About Last Night (And Tonight)

On Monday, my wife and I will be celebrating our second anniversary, but tomorrow night (or tonight, as the case may be) will be the big party.

We're having a big backyard dinner party for about two dozen of our friends, and I'm handling the food. The menu consists of seared chicken in a mushroom veloute with vegetable cous cous and brussels sprouts. And something for dessert. I'll have to see what I've got lying around.

Anyway, I will be bringing you pictures, recipes, and horror stories after the fact.

Actually, how about a horror story in advance? Tonight, while my wife and I were cutting up yellow squash for the cous cous, my wife cut right into her finger. She's okay (if she wasn't okay she wouldn't be sleeping and I wouldn't be bloggint), but she freaked out nonetheless. I told her not to dick around with that knife.

Anyway, time for shut-eye, since I have nothing but work to do tomorrow.

Black Pepper Sugar Cookies

Calm the hell down, mmm-kay? I wouldn't steer you wrong, would I? Of course not, so let's all put on those steampunk helmets, turn the cranks, and open our minds just a smidge, deal? Deal!

These cookies are sweet, sugary, and just a little spicy. You can tweak the amount of black pepper you use to suit your tastes - I know I did! Also, throwing a Hershey's Kiss in the middle might be a good way to cool off the peppery taste. I just thought of that, however, so I could be a million miles off base.


Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Light brown sugar

Equipment:

• Baking sheet(s)
• Electric mixer
• 2 large bowls

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (Fahrenheit) and grease your baking sheets.
2. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, black pepper, and baking powder, and set aside.
   
3. In a larger bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth.
   
4. Beat in egg and vanilla into the butter/sugar mixture, then slowly incorporate the dry ingredients.
   
5. Allow the dough to cool in the freezer for approximately 10 minutes.
6. Scoop the cold dough into rounded teaspoons and roll them in brown sugar.
7. Place the balls on the greased cookie sheets.
8. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes (or until golden brown) at 375.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing the cookies from baking sheets and cooling on a wire rack.