Lauren Graham will ALWAYS be Lorelai Gilmore

It's midnight, and I'm baking again.

But it's okay because GILMORE GIRLS IS ON TV TONIGHT!

Not Netflix (even though I hear it's wonderful) - because we are NOT that awesome (read: modern). It's SOMEHOW made its way to ABC Family!

I should stay up this late more often. Maybe I shouldn't, because I'm actually an old lady that can't function past 9 p.m. Plus there's that whole "real world job" thing that really comes in handy when you want to buy a house and puppy. Preferably not in that order but hey, TOOOO-mato, tahhhh-mato.

Where you lead!
I will follow!
Anywhere!!!!
That you telllll meee toooo!!!!

My rendition of this theme song and its accompanying interpretive dance is CRAZY GOOD, my people. Just trust me on this.

So back to the oven.

Did your parents ever pick on you while growing up about coming home and announcing that you suddenly have a science project due the next day?

I got that ALL THE TIME.

And tonight was payback for those "sudden" announcements as a child, I suppose.

While perusing The Pioneer Woman's cookbook for her AHHHH-mazing Corn Chowder recipe, Hubs reminded me that his work is having some kind of "food thing" tomorrow and that he was supposed to bring a dish.

I looked in the fridge, and we literally had fish and frozen vegetables.

We're trying to eat healthy again. And this doesn't work well for work functions, mind you.

And the RED VELVET OREOS that Hubs brought home yesterday? Well. They're MORE THAN HALFWAY gone and therefore unsuitable for said word function as well.

Oops.

So I started cooking and Hubs made a mad dash to the store to buy a few things for a little experiment we're concocting.

WHY I always gravitate toward a brand-spanking-new recipe for big events, I'll never know. Stay tuned for the results and maybe we'll get a post out of it.

NEWSFLASH. I've just realized that Paris was the Gilmore Girls' version of Sheldon Cooper. I can't be the only one thinking this. Moving on.

And OH MY WHAT the Mom from Happy Days is Granny Lorelai!

Oh Gilmore Girls. Where have you been the last few years? Lauren Graham is my spirit animal.

And that is all. G'NIGHT EVERYBODY!

Helloooooo there!

I have cookies coming out of my ears.

Not literally. But cookies are overflowing into three tupperware containers in my fridge.

For now ;)


BUT FIRST!

HELLOOO and welcome to Grits & Griddles - a happy little corner of the world where you'll find recipes, laughter, stories and many other magical things that I hope will enchant you! I'm a Southern girl in Mississippi, working as a communications superhero by day and a runner/chef/writer/five hundred other things by night. Coffee, traveling, writing, and cooking give me great joy :)

In this blog I hope to post things that will bring a little sunshine to your day -- whether it's a story of a spontaneous road trip (not unlikely) or photos of wonderful, delicious Southern comfort food. Let's be friends, okay? :)

But more importantly...

BACK TO THE COOKIES!

This weekend I'm visiting Natalie and we're going to a cookie swap at her church - fun fun fun! I remembered last night around...11-ish that cookies needed to be made! I was excited (doesn't take much) -- baking meant I could put my new mixer to use...YES!

For this lovely occasion, I decide on Chocolate Chip Butterfinger Cookies - straight from the Tasty Kitchen. Usually I research then put my own spin on a recipe, but last night I followed the recipe exactly to ensure Butterfinger-y goodness. I'm glad I did -- they're delicious, and if I drank milk I would for sure dunk these babies in a nice big glass of it!

Like I said, it was around 11-ish by the time I remembered started baking. I thought, "A small batch of cookies? Easy. I'll be done by midnight, tops."

Nope.

Turns out, the recipe makes between 20-30 cookies, depending on how large you want them...which is about TRIPLE the amount I intended! Silly me...I didn't cut the recipe into thirds. But who needs math, right? I think I finished everything around 1:30 a.m.

Hi, my name is Lisa, and I like to bake at midnight.

If you're interested, here's the play-by-play with some pretty okay maybe not pictures. No fancy camera here; just ye olde iPhone :) Enjoy friends! And have a happy day!

***

Chocolate Chip Butterfinger Cookies
{from the Tasty Kitchen blog and Tanya from Lemons for Lulu}

The Leading Ladies:

Brown sugar, flour, quick-cooking oats, sugar, butter, 2 eggs, chocolate chips,

and Butterfingers (unpictured - I used candy bars but you can use chips if you like).

Yes, that's a hammer. You'll see why in a bit :D

In a LARGE mixing bowl, soften your butter, then mix with

the sugars into a creamy buttery-ness:

Let's take a moment and admire the new mixer. Aaaahh the little things :)

Add your flour and your oats {ACTION SHOT YES!}

Mix it up, then add your chocolate chips:

Now the fun part...if you're using candy bars, take out all of the stress of your work day and BEAT THEM with the hammer! (Feel free to use any other heavy-ish object here, just don't hurt yourself or your countertop!) Crumble them up into tiny crumbs to mix into the cookie dough.

Mer her her herrrr.....

Hey look a promo code! I WON I WON! 

Just kidding. I didn't win....yet.

 

After a nice arm workout from hammering and stirring (at this point I put down the mixer and opted for a spoon since the batter was thick and my bowl was small!), drop the dough
by tablespoonfuls onto a nice baking sheet. Let them bake for about ten minutes.

IT'S ALIVE!!!!! (This was about five minutes in - they grow FAST)

Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before trying to remove them. Unless you're like me

and you're impatient ready for cookies. In that case you'll get THESE results...

...which are equally as delicious but definitely not as pretty! However, they are perfect for

munching co-workers or friends looking for a snack :)

***

"I figured if I was going to save the world, I might as well do it with cookies."

- Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal), "Stranger than Fiction" (2006)