The Cookies

 Why the need to bake?

You just have to walk around malls, go to the market or even along lanes and there will be an array of them ready for sale. But hey, look at the prices they are calling ! Hefty indeed. When you have the cookies displayed for your guests; they will probably have a bite or two and soon much of them will have to be disposed. From past experiences, I found my cookie containers still intact even when the season is over and the challenge is to either consume, pass them around or dispose... and yet the greed is there to collect as many as my eyes can see !
So, this year I wish to be more selective and different. Hahaha; I will get the cook to bake ! Sara told me that she was not able to be with us for the last two years; her being away in the UK and to pacify the mother she conceded to the plan.
The question boggling me was; should I just get a few off the peg; just a few or...go through the mess and bake? Will I be spending more buying the ingredients;doing  massive washing up and withstanding long hours? On the other hand, what has become of creativity? And; and, and should we bake, we have to get the best recipes otherwise it will be a waste of time. It's not easy with no one to confirm the credibility of the recipes and basing only on online information.
Finally, the lawyer and the teacher took the plunge...come what may.

 See the results.

 Sara baked them while I sneaked into town for a while and I came home to see them on the tray. Butter cookies with pure butter and no margarine. They melt in the mouth and she passed the test. She told me that the cost is slightly high but still much cheaper if bought...RM12.00 for 2 containers of  unadulterated butter cookies. Worth the bite. So, it's recommended. Not a bad try.

 I was home in time to help with the cashew nut cookies. I mean all I did was to roll them and place that cashew piece on top and later to brush some egg yolk on top. It has been a long time since I have done this and it was refreshingly good. Maybe I will go into baking when I retire. I only need the fingers to move and rest my brain. How nice. Physical movement instead of moving the heart and brain. However, however, however...the recipe is not what I think it should be...so, this one did not pass the test. Cashew nut biscuits should taste otherwise; but we have not given up. We were able to get a proven recipe and try we will again today !

The tray of peanut biscuits! Before we took the leap I asked Sara the question: Will customers come for them? I put her in a fix and she must have felt again the pressure that I gave her in her school days; to be at her best. She rolled her eyes and would not dare try online formulate; Yes she has the answer ! She told me Auntie Bessie bakes the best peanut biscuits in town! Get the formula; girl. Remember; we do not want to waste time and resource ...

 They are the best in town. Yes, we can just bake them and sell. No adulterated ingredients; all pure. The amount of peanuts is equivalent to every bite of flour; so rich and the taste stays in your mouth for a long, long time. This is the perfect recipe. No venture, no gain. It was worth the effort and even as I grow more matured in age by the day I am relearning basic living skills again ! Goodbye KPIs ...

At the end of the day, what did we achieve? 6 containers of cookies; some are coveted ones and more to come...the baking bug is back.

Happy baking...

And oh about the recipes; do you really want them?