TWD: Jam Thumbprints

NOW WITH 500% MORE PICTURES!!
*achem*

Just last weekend, the fiance and I were in South Bend for wedding planning stuffs. Yeah, it's pretty exciting - since we have to have six pre-marital counseling sessions with the priest who will be officiating, the trips back to my parents' house have increased in frequency by quite a bit. Not that I'm really going to complain, since my dad cooks amazing food and I get to play with their seven-month-old beagle puppy. And we got to try the pulled pork that we'll be having at the reception. It was awesome, in case you were wondering. And yes, if we had gone with a summer wedding, I would have been all over the hog roast idea.


But it also means tests. Yeah. Fr. Michael had us taking a 164 question test over those really exciting common points of conflict - money, family, sex, work. Evidently I test too quickly though (he told me not to think too long about my answers!), because I was done in seven minutes. Oops. But hey - in the end, we aced it. Out of 164 questions, we were in agreement on all but 17. Go us, right?! Even better was when the priest left the room to score them, and we started talking through the questions. Questions like: Does your future spouse's use of alcohol worry you? The fiance looked at me and said, "If I didn't know we needed to take this seriously, my answer would have been yes." My response? "Yes, I need to drink more, right?" And we just broke down laughing. Then there was the "Do you expect your future spouse to change once you are married?" Evidently, he almost put down yes - that I would need to bake less!


Needless to say, I threatened pre-marital divorce for that one. (Is that even possible? Whatever, just roll with it, k?) Because really? Me stop baking? Yeah, notsomuch sweetie. I mean, that and running are my stress relievers, and you so do not want to see me without my stress relievers. Luckily, he was joking, so no pre-marital divorce necessary. Which brings me not so neatly to this week's TWD selection by Mike: Thumbprints for Us Big Guys. This cookie? It strikes me as a bit of a twee wittle name for cookies meant for grownups, so I'm shortening it to Jam Thumbprints. Not to be confused with the Best Cookie Ever, my family's jam thimble cookies. Let's just say Dorie had some stiff competition, because I adore my current thimble cookie recipe. It's wonderful, barely sweet, sturdy, and delicious when filled with jam.


So how did Dorie do? Well, she didn't unseat my current recipe, but it was an admirable showing. Her cookies are more delicate, thanks to the almond meal I used instead of the hazelnuts she calls for. I really enjoyed the addition of almond extract to the dough - that's one thing I might include in my current recipe now that I've tried it. They do puff a bit more than mine do, so much so that I had to re-thumbprint each and every cookie when they came out of the oven. These are dainty cookies, meant to have alongside a cup of tea, so it isn't Dorie's fault that I like my cookies a bit sturdier, alongside a big mug of tea. I have no doubt that they will quickly disappear when I bring them into work tomorrow though, and to me, there is no higher compliment.


Last Week: Toasted Coconut Custard Tart
Next Week: Soft Chocolate and Raspberry Tart (to splurge or not to splurge on fresh raspberries...)