Leslie Mackie, owner of Macrina Bakery in Seattle, wrote a lovely first book. But I think her second, which was recently published, but even be a little better.
Oatmeal Apricot Pecan Cookies
recipe from More From Macrina
Cream together:
1/2 c. Butter (1 stick), at room temp
1/2 c. Brown sugar, packed
1/3 c. Sugar
When light and fluffy, beat in:
1 Egg
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
In a separate bowl, combine:
1 c. All Purpose Flour
1 1/4 c. Rolled Oats (not Quick Oats)
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/8 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Salt (I used a generous 1/4 tsp. hehe)
1/2 c. Pecans, toasted and chopped
1/2 c. Dried Apricots, chopped.
Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture, and mix until just combined, making sure not to over mix, or the cookies will be tough. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or over night. Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Scoop cookies to desired size (I made 1"balls), and bake until lightly golden brown. If you take care not to over bake them, they will stay nice and soft inside, while remaining kind of crisp on the outside. Enjoy!
I found this recipe while perusing the Salt Lake City Library, which is officially my new favorite day off. Since my apartment is super toasty inside, I figured I would take a little bike ride down Capitol Hill to the public library, which is always nicely air conditioned. Little did I know, I would fall in love with this place - I see many days off spent here in the future.
The library is huge. Four stories high, and filled with isles and isles of cookbooks, food memoirs, and knitting books, this place is paradise. As you walk into the library, you are greeted with a sunny atrium, filled with trees! These are the things that make Salt Lake feel a little like Colorado...
The building across from the library...Salt Lake has some pretty gorgeous architecture.
The big water structure outside of the library, in this big plaza.
All the windows! Can't wait to spend lots of cold Salt Lake winter afternoons here, sitting in the sunshine, reading cookbooks and knitting books. Such a lovely place to be.
Then, on my walk home from the library with my bike (I checked out too many books to fit in my backpack, Salt Lake got even cooler. I found The. Most. Delicious. Street. Tacos. Ever. It was this awesome little taco stand, and all the downtown business men were lined up on the wall of this park, sitting in the shade, enjoying their tacos. Before he fried the tortillas, the cook dipped them in a sort of enchilada sauce. They were to die for. And, the coolest part, is that to pay, you just put your cash in a little jar on the counter of his cart - the honor system is such a wonderful thing. And, things like this never happen in Northern California - people are too fast, too concerned with everything to just sit back, and trust people to pay for their delicious meal. Love Salt Lake!
He cooks on a little blue stool. So awesome.
All the wonderful things I got from the library.
Wrapped up the day by doing a little knitting, and a little playing house :) Because somebody's going to be an aunt! (This is the only picture you'll get too see - the farther along I get the more it will give it away!) Can't wait to keep on knitting for this little baby for many years to come.
My favorite bike poster from a trip I took to London a few years ago, and a vintage flash card I found at a flea market.
The little shelf in my kitchen that was just asking for cookbooks.
My chair! I'm obsessed with this chair. And above it, I hung a little bit of pretty dark green yarn, and clothespinned the cards from my Snow&Graham calendar, as I go through the months. Soon enough all twelve will be up there.
I've generally found one thing to be true - you've got to know what exactly it is that makes you happy. For me, its the best of friends, family, a job I love, and having a space on my wall where I can freely stick things that inspire me, are pretty to look at, and are significant in any way.
And this chair in front of my big sunny window! Seriously obsessed.
And this cute lone tile in my bathroom, above my yellow bathtub.
Cheers.
