Life's Not Always About Food.

The other day Craig asked me if I would ever write about something not related to food on my blog. Well here it is: Like every other blogger in the blogosphere, I will put my 2 (10) cents in for voting. Mostly I'm just excited to exercise my democratic rights (also I haven't had time to go grocery shopping so there is no food to blog about anyway, and an as yet unsuccessful attempt at making a quiche).

I showed up at the polls at 8 a.m. this morning, and there was already a line. I am excited about the fact so many people are voting this year. I've heard projections that 70 percent of the eligible population will be casting their ballots--versus the usual 30 percent. Incredible. Now, I don't want to sway anyone to vote for a particular candidate for president (ahem, Barack Obama) or any of Nebraska's particularly attractive Democratic candidates for the House and the Senate (seriously, have you all seen Scott Kleeb and Jim Esch? Reason enough to vote right there. These guys are adorable--my dad is rolling out of his desk chair as we speak). Needless to say, I am looking forward to the end of this whole campaign thing, equally excited for new leadership and hopeful that our country can really turn a corner (and stop bullying people--just my opinion). And third, I'm having a spectacular day because when I got my oil changed at Jiffy Lube, they also vacuumed out my car--for free.

All the workers at the auto shop were encouraging every customer to vote, which for whatever reason, I found surprising and kind of moving. Our country is generally so complacent about these things, it's nice to see everybody getting involved. There was a father and son waiting in the lobby with me. The boy was about seven years old, and I gathered that he was getting out of school to go vote with his dad. He watched Barack vote on the Today Show and asked his dad if he thought Barack would vote for himself (drawing a chuckle or two from eavesdroppers such as myself). It's great to see parents teaching their kids the value of voting.

Warm fuzzy feelings all over today. And sincerely hoping to see Nebraska's second congressional district go blue. (Picture me grinning from ear to ear).

The Worst Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

Back in college, we used to joke that I should host a cooking show called cooking with the clutz. Back then, every time I cooked something I made an enormous mess. There was the time I dropped an entire bottle of olive oil on the kitchen floor. What do you use to clean that? Water? There was the time I left the soup cooking on high and came back from a run to find it burned to the bottom of the pan. And there was the time I made 200 sugar and gingerbread cookies for a Christmas party. We didn't have a rolling pin ... so I used a glass ... that broke while I was rolling ... we still ate the cookies.

Lately though, I thought I had grown out of it. I can brag about my chocolate chip cookies. I only use the recipe on the chocolate chip bag, but I promise they are the best cookies you ever ate. The difference is in two things: butter (not margarine) and Mexican vanilla. Joy of Baking says,

The Mexican vanilla bean is a thicker and darker bean that has a smooth, strong,rich fragrance and flavor.

I don't know about the chemistry and makeup of the Mexican vanilla bean versus hothouse vanilla beans, but I do know that these cookies are usually awesome. It all started out fine with the wet ingredients, but then Eric and Mark came over to watch Obama inspire the nation and it all went out the window.

This is the first batch of cookies I pulled out of the oven, at which point I realized I had only added half the flour. OK, so I added more flour, stirred (a lot) and threw another batch into the oven. I pulled that batch out 8 minutes later. Still not right ... because I hadn't added the salt or the baking soda. Third time's a charm, but these were definitely the (second) worst cookies I have ever made. (There was the time I forgot the flour completely, the cookies melted, ran off the baking sheet and started a sugar fire in the oven). Sorry to Megan, Eric or Mark who may have inadvertently biten into a pocket of salt and/or baking soda. Eric said he liked them and obligingly took some home. Chocolate Chip Cookies: 1 cup softened butter 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon (Mexican) vanilla 2 1/4 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate morsels Pre-set oven to 375 degrees. Mix butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs and beat it (while singing and dancing to Michael Jackson songs). Sift together all of the flour, baking soda and salt. Add gradually to the wet ingredients while mixing. Mix until the consistency is smooth. Add chocolate chips. Place spoonful of cookie mix a couple inches apart on a baking sheet. Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly brown. Enjoy. (And don't forget to turn off the oven).