Hurray For the Red, White, and Blue!

Today is Flag Day.  My doors are all dressed for the red, white, and blue!

Front door...

 

Back door...

 

Happy Flag Day!

Best Chocolale Chip Cookies Ever!

Here at Applejack Lane, I've just finished baking the best chocolate chip cookies.  The recipe came from Pinterest via Apple A Day.  This is my new go-to recipe when I need a cookie fix.  They are puffy, soft, and absolutely scrumptious!  Plus, they are quick and easy.

I only had an opportunity to eat a few of this batch.  These went to church to help feed a luncheon...

Here is the recipe...

Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

barely adapted from Anna Olson, Food Network Canada

Ingredients: 

3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened 

3/4 c. brown sugar 

1/4 c. granulated sugar 

1 egg 

2 tsp. vanilla extract 

2 c. all purpose flour 

2 tsp. cornstarch 

1 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 tsp. salt 

1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips-Applejack Lane uses Ghirandelli chips

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy and light in color. Add egg and vanilla and blend in.

3.  Mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chunks.

4.  Using a standard-sized cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop dough onto a prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until barely golden brown around the edges.  (The tops will not brown, but do NOT cook longer than ten minutes.)

5.  Let cool, on the sheet, on a wire rack for five minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and let cool completely.  Makes approximately 3 dozen.  Try not to eat them all.

Sunday Dessert

Good afternoon from Applejack Lane!  I had girlfriends over for a little brunch of bacon potato zucchini quiche,  tea biscuits with preserves and jam, and mimosas.  But, the dessert looked and tasted spectacular!
Fresh fruit with homemade lemon curd, puff pastry, and real whipped cream...

Scrumptious!

Love My Danskos!

Happy Mother's Day from Applejack Lane!  I have to show you my new Danskos my hubby, daughter, and son gave me.  I call these my Wendy shoes since I first saw them on my friend Wendy at the Y. 

So c-o-m-f-o-r-t-a-b-l-e!  

We had a lovely meal on the grill with a strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, and rhubarb cobbler as a kicker.  Great job!  Thanks for the day!

We Had A Little Hail...

Last week we had a little hailstorm at Applejack Lane.  I told my brother I would send him pictures.  The National Weather Service made a random call to our house to see if we could verify the report the agency  put across the weather channel trailer.  Yep, they were very accurate with the location and size of the hailstones.  They asked us to send them pictures, too!

It looked like it had snowed mothballs...

  I had some new plants in planters that the hail shredded...

 A stone next to a quarter...

 When Mr. W came home two hours later,  he asked what in the world had I put around the shrubs.

The Master's Tournament, Waynesboro County Club, and Pimento Cheese

On this Easter weekend, hubby and friends are recreating their own Master's Tournament at the Waynesboro Country Club. 

Each player drew a partner's name from the Master's roster after Round 2 was completed.

I understand that Pimento Cheese is a Master's tradition.  So in honor of the tradition, I've made my pimento cheese spread to entertain my lady friends...

1 8 oz. block* of extra sharp cheddar cheese

1 8 oz block* of sharp cheddar cheese

1 1/3 cups mayonnaise

1 4oz jar diced pimento

1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce

1 teaspoon grated onion

1/8 teaspoon red pepper

* Block cheese is a must.  Preshredded does not work nearly as well!

1.  In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, pimento, Worchestershire sauce, grated onion, and red pepper.

2.  Grate the cheese using two graters-one with a  small shredding side and one with a large shredding side.

For instance, grate the extra sharp cheese using the small size and the sharp cheddar cheese on the large size.

3.  Add the grated cheeses to the mayo mixture.  Stir thoroughly and chill for several hours. (I use a hand mixer or food processor) 

4.  Enjoy!

This will make almost  4cups of pimento spread.. 

Happy Easter from Applejack Lane!

April Fool's Day

It's April Fool's Day at Applejack Lane.  I hope Mother Nature is not pulling a trick on us with the gorgeous weather we have been having these last few weeks. These are some of the views outside my windows.

Apple blossoms for  Applejack Lane...

 Our Lynwood forsythia has never been fuller...

The white Bleeding Heart made it through low 30 degree temps, but the red one is limping along...

The Cherokee Brave Dogwood is more heat tolerant for our windy hill...

Join me again soon!