Summer Projects...

Summer is all about projects around my house - ways to keep myself busy, (I really ought to just get a summer job!) Anyhow, I've had some good projects this year... my favorite has been a weekly visit to the temple. After our amazing experience with the Temple Celebration, and the blessings that came from that event I felt my service was due. Besides, it's summer, I have hours to fill and there is no better place - and no excuse. So that's been fun, I've been to 4 different temples, headed to Bountiful next week and been able to go with my dad, Art, and Jamie - good times.

ALSO FUN.... has been my summer bread project, which has spiraled into a summer cookie project, balanced with a bit of healthy cooking...a bit.
I wanted to learn to make really good homemade bread; wheat, white and french - after several batches a week and much patience and tweeking - I'm finally feeling confident in my bread.

It's a great summer project because you need rising time, perfect to coordinate with walking dogs or going to the temple. And it makes the house smell so good....


The problem is... I've also had this little cookie issue. I found this website (see earlier reference) to "the best cookie recipes". Well, what am I supposed to do, trust some strangers opinion? What if they're wrong? What is cakey is better than chewy? The ONLY way to truly find out, is to make a lot of cookies.Fortunately I have become a dough freezer, so I only cook as needed. That also makes it possible for me to share fresh cookies with various expert cookie tasters. I think I have found my preferred favorite recipe - it received HIGH marks from the tasters. The final challenge will be taking it to Sunday dinner for the vast opinion and, of course, Bud.
So we did do some healthy cooking - we made gazpacho - so yummy!














So that's not too much cooking right? ...well, except for that day that I had 5 desserts in the house at once. oops.









Ahhh summer - 2 more weeks. Bring on the butter...