I'm trying not to be. I made chore-a-day schedule so I'd work less around the house....FAIL. My method for being less Type A is to create an organized schedule??? I think I need a be-more-slothful sponsor.
My five point plan to make my life like a vacation includes being a "slacker." One problem....slackers don't have five point plans! Type A over organized, workaholic, never say die types do. Can you feel the failure oozing off the screen?
I've been working on this plan for a few weeks now. Yes, working on a plan to not work. Awesome. On the ideal vacation I think I'd like to chill at a beach house, in a small little town. Ride a bike to a local ice cream shop, sit and stare at the ocean, read a book, have cook outs with friends, lay in hammocks, sip lemonade, fall asleep on the beach listening to the sounds of the waves....and the best parts: not doing my hair or make up or wearing "real" clothes, just swimsuits and cover ups and flip flops. I hear that on vacations you don't clean, you don't over schedule, you don't run from here to there all the time.....well that's the vacation for the people who aren't Type A. I tend to keep my blackberry in hand, check emails, schedule my leisure and feel awkward if there is a gap of nothing to do.
Since breaking my toe Monday, all thanks to the stupid blackberry, I've realized I've been talking a big game lately about the simple joys in life, but failing at the follow through. Something about running into a pole in downtown DC (while texting) just gives you a little wake up call. So, I'm gonna rewind and accept the truth. I'm Type A and focusing on small things that makes me happy might be harder than I've realized. Instead of thinking this through, I've turned to the internet to give me something simpler, like graham crackers with a glass of milk. I may not be able to force myself to chill out for reals without injury inducements, but I am able to make a graham cracker. It's reminiscent of those simpler times when the biggest trial of the day was digging the purple crayon out of the bottom of the crayon bucket. Well for you at least, I had pint sized panic attacks about coloring in the lines.
Help me. I'll share crayons, cookies, recipes, anything if somebody will be my sloth sponsor. :)
Cinnamon Graham Crackers
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen
2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground Vietnamese cinnamon
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, frozen
1/3 cup honey
5 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, frozen
1/3 cup honey
5 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
to garnish:
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground Vietnamese cinnamon
Combine the dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low to incorporate. Add the butter and mix on low until it resembles course meal.
In a small bowl, whisk together the liquids. Add to the flour mixture and mix on low until the dough barely comes together. Pour the dough out onto plastic wrap and form it into a one inch thick rectangle. Wrap the dough with additional plastic wrap and chill for two hours.
Divide the dough in half and return one half to the refrigerator. Flour a large work surface and roll the dough into a large rectangle about 1/8 inch thick. Flour the rolling pin as needed. Cut the dough into your desired shapes. For traditional crackers cut into 8x4 inch rectangles.
Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats.
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground Vietnamese cinnamon
Combine the dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low to incorporate. Add the butter and mix on low until it resembles course meal.
In a small bowl, whisk together the liquids. Add to the flour mixture and mix on low until the dough barely comes together. Pour the dough out onto plastic wrap and form it into a one inch thick rectangle. Wrap the dough with additional plastic wrap and chill for two hours.
Divide the dough in half and return one half to the refrigerator. Flour a large work surface and roll the dough into a large rectangle about 1/8 inch thick. Flour the rolling pin as needed. Cut the dough into your desired shapes. For traditional crackers cut into 8x4 inch rectangles.
Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats.
Place the crackers on prepared baking sheets and sprinkle with the garnish. Chill for an additional hour. Gather any scraps together and pat into the other half of dough in the fridge. If you had additional cookies sheets, you can continue the process with the second half of dough.
Adjust the oven rack to the upper and lower positions and preheat the oven to 350°F.
If you are making a traditionally shaped cracker, make a vertical line down the middle of each cracker and a horizontal line down the middle of each cracker using the blunt end of a butter knife, fork prongs, or whatever suits you. For non traditional cookies, add lines or dotted indentations per your fancy.
Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned and firm to the touch. Cooking times will vary greatly depending on thickness, ovens, and pans used.
Adjust the oven rack to the upper and lower positions and preheat the oven to 350°F.
If you are making a traditionally shaped cracker, make a vertical line down the middle of each cracker and a horizontal line down the middle of each cracker using the blunt end of a butter knife, fork prongs, or whatever suits you. For non traditional cookies, add lines or dotted indentations per your fancy.
Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned and firm to the touch. Cooking times will vary greatly depending on thickness, ovens, and pans used.
