The spud actually didn’t go home yesterday as she was supposed to. She woke up sick and proceeded to throw up for the next hour or so. She slept for a while, vomited some more, then called and changed her flight to today, and spent the rest of yesterday sleeping. In fact, I heard not a peep from her for several hours and had to peek in on her to make sure she was still breathing (she was, obv).
In the evening she got up and ate soup and was pretty perky. She told me when I said goodnight to her that she felt much better.
So we’ll be leaving here in an hour and a half or so, and the spud will be headed home.
It sure was nice having her here!
So, here’s the story of the cookies, because I am fully aware that you are DYING to know the story of the cookies.
I know I wrote last month that I made a batch of Sundry’s Chocolate Chip cookies, and they came out more cakey than cookie-y. Fred loved and adored them. I made a second batch, and they came out the same way.
I – and y’all – had all kinds of theories as to what might be going on, whether it was the flour or the baking soda or the butter. My own personal theory was that it was the eggs. Back in the Fall, I froze eggs to use over the winter, because chickens tend not to lay as many eggs in the winter due to the shorter days and that’s when they tend to molt (when they’re molting, egg-laying tends to cease). When I made the cookies last month, I thawed out a couple of frozen eggs to use in the cookies.
The second batch of cookies I made, I used frozen and thawed eggs again, and again they came out cake-like and Fred LOVED them.
The third batch of cookies I made, I used the frozen and thawed eggs, and I added a cup of peanut butter to them. Fred likes peanut butter cookies, and he thought that peanut butter added to this recipe would be fantastic. So I added a cup of peanut butter to the cookies, fully expecting that they’d be flatter and more cookie-like, due to the added fat in the peanut butter.
Cake-like again.
Another batch of cookies, again with the frozen and thawed eggs, again with the cup of peanut butter, this time with chopped mini Snickers bars added. Fred pronounced them “not bad” at first, but as time went on he change that to “really good.” And again, they had the cake-like texture.
(By the way, all these cookies? We’re not eating them all ourselves- in fact, I’m not eating them at all, really, ’cause I don’t love them the way Fred does. Brian helped eat a bunch of the peanut-butter ones I made around Christmas, and a lot of them have been tossed into bags in the freezer to feed the pigs we’re planning on getting next month.)
Finally, yesterday I decided it was time to really test my frozen-eggs theory. I made a batch of the cookies, following Sundry’s recipe exactly, only this time I used never-frozen eggs.
Weirdly, the texture is completely different. They’re more cookie-like. Fred said they were good – I agree with that – but he prefers the ones made with the frozen eggs.
I think I can reasonably conclude that frozen and thawed eggs in a cookie recipe result in cake-like cookies. Now y’all go give it a try and report back!
(Actually, my next step will be to use the frozen-and-thawed eggs in another recipe altogether, and next (probably in a few weeks) I will try these chocolate chip cookies and see if the frozen-and-thawed eggs = cake-like cookies theory holds up!)
Here’s a dumb question for y’all: can you play games meant for a Nintendo DS on a Nintendo DS Lite or do the games have to be specifically FOR the Nintendo DS Lite?
Do you have a Nintendo DS Lite? Do you love it? And what games do you play on it? Tell me, I wanna know.
YOU MAKE KITTY SCARED.
Previously
2008: (Confused silence from Fred.)
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
2004: Does it wuv it’s daddy? Why, yes. Yes, it does.
2003: No entry.
2002: SHE IS A PORTLY CAT WITH A PORTLY ASS.
2001: I made one quietly to myself, and personal resolution I guess you’d call it, and it was a rather vague one. This resolution went as follows: “This year I will do something that scares me.”
2000: I’m a spoiled rotten brat, that’s what I am.
You can play any DS games on any DS. You can even play the older game boy advance games. Not the big game boy color ones, but the smaller GBA ones.
Yes, you can play DS games on a DS Lite. I got so addicted to my daughter’s game that I went out and bought myself one. Super Mario Brothers is the best game ever. I played it in every spare moment and was sad when I finished it.
You can also play Gameboy Advance games on it. I found a copy of Bookworm on eBay and it’s my go to game when I can’t find anything else to play.
