posted
I was driving in the middle lane, and turned on my blinker to switch to the left lane. I didn't see the person in my blind spot until I started moving over, so I went back into the lane I was in. I think I overcompensated, because the car started jerking wildly, and then went into a spin. I was moving over towards the barrier on the right side, and the car spun 270 degrees. The engine died (thank heavens), and I was fine. I was scared to my kneecaps, but the car did not hit the barrier, no other cars hit me, I didn't get whiplash, and the engine started when I put it in park and turned the key. I covered my face for a moment to take a deep breath, and the lady in the car behind me who had hit her brakes in time came over to make sure I was okay. I was fine, and in a moment, I put it in drive and came back to work.
This was directly past the 75 and 635 interchange, so I had own bit of immortality as I made people wait in their cars for me to turn from perpendicular to parallel to traffic.
quote:Originally posted by Tante Shvester: It was a kapporah (a merciful sparing)! Thank G'd!
Is there, by any chance, a word for divine intervention that leads to death in what would otherwise be a safe situation?
Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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quote:Originally posted by King of Men: Is there, by any chance, a word for divine intervention that leads to death in what would otherwise be a safe situation?
Was there water on the road? Ice? (Dallas probably doesn't get much ice, huh?) Too much accumulation of oil? Are your tires bald?
I just keep imagining what it would take to spin my car 270 degrees on an average road with decent tires and nothing unusually reducing the normal friction.
At any rate, glad you're OK. Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Ooh, scary... I did a 180 once on Interstate 40 in western Arkansas. Fell asleep in the left lane, my old Ford LTD drifted into the gravel on the left shoulder; I woke up & overcorrected, ending up facing backward in the right lane (and stalled). I was on my way home from college & had stayed up packing all night. Dumbest thing I ever did.
Posts: 326 | Registered: Aug 2005
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Farmgirl, I did think of that song, but I also thought that if Jesus took the wheel, then he's a really bad driver. *shifts out of the way of the lightning* I shouldn't have gone into a spin - it's confusing to me.
Sorry for the flippancy - I've disovered my method of dealing with it. I am very grateful to be fine. A little disbelieving - that was almost a tragic story. If I had been retiring in three weeks, I would have been toast.
Karl, I'm not sure why it did that - there were no exacerbating conditions. I've replaced all four tires in the past two years (*sigh*), so it can't be that. I was very surprised when the car didn't go straight when I thought the wheel was straight. Either I was scared enough that I was overcompensating even more than I realized, or maybe there's something funky with the steering mechanism. I think I'll take the car in and see if anything is going on.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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quote: Farmgirl, I did think of that song, but I also thought that if Jesus took the wheel, then he's a really bad driver. *shifts out of the way of the lightning* I shouldn't have gone into a spin - it's confusing to me.
- that made me smile.
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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That could be fun, actually. We'd need to know what kind of cookie people liked, allergies, etc.
Would this be a homemade cookie exchange or would oreos qualify? (I worry about how well the home made stuff would survive certain longish trips.)
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Hmm...I wonder if it could be an ongoing thing? Instead of everyone mailing at once, there's a continual cookie sending. Less central organization, although there would have to be a way to get the addresses without posting them for everyone.
Hmmm...I need to think about this. Does anyone else have an idea for how it would work? Maybe something like the following:
1. Person A sends cookies to B. 2. B posts happily that cookies have arrived. 3. The Home Office sends B the address of C. 4. B sends cookies to C, and it starts over again.
Actually, that reminds me that I need to some e-mails.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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Cookie exchange? I'll put in a couple dozen of my family's secret recipe chocolate-chip & raisin cookies. Best. Cookies. In. The. World. Well . . . all right. . . my favorite, at least.
Now how did the story of a near-miss turn into a cookie exchange. . . . ??? Gotta love derails!
Posts: 1323 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Boon
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Hey, I'm all for that! Would Girl Scout Cookies be acceptable?
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They would to me, but I'd prefer homemade or something I couldn't get easily where I live, like some from a local (non-national-chain) bakery. For instance if someone wanted to send me Old Salem Moravian Cookies, I'd certainly make no complaint. (The Ginger ones and the Walnut ones are my favorites )
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Oh, this could be really fun. It would also eliminate the squirmy issue of giving a present and not getting one by not giving a present until you get one (except for the very first person, of course, and I'm guessing Person B would be willing to send out two packages of cookies).
