Librarian-in-Training

1. Cook 5 4 3 2 1 new dishes.

2. Write one article and submit it to a small library journal.

3. Stick my feet in the Pacific Ocean.

Thanksgiving with my family and friends at the beach was marvelous. Even though the ocean is almost a steady 55 degrees off the Oregon coast, it was still really cold. 

4. Finish The Hunger Games series.

5. Finalize the January Girls’ Trip

6. Finally make it to the Met for a proper look-around.

7. Help to throw one badass, literary party.

Biblio Noir was fantastic this year!

8. Sew one (wearable) dress.

9. Mail holiday cards. (2011’s might be on my nightstand…still.)

10. Find a table for the record player.

It should be delivered by the end of the year. 

11. Add two art pieces to the apartment walls.

12.  Put all my recipes into an organized binder.

What are your 12 before 2012?

I am proud to say I accomplished another 12 by 2012 tonight. I finally hung new art on the walls. Not only two pieces, but five. Three in the kitchen and two in the bedroom.

1. photo by Alan of graffiti near home, that has since been painted over
2. Bright Eyes song lyric
3. original art by my friend Jenni
4. photo by Me of my Grandma holding a snub nose revolver
5. photo by unknown of my Grandma posing in a bathing suit (then sent to my Grandpa while serving in Korea) 

Last night, I was able to knock another item of my 12 before 2012 list. (only 67 more days)

The Hunger Games series was so good! An easy, quick read with fully developed characters.

Image

This is the 3rd dish of my 5 new recipes before 2012. The first was coleslaw. Not great, not bad. Nothing to write home about. The second was a delicious butternut squash soup. I’ll post the recipe once I figure out amounts. We kind of just added things until we were satified. 

Now, to the beauties above. I would like to thank Alexis for the recipe. We’re taking them to a friend’s birthday party tonight, and I’m sure they’ll be a hit.

Ingredients for Cookies

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tbsp ground cloves
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups chilled pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Ingredients for cream cheese filling

• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butted
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla

Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda and powder, cinnamon, and cloves. 
3. In a separate, large bowl whisk together the brown sugar and oil until well combined. Add the pumpkin puree and whisk until incorporated. Add egg and vanilla. Mix in flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time until thoroughly combined.
4. Scoop out 2 tbsp-sized drops of dough onto baking sheet with parchment paper. They should be 1 inch apart. Dip your fingers into water and flatten the dough into disks.
5. Cook for 9-10 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies start to crack.
6. Sift confectioners’ sugar into a medium bowl. 
7. In an electric mixer, cream the butter. Add in the cream cheese until combined. Add in sugar and vanilla, mix until smooth.
8. Once the cookies have completely cooled, put a generous (really, generous!) helping of the filling on the underside of one cookie. Press second cookie on lightly to make sandwich. Refrigerate the sandwiches for 30 minutes-1 hour before serving, it really makes them much better!

1. Cook 5 4 3 2 new dishes.

2. Write one article and submit it to a small library journal.

3. Stick my feet in the Pacific Ocean.

4. Finish The Hunger Games series.

5. Finalize the January Girls’ Trip

6. Finally make it to the Met for a proper look-around.

7. Help to throw one badass, literary party.

8. Sew one (wearable) dress.

9. Mail holiday cards. (2011’s might be on my nightstand…still.)

10. Find a table for the record player.

11. Add two art pieces to the apartment walls.

12.  Put all my recipes into an organized binder.

What are your 12 before 2012?