Louise Erdrich. I LOVE that book! The only bitterness I feel towards the writing is that I haven't been able to write like that. Of course, I haven't tried to write a poem in a long time, and it doesn't sound like Louise penned this book in a day. However, it is beyond simple words. She really imbued the words with a life all of their own. Again, she is a great storyteller. Next time I have to rescue myself from a boring book I'll just read another one of her books on my shelf.I'm going to start reading the other book in the picture. I borrowed it from the library, so there's a time limit as to when it has to be finished :) Three weeks, then on to the next one!
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 010908
2008-01-09 12:25:00
I woke up a little tired because I had a hard time getting to sleep, and my dreams just weren't interesting. However, once I woke I realized that I planned on taking pictures of my needlepoints, and all of a sudden I felt this surge of energy!I was a huge Elvis fan when I was in high school. I finished this needlepoint the summer before I went to college. I finished this needlepoint the summer before I went to college also. I didn't realize at the time that the fashion was a theme with me over life . . . This is a picture of my good wall. I completed these since I've moved to Maryland. There's about a 20 year difference between when I finished these needlepoints and the earlier one of pink and blue. See a theme? I love the fashions of the 1920s. This is my good wall. Not only do I have the needlepoints (from left top row- Rose, Eva, left bottom row - Bibliobella, Charlotte), but I framed thank you letters my oldest niece and nephew sent to me after I took them to Pearl...
More About: Coffee , Musings

Coffee Musings - 010807
2008-01-08 12:27:00
Happy Birthday Elvis, and your twin, Jesse! I woke up early in case I had the urge to run. I woke up feeling refreshed. Definitely, not a Monday morning feeling like I experienced yesterday. I woke up refreshed enough to run, but I decided to read instead. :)I'm reading such a good book, that it invigorates my mind. That is a great way to start the morning especially since I don't have a fixed time when I have to be into work. That's kindof good and bad. Sometimes I'm enjoying myself so much in the morning reading, writing, knitting, whathaveyou (yes, maybe even running) that it takes me forever to get into work. Oh well, people on the west coast have my attention longer.The major decision tonight: run or knit. I have a knitting group. I'll probably knit. You know, there's the warm up to running, and the residual affects. Yes, the breath flows better, it's healthier, and in my case spiritual, but it's work! There's planning! All those clothes, all that extra...
More About: Coffee , Musings