Adventures with baking soda

Baking soda....baking powder.  Why do I confuse them?  Becuase they both start with baking?  Well....let me warn you not to confuse them.  LOL!!  I did and the results were comical.
Let me paint the picture for you......
Sunday afternoon, church in the morning was great.  The sun is shining.  Jim and Nicholas are playing monster trucks or race cars.  I am in the kitchen making brunch while enjoying the laughter coming from the living room.  I decide to surprise Nicholas with his most favorite food....pancakes!!!!  I get out my old standard recipe (which I practically have memorized, but consult the recipe just to be sure).  I start mixing the ingredients (doubling the batch of course).  Well it isn't mixing quite right.  Its a bit lumpy and thin, but I'll just keep mixing for a bit to try to get the lumps out.  I consult the recipe again and lo and behold....it called for baking powder and not baking soda.  Oops....oh well.  I'm not going to throw it away so let's try something.  I'll just add the baking powder in. 
The batter thickens and even rises a bit.  A little strange, but the pancakes cook nicely.  They look great!!!!  And then I taste them.  A bit like a salty pretzel...not quite a pancake.  The first bite is not so bad.  The second is ok...and then I can't stand it anymore.  This is NOT the way a pancake should taste.  Way too salty and just plain weird.  Jim claims he like them.  Nicholas eats a few, but not as many as usual. Oh well....pancakes with baking soda = FAIL!!!  LOL!

Later in December......
I have 21 loaves of banana bread to make for Jim to take to work for his employees.  I buy a TON of bananas and all the other necessary supplies, get out my stand mixer and get ready to bake some banana bread.  I double the recipe to try to save some time.  Well....on the first batch I totally forget one ingredient.  No it wasn't the bananas....it was the baking soda.  I realize this right before they go into the oven.  So in an attempt to not wate the batter I take a little bit of baking soda and stir it into each of the breads I'm making.  Stir it in real good.  Pop 'em in the oven.  To say they turned out interesting is an understatement.  They were all swirled on the top and as heavy as bricks.  They were pretty much raw in the middle even though I baked them longer than they should have been baked.  So....Banana Bread with no baking soda = FAIL!!  LOL!!

I have learned my lesson and am paying more attention to baking soda and baking powder.  At least there were no explosions and no one got sick.  Just some wasted batter!

Cookies!!!!

Ok so the picture of these is from last year, but they are a favorite cookie so I made them again this year.  They are called peppermint meltaways and they do indeed literally melt in your mouth.  Its the cornstarch that makes them silky smooth.  I haven't glazed the ones from this year yet which is why the pic is from last year.  LOVE LOVE LOVE these cookies!!!

Here's the recipe:

These work really well if you have a cookie scoop.  I think I need to get one this year...what do you think?

Peppermint Meltaways

Cookie:  ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 cup softened butter, ½ teaspoon peppermint extract,

1 ¼  cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup cornstarch

Glaze:  1 ½ cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons softened butter, 1 to 2 tablespoons milk, ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract, 2 to 3 drops red food coloring, mint starlight candy, crushed, if desired.

In large mixer bowl, combine sugar, butter and extract.  Beat at medium speed until well mixed.  Reduce speed to low, add flour and cornstarch.  Beat until well blended.  Cover, refrigerate until firm (30 to 60 minutes)

Heat over o 350 degrees.  Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls.  Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.  Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  Cool completely.

In small bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter and peppermint extract.  Gradually add enough milk for desired glazing consistency.  Stir in food coloring as desired.  Drizzle over cookies.  Immediately sprinkle with crushed candy, if desired.  Makes 4 dozen.

Enjoy!!!!!