The GGA Project -- Day #62 "Electric Achy Breaky"

Tonight I found myself at The Saddle Rack again.  Forget the fact that it's supposedly a country bar.  It's the only club of any substantial size that has a dance floor and that I don't have to drive 40 minutes to get to.  That's something for a woman who likes to get out and dance now and then.


I'd met my friend Jenn for dinner beforehand, and then we boot scooted our way over to the honky tonk.  Sorry, I don't have many tools in my country talk toolbox, so work with me.


The club was kind of a dud tonight, mainly because there just weren't enough people there.  There's no better vibe kill than a warehouse-sized nightspot that's only 1/3 full.  To be there, you feel kind of like a loser....one of only a handful of people with that dumb idea for the night.


Regardless, we were already there so we wanted to make the best of it.  At one point an impromptu line dance group formed out on the dance floor, and within moments everyone who was not prepared to do that line dance immediately escaped.


Jenn and I watched for a little while, and then she said, "Go ahead on out there.  I want to watch you make a fool of yourself."


"Me?" I said, "Why don't you go?!"


Only one solution.


Today's New Activity: Country Bar Line Dancing


On the far left of the dance floor was a fully outfitted cowgirl who seemed to be leading the pack.  To the right of her were nearly equally skilled dancers who knew all the moves, just not how to do them quite so smoothly (or in Daisy Dukes).  The middle of the pack was populated with people who mostly knew what they were doing, but who occasionally tripped up.  Off to the right were the beginners, who were busy watching the others for their cues, and as a result got completely tripped up every time a turn happened and they could no longer see the leaders.


Off to the far, far right--and fittingly so-- were Jenn and I.  This section was reserved for the handicapped and their service animals, the stumbling drunk, and those just too complacent to bother learning the dance in earnest, which is where we came into the whole thing.


Here's the thing about line dancing--the reason I just can't find the energy to care: I don't get what the payoff is.  I mean, even if you manage to master all the moves, how is that fun?  Now you are just one in a big military-like formation doing all the same moves at the same time.  I mean, maybe it's the appeal of doing something right, or the camaraderie of doing something as a group that appeals to people, but I'm just not feeling it.


The thing is, have you ever seen somebody line dancing who looks like they're having fun?  I don't believe I've ever seen a line dancer smiling.  They actually look kind of stressed out, like it would just be the most mortifying thing ever if they were to mess up.  Good thing Jenn and I got over THAT!  I don't think we got a single move right.  Eventually we stopped trying and just kind of shimmied around a bit, laughing at ourselves, which was fun enough.


I'll definitely be back to The Saddle Rack, just not maybe all that soon.  A $15 cover charge is way steep for a hit-or-miss scene.  But it's always good to succeed at dragging out my gal Jenn, who can sometimes forget she's not actually a 78-year-old shut-in.  :P

The GGA Project -- Day #61 "Sweets for the Semi-Sweet"

A few days ago my friend Colleen (the Cookie Queen I mentioned in a previous post) posted a sugar cookie recipe on my Facebook page, out of the blue.  She said it was the best she'd come across.  She was probably sharing since I have taken an interest in making cookies lately and she wanted to spread the good news--but I sort of took it as an assignment (please keep them coming, Colleen, if it occurs to you.  A cookie-making assignment is about the best I can imagine).  Since she sent it, I could not get out of my mind the idea that I needed to make sugar cookies and decorate them for Valentine's Day, which by the way, happens to be something I've never done before.


Today's New Activity: Prettifying Sugar Cookies


The reason I probably haven't made sugar cookies is that I don't really like sugar cookies.  Their taste is not offensive, of course.  But it's also not very interesting.  I do however recognize that they are definitely the best type of cookie for decorating during the holidays (any holiday!).  Here is the simple, straightforward recipe:

"Granny Grant's Christmas Cookies" (as shown in newspaper article)

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

4 cups flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup cream

Cream butter, sugar & vanilla ( low to medium setting for 30-60 seconds.)

Add eggs.

Sift dry ingredients together (flour, baking powder & salt).

Add flour mixture gradually to creamed mixture, adding cream as needed.

Dough will be stiff.

Chill dough for about an hour.

Roll out dough (or pat press with hands) on a lightly floured surface.

Shape dough with cookie cutters.

Decorate with sugar/chocolate sprinkles before baking (lightly press sprinkles into each cut out with fingers or a small pastry brush)

Bake at 350 for 7-9 minutes.

Cool on racks for about 10/15 minutes. If you're planning on using decorative icing, do so after cookies are completely cool!

*Baking Tip* Instead of using parchment paper to line cookie sheets, use a Silpat (Silicon Baking Mat). Silpats  are very easy to clean off & re-use (they're a god send, to me!) You can get them at Sur La Table or Williams Sonoma =)

That last part is from Colleen.  One of the reasons I liked talking with her about cookies when I saw her a few weeks ago was that she's already tried and tested so many methods and recipes--she really does have the best to offer!

I'd actually done the baking last night, as a way of distracting me and keeping me busy during my baby's absence.  My Mom, who has more than a little bit of Martha Stewart in her (good Martha Stewart...like all the knowhow and materials and means to make beautiful things, without the annoying condescension or arrogance) brought out her heart- and flower-shaped cookie cutters and introduced me to some variations on the theme (using a smaller one within a larger one to make for a heart outline or putting the whole of a small heart on top of a larger one or a flower and baking it like that).  She and my Dad both hung around to help with the shape making and baking--it was a fun family effort.

So when I got home tonight, all the little luvies were there, just waiting to be dressed:

(Well they hadn't been sitting there getting dried out all night.  I brought them back out of their tupperware housing for this part).

Again, my Ma busted out all her tools for decorating, along with the recipe for a very simple lemon glaze (just mix 4 cups of confectioner's sugar with 1/4-1/3 cup lemon concentrate from those little plastic lemons you find in the produce section).  I colored half of the glaze to make pink and left the other half translucent white.  It was great to have my Ma nearby during this part, as she just has a way of making everything pretty.  She has MAD skills with stuff like this that I know come somewhat from practice, but also seem like a gene she was born with that I just didn't get.  She mostly watched and offered suggestions, but when I asked her to, she took up a tube of icing at the end to add all the best finishing touches.

Then, she prepped a red plate with a doily (hers again, of course--remember, she is the Keeper of the Pretty!) and helped me arrange it with cookies to take to work.  I say these are sweets for the semi-sweet, because not everyone I work with is sweet (though really they mostly are...lucky me!), but anybody in need of a gentle push in the right direction will hopefully be influenced by these:

Thanks Mom and Colleen, for helping bring some extra love!

:)