Man I am craving some choc chip cookies right now. Wonder why that is….
Robyn, would you please post that link to the recipe website where they keep updating recipes and all things food? I can’t remember what it is called but it has multiple pictures of recipes on each page and continuously updates. Thanks. Oh by the way I know we are not nearly the coldest out there right now but -4 in Indy for those keeping score!
Oops, almost forgot. Wind chill -25. Good times.
Elaine, do you mean tastespotting.com maybe?
Robyn, I think you should write to Alton Brown and ask him to do a frozen and thawed vs non-frozen egg show, and let us in on the science of this. Inquiring minds want to know!
I have a DS lite, and I love it. I don’t like shooting or jumping games, but the DS has many, many puzzle and logic games that I love: Brain Age, the Phoenix Wright series (you’re a lawyer solving mysteries), Unsolved Crimes (you’re a cop solving mysteries) are the types of games I like. I was also given the Personal Trainer: Cooking “game” which I think was a hint to use the DS to cook more meals. (Mr. Martini, he’s sneaky like that.)
You’ve already been told what can be played on a DS, so here’s the games I play on it: Brain Age 1 & 2, Flash Focus, Wordjong and PuzzleQuest. I don’t use my DS often but I would like to get a few more fun games for it soon, but I also don’t want my daughter to steal it from me so I am being careful of the games I buy for it!! She’s still happy with her Leapster though (she’s only 5).
The only difference really between the DS and the DS Lite is that the original DS is heavier and thicker than the new and improved DS Lite. Speaking of the DS Lite, I learned something amazing yesterday.
I called Nintendo to ask if they sold refurbished DSs. They are fantastic about the warrantee and they will send you a (they don’t like to call it refurbished, they call it reworked or something of the like) “reworked” system – then you throw your old system in the packaging and send it back. We have 2 of them that are out of warrantee and are messing up that I was dreading having to replace. The guy I spoke with on the phone said that they would not sell you a “reworked” system (we need a fourth now for the wee one), but that you can get a shipping label from them and send them your unit to be fixed and if it can’t be fixed or is beyond repair, they would send you back a “reworked” system and it would only cost $82.50 (I believe). AND the system they send you comes with a 1 year warrantee and if you register for Club Nintendo they extend the warrantee for an additional 3 months for Free! From my experience, that would be a good idea because then the system is registered and the serial number stickers wear off easily and then you have no proof on how old the system really is. So yeah, you do not have to go buy a new system if yours breaks, just send it to them and get a “newer” one from them for a little over half the price! All customer service should be like them. I have had to deal with them a number of times and have sent them 3 systems and they have always been awesome. My only complaint is that I wish they were more durable, but I guess everyone doesn’t have a toddler playing on them and throwing them when he gets mad. I have to admit, they do hold up remarkably well considering the use and abuse they suffer daily.
That is all. More info than you wanted/needed but I figure this nugget of information can help some of your other readers.
Have a safe trip home Danielle! So glad you got to visit your Mama and all the critters.
I have a regular old DS and I love Nintendo games. I like the cutesy ones, especially Animal Crossing. I also like Harvest Moon and Cooking Mama
The DS Lite is simply a smaller version of the old DS which you can’t find anymore. I just got one and I have to second all the recommendations and add one.
HARVEST MOON. or as I like to call it. HARVEST CRACK!
You start off inheriting a farm/ranch in some haphazard fashion and it’s up to you to make it succeed. You need to make it profitable, marry, and have a child all while feeding the economy of the people around you. I suggest checking out Ushi No Tane . They have information, including how-tos on pretty much every Harvest Moon game as well as HM’s sister games, River King and Rune Factory. I have Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness and it’s soooo addicting.
Hi Robyn,
I enjoy my DS. I’ve had it for about 2 years. I like Brain Age 1 & 2, Crosswords, Tetris, and Clubhouse Games (lots of card games and board games you can play against the computer). I heard from a friend that they have Pac Man, but I have not played that yet. I highly suggest that you get one!
