Two Tuesdays - Collage #4

2012 Collage Challenge

© K. Johnson, 'Rusty Warmth' - 7" x 5" collage on paper

All the collages in this series can be seen here.

Two Tuesdays - Collage #3

2012 Collage Challenge

© K. Johnson 'Bountiful' - 5"x7" collage on paper

All the collages in this series can be seen here.

Happy Valentine's Day

K. Johnson

World Nutella Day

Yes, I know it's Superbowl Sunday but did you know today is also World Nutella Day? I had not heard about this "holiday" until last February when I was browsing some of my favorite food blogs. It's described as "a day to celebrate, to get creative with, and most importantly, to eat Nutella."

I have to be honest and say that I am really not that big a Nutella fan. I could never eat it out of the jar with a spoon like I do peanut butter (tell the truth - you do it too!) but...
It is absolutely delicious in this recipe I found in an old Better Homes and Gardens Magazine!

I have only made these cookies a few times because they are so rich and decadent but World Nutella Day was a good enough excuse to turn on the oven and get baking.
Superbowl snack? Valentine's Day treat?

Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
1 tsp. ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Salt
3/4 cup Butter, softened                   
1 cup granulated Sugar
1 cup packed Brown Sugar
1 13 0z. jar Nutella
2 Eggs1 tsp. Vanilla
1 cup chopped Hazelnuts (toasted and skinned)1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
5 oz. White Baking Chocolate, melted                                  
                
              
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat until all combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Add Nutella and vanilla and combine. Add eggs one a time, beating until combined.

Beat in as much of the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture as you can. Stir in any remaining flour mixture. Stir in chocolate pieces and hazelnuts.

Drop by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until edges are just set. Let cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Remove cookies onto wire racks and cool completely.

Drizzle melted white chocolate over cooled cookies. Let stand until set.
Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies.   

See more fun and interesting Nutella recipes at the Plain Chicken blog.               

Sketchbook Challenge - Doodling

I haven't written about the sketchbook challenge in the past few months but I have been following along - reading about it more than sketching though. I was glad to hear that the hosts decided to continue this challenge into 2012. January's theme was Doodling. What could be more fun - just play and make random unplanned marks on a page using any tool you like and see where it leads.

This last one was done using Jane Davies ink doodle technique. Drop ink on a page, lift and move the page around letting the ink draw the lines. Then when dry you can go back in and add some paint or pencil.