Experimental Baking

As I noted in a previous post there are certain grocery items that are difficult to find.  I found this particularly true when starting to bake.  Every Christmas we make cut-out cookies with colorful icing.  This year I wasn't going to attempt those cookies, for one, we didn't have any of the convenient tools that we normally use and two, I was certain we wouldn't be able to find the ingredients.  I thought that I would shoot for Chocolate Chip Cookies instead. Seems simple enough! We couldn't find chocolate chips, or really any chocolate in the baking aisle that wasn't bark.  We then thought we would try M&M cookies, well, actually Confeti cookies (as that is the local equivalent to M&Ms).  The one key ingredient that I couldn't find was brown sugar.  I finally found something that resembles brown sugar, but it wasn't on the same aisle as the granular sugar, so that was a little disconcerting.  Well, after baking the cookies, I am pretty sure that either that wasn't brown sugar OR the brown sugar here is different.  The cookies were edible, just really sweet.  They actually tasted like dulce de leche - which is a popular sweet treat around here.  We ended up sharing a few with the neighbor next door, I sure hope she enjoyed them.  I decided that I wasn't happy enough with the end product to give out the cookie mix as a party favor for Caden's birthday party, so on to the next recipe.  I needed one that didn't call for brown sugar, so I tried brownies.  The only ingredient that I wasn't able to find was baking powder.  We found baking soda, and something called Pao Certo that was used for leavening.  We went with it.  The brownies turned out great! I made a batch for the party and the guests really enjoyed them, saying that they are unlike any sweet treat they have around here.  It's a good thing they liked them because I gave out brownie mix in a jar as the party favors!  :)  I am SO GLAD that I brought the cake mix and the icing for Caden's birthday cake, it really made things quite easy!