I got a DS Lite for Christmas and my husband and I are absolutely addicted. He plays Brain age 2. I play that game, plus cake mania, super mario, club penguin and mah jong. I rent a lot of games from Family Video too. I love love love the DS!!!!
I want cookies NOW! Dang woman that’s a lot of cookie baking. I would eat every last one of them.
DS rocks. I love the whole touch screen thing. Anyway, I don’t use it as often as I used to, but when I play it tends to be Pogo To Go, as you can earn tokens that you transfer to your Pogo.com account. Also, Animal Crossing & Brain Age.
Everyone already answered your DS questions…but if you wait longer into the year there will be a NEW DS out! (I have 3 boys…I have to know this stuff) It will have a camera and an mp3 player and larger screens…only downside is that they are taking out the old GameBoy game slot in or to add the other stuff.
We have 2 DS Lites in the house…and will prob have a 3rd before long. My guys are 12, 7 and almost 3…I could NOT justify buying any kind of ‘kiddie’ system for the littlest one for Christmas considering we have about 50 games of various types that can be played on the DS. So we’ll wait until the youngest is old enough for a DS and get him one of those…why start buying a WHOLE NEW type of game system?? I expect the oldest will get the new DS in the next year or so…and pass his DS down to the little one. We have been VERY lucky with the durability issue…never broke one…and my oldest is on his 3rd Nintendo-handheld system…sold GameBoy Advance and still have the SP for when littlest boy NEEDS to be like his big brothers!
Long enough for ya?? Sorry about that!
On the subject of cookies-I went to Target last night and finally bought TimTams. You were right to warn us they are so good they will not be allowed in this house again anytime soon. I have the caramel opened. They are perfect for dipping in a hot drink on a cold snowy day like today. I will MAKE my skinny husband take the other package of choclate creme ones to work. I also went to see the movie Doubt. It was great-it totally captured the feel of a 1960’s parochial school/parish experience(minus any abuse in my case). I think it should have won some awards. Heavy subject matter but I like that. Meryl Streep was wonderful.
How long were your eggs frozen for? Do you think it might work if I froze some eggs for a week, thaw them, then bake? My husband has always ADORES cake like cookies. I’ve tried many recipes in the past, but none of them really were that good in my opinion. They were good directly out of oven, but then turned to bricks. I’m going to give it a try with the frozen egg theory. How long does it take to thaw and egg?
I actually like this cookie recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/the-chewy-recipe/index.html
I do alter it a little. I use jumbo eggs (because that’s what we always buy), milk chocolate chips, and add a little extra bread flour to compensate for the larger eggs. Anyway, my family and friends really like them. Cookies are my thing, though. I can’t cook, but I can bake cookies. I’m going to try your frozen egg thing one of these days too!
DS game: Word Jong – it’s the best!
Now I have a cat question – there is a cat in my complex who is always outside – even when it is cold. I have put a heavy fleece blanket outside on my lawn chair for it to sleep on – which he/she does regularly. But sometimes I think it is too cold for that (I have a big, mean inside cat who would hate it if I let the outside cat in, otherwise I totally would), but as a next best solution is there something like a dogloo for an outside cat? Am I enabling too much?
Question for Friday. (I know I may be too late for this week so feel free to answer it another week, or not, I don’t want to pry.)
Kindle thoughts? (Not Yankee Kindle Candles)
It seems just the sort of thing that might interest you, combining reading and a fun gadget. I don’t have it or any other electronic reader so I can’t say whether it would be worth it.
ps – Thanks for sharing your recipes. My husband loves the chicken enchiladas and the Cooking Light Chocolate Chip Cookies are always a hit.
Robyn, I’m not sure we should take your word on the taste difference in the cookies made with the two types of eggs. The only way we will believe you is to taste the difference ourselves. Please send all of us 6 of each type of cookie for evaluation. I’ll e-mail my address to you right now!! LOL!!!!!
More game recommendations for DS Lite–Picross and Touchmaster. Picross is kind of like Sudoku, but not as infuriating. Touchmaster is like one of those coin-operated touch-screen units that you see in bars and Buffalo Wild Wings. Both are awesome and you can crack out on either for ages.