Ahhhh....Summer

So, last night Jim was freaking out saying, "we haven't done anything except for one hike this summer." I just looked at him and shook my head (I kinda rolled my eyes at him, too, but that will be our secret). The reason may be that our summer didn't actually reach the beautiful Pacific Northwest until this week, but it's more likely that I just haven't wanted to do anything. I have been working my *ss off at the dental office and I'm tired and sometimes a little snarky when I get home and I just want to enjoy some peace and quite with the family, dog and new baby kitties (more about the new babies later).
Jim feels this need to squeeze something into every minute of every sunny day. That is just too exhausting - you know, the worrying that we NEED to do something, figuring out what it is, then the planning and then hurrying to get there and doing it and then getting home and ready for the next day. We will probably make a day trip to the beach and maybe another hike or two but that's about it for me. Don't get me wrong - I love getting out and being social and enjoying the world, but I don't feel like I HAVE to anymore. It is so liberating. And I really like being home.
Home makes me happy. I love eating my cereal out on my little covered porch on summer mornings (sorry neighbors, about the funky hair and bathrobe) and having dinner out there, too. I love reading my book out there and just enjoying the quiet and the warmth. I love puttering in my veggie garden and messing with my roses. What more could a girl want?!
I try to get to our local farmer's market most weekends. Last weekend I bought a box of peaches there. Peaches make me happy. They taste like summer and they were amazing. We had them sliced with a little sugar and also in a cobbler and then I made jam. But the jam didn't set. My jam always sets. It is now peach syrup. I tried three different times adding pectin and following all the instructions to the letter. It is really delicious - but it's not jam. I guess I'll have to buy more peaches and try again and then figure out what to do with a surplus of peach syrup.  :)

My Peach Jam - well actually it's syrup now. 

So I just had lunch with my besties - Lorie and Shari - on a gorgeous summer Wednesday (my day off). Both of those things make me very happy. We sat outside on the bank of the might Columbia River and soaked up the sun and ate yummy food. I am really relaxed and mellow right now. I have a million chores to do but instead I decided to bake some cookies and blog. I was trying to figure out a cookie that would work with this blog because I'm freaky that way and like things to tie together. I thought about Lemon Bars, but I don't have any lemons right now. I thought about Key Lime Bars, because I actually have a boat load of limes (oops - I almost said butt load of limes but thought maybe that wouldn't be appropriate), but decided to go with the cookie that wouldn't leave my head instead. I have no idea why this cookie even entered my head because I usually save it for Christmas. Lately, it seems, there is really no accounting for the random thoughts that pop in my head. I decided to run with it this time.
This cookie is a classic and goes by many names; Russian Teacakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Snowballs, etc. I'm going to call them Snowballs that is what my BFF, Lorie, calls them and because it is summertime and the name makes me smile. I like to add chocolate to just about everything - ask Jim - it drives him crazy - and usually add mini chocolate chips to the dough. My friend, Lorie, adds chopped up M&M's and they are so delicious that way (at Christmastime she chops up the red and green ones and then puts one whole M&M on the top of the cookie after it is backed - it is so cute!). My mom calls them Russian Teacakes and adds chopped nuts - but I don't like nuts so it would be silly for me to add them. I have also added toasted coconut and that is yummy, too. I'm posting the original recipe I got from my Grandma and you can add whatever wonderful thing sounds good to you.

SNOWBALLS

1 Cup Butter, softened (use the real thing with this recipe)

1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

2  1/4 Cups All-purpose Flour

1/4 tsp. Salt

A Little More Powdered Sugar

Optional add ins: 3/4 cup chopped nuts, 3/4 to 1 cup mini chocolate chips, 3/4 to 1 cup chopped M&M's, 3/4 cup toasted coconut, all of these together, or anything else that randomly pops in your head.  :)

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix softened butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add flour, salt and add-in's until dough holds together and forms into a ball.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls (a small cookie scoop works well for this). Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes. The cookies will be set, but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet and roll in powdered sugar. The cookies will be hot so let cool a little bit first. Cool on wire rack. Either roll in powdered sugar again or sprinkle with powdered sugar after the cookies are cooled.

These really are yummy any time of year - they are not too sweet and really buttery. They are amazing on a hot day with iced tea or on a cold day with warm tea. But most especially they are perfect for relaxing out on your porch while avoiding chores and enjoying a beautiful summer day.

I'm glad this cookie popped in my head. I love them. I didn't add the chocolate chips this time just to make Jim happy. Next time he won't be so lucky. And now I have to make those Key Lime Bars because that is the cookie stuck in my head now and, like I mentioned, I have a....bunch of limes to use up.  :)