Y'all really want to do it? We (by which I mean the Gift Exchange committee) would be happy to organize (see how I blatantly speak for them *waves*) (since it isn't all at once, it wouldn't be too much work at all), and the HatrackGiftExchange e-mail address is still active. I can start a thread to guage interest and roust signups when I get back from D.C. on Tuesday.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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I make a very yummy holiday cookie that is essentially almond paste and ground walnuts in a flaky pastry crust.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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Sounds good. Depending on the number of people who want to participate, I was thinking it might be good to break the list a little. For example, if 15 people want to participate it could be something like this:
code:
1a 2a 3a 1b 2b 3b 1c 2c 3c 1d 2d 3d 1e 2e 3e
The "A"s would send to the "B"s, etc down the columns, then the "E"s could send back to their "A"s. Then we could re-shuffle if everyone wants to do another round. That way no one has to wait for the whole list to go around before getting theirs. (I'd even volunteer to be an "A"). Of course, if only 3-5 people want to play that's a moot point.
Anyway, just something to think about. I'm in, however you guys decide to do it.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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quote:Originally posted by ClaudiaTherese: I make a very yummy holiday cookie that is essentially almond paste and ground walnuts in a flaky pastry crust.
Sounds yummy. I'm normally a "tube-o-cookie-dough" cookie baker, but for this I'd try something from scratch.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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That's a good idea - not all at once, but more than one thread going at a time.
I want to do it. I have a recipe for pumpkin/white chocolate chip cookies that I love, that stay firm but soft for long periods, and that freeze well. My boss loves them - everytime we have a "Bring Food" day, she requests that I bring them.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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I'd be interested in this. How could we best ship the cookies to ensure that they were both fresh and reasonably intact upon arrival?
::has several delicious cookie reipes that he hasn't made in a long time::
::is aware that his favorite of them is way too fragile to travel well at all::
You know, another possibility might be to mail out all of the ingredients, premeasured, so that the recipient could enjoy the sender's cookies fresh baked.
...nah...that probably wouldn't be as much fun as getting a box of ready-to-eat cookies, I expect.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Chris's aunt sent a large box of a variety of Christmas cookies. She just lined a gift box with tinfoil and piled the cookies in. She did cap the whole thing with saranwrap, which probably helped with freshness, and she individually wrapped a couple of sticky kinds that otherwise would have messed up the others. Sure a couple were broken or mashed, but that didn't change the taste.
On the other hand, those cheapy pseudo-tupperware things are pretty good at sealing in freshness. I'll probably end up putting my cookies in those and sending them.
Oh, and the more cookies you cram in there, the less space they have to move around and get broken.
Or you could pad them with brownies. Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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The brownies wouldn't make a bad packing material, but A)I'm afraid their parents would object, and B)I'm worried that they'd eat all of the cookies while they were in transit.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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This is a great idea! I'd love to do it! Unfortunately, it wouldn't work for me to be involved what with me being so far away and the fact that I'm still off sugar. Except for the last four days, which just affirms the need to be off sugar.
I think... that in addition to sending cookies, the recipes for said cookies should be posted in the cookie thread. For, you know, people like me. Or, er, so Fahim can benefit. Or something.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I think this is a good idea. But what about those that have allergies to stuff like nuts and whatnot.
Posts: 747 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Allergies can be dealt with. Make sure you list all allergies when you sign up, and theoretically, the person making cookies for you won't use those ingredients. You hope. Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Oooh I want to be part of this. I'll be one of the first rounders, too.
After having sent many a padded envelope of battered crumbs (by the time they arrived) and more than one package of one-huge-stuck-together-cookie, I've begun doing it like this.
1) I use the pseudo-tupperware things by Glad or Ziplock or one of the others.
2) I use parchment paper to line my cookie sheets while baking, so I cut the parchment paper into squares and place one square between each cookie.
3) I also freeze the whole thing before I mail it. Starting the day I make the cookies, as soon as they're cool they go into the freezer. Then when I pack the box, the whole box goes back into the freezer until I'm ready to take it to the post office. I have the idea this makes them survive better enroute, but I'm sure they would be fine regardless.
