from the north country: mine creations

January 28th, 2011

Scenes from a winter kitchen…

In the winter, we tend to hibernate a little.  Between snow days from school and work, and days when it’s just too cold to even think about leaving the house.  Days when the bite of cold air from opening the door just to let the dog in and out chill you right to the bone.  On those days, you cozy up in flannel pjs, wool slippers and sweaters and putter around the house.

I’ve found that the kitchen really is the best place to cozy up on these bitter cold winter days.  The warmth of the oven and hot tea help you forget the howling wind outside your walls.  Winter citrus (especially when they are meyer lemons personally delivered to you from a friend in Madison who brought them from her mom’s tree in California) transport you to a warmer, sunnier time.

And warm chocolate chip cookies, straight out of the oven, well, those remedy just about any ailment. Here in Minnesota, we weather these winter months by gathering around the hearth, around the food that sustains us, warms us, and nourishes us through the struggle of the cold.  And out of the warm glow of the kitchen, comes love and strength.

Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Ingredients:
1 cup non dairy margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbl ground flax mixed with 6 tbl water
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375.  In a small bowl, mix ground flax and water, set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, cream margarine and brown sugar. Beat in vanilla and flax/water mixture. Add in flours, baking soda, and cinnamon. Mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if desired). Bake for 8-10 minutes on a lined baking sheet.

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minecreations is the blog of julia davidson, a transport to minneapolis from new york city and berkeley.  join julia for her adventures in crafting and living, where she babbles on about film cameras, knitting, sewing, baking, urban gardening, and the rest of the life that she shares with her adorable puppy and soon-to-be husband over at the minecreations blog.

One Response to from the north country: mine creations

  1. erin says:

    i agree, julia. the kitchen makes those cold days so much better. xo.