Is It Level?

"Is it level?"  "Is it straight?"  "Are you doing it correctly?"  Much to the annoyance of my children, these became the catch phrases I uttered all summer.  Addison was the engineer and general contractor, Maddie was the cabinet builder, and I was the foreman asking all the questions.  Not surprisingly, I was also a one-woman maintenance crew.

Maddie building cabinets

Maddie built all the cabinets.  I did try to help, once, but on my first attempt I made a mistake, so I was quickly fired.  If you are wondering, I didn't do it on purpose.

IKEA has a clever system for hanging the upper cabinets that make them easy to install.  First you hang a metal bar, then you attach the cabinets to it.  As long as the bar is level the cabinets will be, too.  We just had one little problem - we had to work around the pipe.  Addison had to make cuts in the upper cabinet to accommodate it.   We had planned for the cabinets to go all the way to the ceiling, but the position of the pipe wouldn't allow it.  There was going to be an inch or two difference.   We decided to let the cabinets 'float' on the wall and add molding to the top.

Installing the microwave was difficult because it is so heavy.  Maddie and I held it while Addison attached it to the wall and the upper cabinet.  We were grateful we didn't drop it.

Addison installed the stove and lower cabinets.  If you look closely you will see a small level in some of the photos.  After being asked over and over if things were level he decided to leave it in place, so I could see for myself.  Everything was level.

 

Now that I had a working oven, after a long absence, I did what any baker would do.  I made cookies.

Sweet and spicy, Snicker doodles are tasty on their own, but when you add the glaze, in the word's of Maddie, "You seal the deal."  It takes the cookies from mmm, to MMM.  But be warned - it is difficult to eat just one.

If you chill the dough before baking the cookies, they will be thicker and softer.  If you need to 'speed' chill them, put the tray of cookies in the freezer for five minutes before baking them.

Glazed Snicker Doodles

1/4 cup (50 g) sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix together in a shallow bowl that is large enough to roll the cookie balls in.

1 cup (8 ounces/225 g) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cups (385 g) flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).  Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients.  Form balls and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.  Bake on prepared cookie sheets for 6-8 minutes.  While cookies are baking make the glaze.

Glaze

1/4 cup (2 ounces/57.5 g) butter
3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (62.5 ml) milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cup (175 g) powered sugar, or more if needed

Melt butter, granulated sugar, and milk in small saucepan.  Add vanilla and powered sugar.  Stir until smooth.  Remove from heat.  When cookies are cool enough to handle dip the top in the warm glaze.  You may have to rewarm the glaze, as it cools it will thicken.  Allow to set-up on a cooling rack.

Enjoy