My favorite cookies right now are an old family recipe for oatmeal, but I can do chocolate chip, pumpkin raisin, peanut butter, sugar cookies, or whatever sounds good at the time. Alton Brown's cookbook "I'm Just Here for More Food" has some great cookie recipes.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Alton Brown made two suggestions which have been fantastic for ease and quality of my cookies.
1) Line cookie sheets with parchment paper (see above). This means you can apportion out all the dough while the first batch is cooking, by placing the parchment paper on the cookie sheet, filling it up with dough, then sliding that piece of paper off onto the counter (sideways so it doesn't disturb the cookies), and then doing the next one. As soon as you take one pan of cookies out of the oven, slide off the parchment paper (sideways), and let the cookies cool on the paper alone until they're ready to be spatula-ed off. Meanwhile the same cookie sheet can be loaded with another piece of parchment paper and put back in the oven. With just two cookie sheets, you can very quickly bake umpteen dozen cookies this way. Turns out to be a great suggestion!
2) Use a scooper to apportion the dough. These things are like little ice cream scoops, and they come in various sizes. Very fast and easy way to make uniform sized cookies. I like the one that's about halfway between the smallest and largest sizes, for fairly large cookies. Scoop, level, and then plop face down onto the sheet in the desired spot. Squeeze the flapper arm and lift. Perfect size cookies perfectly placed.
Those are Alton's suggestions. This next one is mine.
3) Instead of making 4 rows of 3 cookies per row, a rectagonal array which has a low packing factor, use instead staggered rows of 3, 2, 3, 2, and 3 for a total of 13 cookies per sheet. This arrangement is known as "hexagonal close packed" and has a very high packing factor. You can make the largest cookies possible this way for a given cookie-sheet size. Just a little tip I garnered from materials class.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Here's the recipe for pumpkin raisin cookies. This is still being perfected. Feel free to adjust as you like.
1/2 cup Butter (1 stick) 1 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar (1.5 cups) 1 cup Canned Pumpkin 1 Large Egg 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract 2 cups Self Rising Flour (White Lily is the preferred brand) 2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon 1 cup Raisins
Cream butter, gradually add sugar. Combine flour and cinnamon (=dry ingredients). Combine pumpkin, vanilla, and egg (=wet ingredients). Alternate adding dry and wet ingredients until well mixed. Gently fold in raisins. Drop with scooper onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Here's my oatmeal cookie recipe. They are sooooo good! I used to like homemade chocolate chip, but these are far better.
3/4 cup butter 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1/4 cup water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup self-rising flour (White Lily) 3 cups Quaker Oats (NOT instant, quick, or 1 minute oats, just plain old fashioned oats)
Cream butter, gradually add sugar. Add egg, water, and vanilla extract, beating until creamy. Add flour gradually until well mixed. Stir in oats. Scoop with a scooper onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
Wait, so are we really doing a cookie exchange? Because that would be awesome and I'd make someone very happy with my Special Secret Recipe (which, unfortunately, I would be unable to share in public ).
Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
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This is my great-great-grandma's recipe, in the same format that she had it written in:
quote:2 cups raisins 2 cups water Boil together 5 minutes. Cool and stir in 1 tsp soda.
Cream together: 3/4 cup shortening and 1-1/2 cups sugar. Add raisins and their water to shortening, then
Add: 1 tsp vanilla and 3 eggs (1 at a time)
Then add: 4 cups flour 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt (all sifted together)
Stir well and add 1 package chocolate chips. Drop by spoonsful on greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 to 385 for 10 to 15 minutes. (Makes at least 50 cookies.)
Sounds kind of awkward when you read through it, but it makes sense once you are doing it. And yes, the only liquid in it is the 2 cups of water the raisins were boiled in. Doesn't seem like it would be enough, but it is.
Best. Cookies. In. The. World.
So says my great-great-grandpa, my great-grandpa, my grandpa, my dad, me, and my son.
6 generations can't be wrong!
Posts: 1323 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Mmm... Me really want cookie! But with the kosher thing I've got on, I'm afraid it wouldn't work. Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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- that made me smile.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
(The Ginger ones and the Walnut ones are my favorites ![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
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You are my hero, Tatiana. ![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
