Polly's Cherry Garcia Cookies

What to do with those extra fresh cherries?  I thought of just eating them, but why not bake with them.... but I didn't have enough for cherry pie or cobbler, so I came up with Cherry Garcia.   Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia is one of my favorite ice-cream.  So, I decided to make my own recipe for the cookies.  Well, this picture show them in a muffin cups.  I guess it can be a muffin at the same time a cookie.

Ingredients:
1-3/4 C butter softened and whipped to fluffy pale yellow by adding 1/2 C sugar and 1/3 C light brown sugar.
Add 2 tsp Vanilla extract and 2 eggs into the butter mixture.   Beat in eggs one at a time and blend until smooth. 
Preheat oven to 375'F.
Measure pre-Shifted 1-3/4 C flour that has 1 tsp of baking powder already in it.  Plus 1/4 tsp of salt.
Add about 1 C of Unpit cherries, tear into halves.  Add Cherries and 1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips  to butter mixture. 
Scoop into muffin cups, if you would like to; and bake in 375'F till browned.

Farm to Fermentation Festival

Farm to Fermentation Festival was an eye opener.  I didn't know there are so many Pickling and Fermentation enthusiasts.  Tasting my way round all types of pickles and checking out the pickling and fermentation utensils were great education.   I learned from workshops how to make Honey Mead and Ginger Bugs, and UMEBOSHI or pickling with NUKA.  Here is my photo journal of the festival.

 Pickle jar gadget

 Artisan Breads

 Great tasting cheeses

 This is what Air Lock does.

 

 My Ethiopian lunch

 Making Honey Mead with Strawberries

 Making UMEBOSHI

 Ginger bug

Hiking to Upper Yosemite Fall - "Keep Fighting!"

Have you ever wonder what is at the very top of the Upper Yosemite Fall?   I finally completed my hike up to the Upper Yosemite Fall.  It was a very challenging hike for me.  My knee was still in recovery mode, but I just couldn't pass the opportunity of the wonderful weather for this hike.  What encouraged me to finish the hike that day just when I almost told myself to come back next time much earlier than 12 pm to start the hike, there was a cheerful voice and smile of a German girl who was coming down the trail telling me, "Keep Fighting!"  That's what I did.  Even though the waterfall has dried up compared to back in early July, the view from the Upper Yosemite Fall was just as grand and breath taking  3.2 miles should be easy on the pretty level trails, but these well maintained switchbacks were a killer for my knees.  But then, I did it, and I got to see what is up there!  Awesome view!  next - Half Dome!?

Hiking Adventure at Sly Park, Jenkinson Lake

It was some adventurous hiking trip I had.  I fell off the mountain bike in first 10 pedals; then, decided to hike; and tripped and got covered with dirt from head to toe after two hours into the hike.   It was a challenging 8 miles hike.   I was hoping to strengthen my legs since I injured my left knee, but looks it backfired.  My leg was covered with gash and scrapes and knee bruise; bruise on the arm from falling off the mountain bike; and right knee bruise and nasty bruise on right hip from tripping down the trail. 
But it was still a good hike with beautiful lake.  I wished I was wearing a swimming suite.  I would have just jumped into the lake to wash off the dust that covered my face, my body, and legs.  

Polly's version of Marvelous Memorable Chocolate Chip Cookies

I think chocolate chip cookies is one of the recipe that challenges me.  Depending on the ratio of fat and sugar and type of sugar you use, you could have crispy or cakey or guwey cookies.  Of course, the other ingredients - eggs and amount of flour play an important roles in the result.  Which ones do you like?In searching for some recipes to try, I found this one I believe at Food52 website.  I found it interesting that it uses some snack bars as part of the ingredients.   Why not? I thought.  As I have tons of snack bars. 

So, how do I rate this cookies?  Good crispy cookies.  My preference is guwey cookies.

Pickled SHISO Leaves - beefsteak leaves and YOMOGI Leaves - Mogwart leaves

I love the aroma of SHISO and enjoy it over a steaming bowl of rice.   My friend gave me two plants this year.  One is Mogwarts - YOMOGI and the other is SHISO.   I am very lucky that they are growing heartily in my garden.   Unlike the previous green SHISO that I tried to grow, died out in winter and never to be seen again, these groups thriving well in a pot.
So, what shall I do SHISO?  I pluck the largest leaves, then, gently clean them under water; spread them over a drying tray or pickle them.  The dried SHISO leaves are crushed with mortar or using food processor or by fingers.  Put some sea salt and safe them in a jar.  Sprinkle them over rice and enjoy it.
To pickle them,.... well, actually I do not know how to start, but I placed them under the UMEBOSHI - pickled plum.   However, I did learn later that, you just need to pickle them in salt.  Then, let it sit for a few month, and it is done.  Really?  I asked.... I don't know... I have to do some research.

 Pickled them under the purchased pre-made UMEBOSHI - pickled plum.   Then, refrigerate. 

I hope it works.
As for Mogwarts plant, after crop them, wash them gently under running water.  Making sure all the aphids, if any, are washed off.  Then, strip the leaves off the stems;  spread them over a  large drying tray.  Place them outside in open air under a shade.   In hot summer day, dry in the morning and ready for packing in the late afternoon.   Make sure that entire leaves are absolutely & completely dry.   Store them in a Ziploc bag until ready for use.   When ready, crush them under Mortar or in a food processor;  use them to make YOMOGI Mochi.