Maria, Anne and I spent hours working on the yard today. We’re gettin’ there!
Have a lovely weekend!
Even by Kansas standards, our recent weather has been unusually variable. It has been gorgeous and sunny the past few days with high temperatures in the mid-80’s. (In case you don’t remember, we had snow last week.) The warm weather has stimulated plants to put on a lot of growth and it is really starting to look like Spring; and yet cold weather is supposed to roll back in tomorrow with the chance of snow Thursday and Friday. That would be snow in May – not very good for the garden, even if it doesn’t stick around. So, I decided that I’d better enjoy the flowers while they last and get some photos of them today. I’m so glad that I did. Photographing flowers makes one stop and really look at them. What a nice thing!
When I woke up this morning, I was craving these cookies, so after breakfast I made a batch. One good thing about running a bed and breakfast … having guests is always a great excuse to make cookies! After the recipe, I have included a photo of the cookies and pictures from my recent trip to the Adirondacks. Tomorrow, back to Kansas themes!
Lake House Cookies*
Makes about 28
Soft white chocolate chip cookies flavored with rum and studded with cranberries, coconut and walnuts.
1 c. all-purpose flour (substitute white rice flour for gluten-free cookies or if you prefer crisper cookies)
3/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c. granulated white sugar
1 lg. egg
3/4 t. rum extract
5 oz. real white chocolate, chopped or 1 c. white chocolate chips
1/2 c. sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 c. sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 c. finely chopped walnuts
One of my favorite lilacs is Charles Jolie. The one that we have is currently blooming and smells so delightful from the front porch. It has quite a history too. I originally planted it at our old house in 1997. Then when we moved here in 2000, I dug it up and brought it with us. About five years later, it developed lilac borers and we cut it down to the ground leaving only sucker shoots. It took a few years, but the shrub rejuvenated and has been replete with blossoms the last few Aprils. Oh, yes, and you really should smell it.