I have a Baby

Belling, that is. For Christmas. Thanks to the boyfriend (who keeps thinking it was a bad gift idea). I mean, it's one of those gifts that take a while to garner a reaction :)

my new baby

I used it for the very first time yesterday... and I have to say I'm very encouraged by the results! Nicked a cookie recipe off a colleague who claims it's the easiest recipe ever. Awesome, I thought! Just what I needed because I'm a baking idiot. I have no effing idea how to measure "2 1/2 cups of flour"... if pancake flour is the same as regular flour for cookies... that I needed to "pre-heat the oven" (because that was not indicated in the recipe I was given!)...

But in spite of all that, I think I did pretty well! Big Thanks to the boyfriend who's taught me to "taste my dough"! (I've always thought it weird to taste "raw" ingredients... although he's clearly pointed out how everything could really be eaten as is; butter, icing sugar, flour, cranberries. so they're not exactly "raw").

I was a tad worried after placing dough in oven for the first minute because I could have sworn something smelt burnt. I was expecting the "famous amos kind of aroma"! I mean, what do I know! What if the oven exploded *kababom* in my face! *gasps* which it didn't of course. I'm just a nervous baker, first time and all...

all the ingredients you need: flour, icing sugar,
butter and cranberries (or whatever things you want in your cookies)

sieving the flour. loved the contrast in texture!

didn't need no Kitchen Aid mixer to work this recipe!
and i have no idea how old is this mixer but it didn't explode in my face, so that's good.

decided to whip in the flour and cranberries manually.

i had to keep checking to see if they're "doing alright" because
there's no "see-through" glass on this baby!

the results!

some of the cookies going to my mom's neighbour. can't be eating 'em all!

I'm quite sure everyone can work this recipe because it's really easy! Have fun!

Cookies with cranberries
Ingredients:
290g softened butter (salted)
1 cup icing sugar
2 1/2 cups plain flour
3/4-1 1/2 cups dried cranberries

1. mix butter and icing sugar till light and fluffy
2. sift flour, slowly mix it into butter/icing sugar mixture
3. mix in the cranberries
4. shape cookies and place on baking tray
5. bake at 160deg, 15-20minutes