Cold, clear and Melting moments cookies`

Good Morning Augusta

This morning we have a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 21°F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight we'll have partly cloudy skies with increasing clouds overnight. Low 7°F. Winds will be light and variable.

The readings from my weather instruments are:

Humidity is 37%, the Dew Point is -8.0ºF and the outdoor temp is ºF.

The wind direction is  West Northwest Northwest between 1.8 MPH and 4.9 MPH, with a wind chill of 13.5°F.

The Relative pressure is 29.91, the Absolute pressure is 29.71 and rising with a weather graphic indicating sun.

The UV rating is 1 out of 16, Sunrise is 7:11 a.m. Sunset is 4:02 p.m., Moonrise is 9:23 a.m., Moonset is 7:17 p.m. and the moon phase is Waxing Crescent being 9% illuminated.

The RAW METAR readings from the city of Augusta's airport are:

METAR KAUG 211153Z AUTO 31010G20KT 10SM CLR M10/M17 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP185 T11001172 11067 21106 53027

Visibility is 10.0 Miles / 16.1 kilometers with

We didn't receive any additional snow here over the past 24 hours.

Space Weather for this morning is:

Today's Solar flux is 72, the solar wind speed is 379 Kilometers per second and the chance of a solar storm is 1%.

AS Xmas draws closer you need at least one run-of-the-mill cookie recipe.

MELTING MOMENTS

¾ cup brown sugar

1 cup shortening

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

½ tsp. salt

2 cups sifted flour

1 tsp. cream of tartar

½ tsp. soda

Preheat oven to 350⁰.

Cream sugar and shortening; add vanilla and egg and mix well.

Add dry ingredients and mix well.

Drop cookies onto baking sheet using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon.

Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.  They'll feel crisp to the touch when done.

Variations:

·         Add mini chips, chopped dark chocolate, and/or nuts. 

·         Bake in mini muffin cups and press in Snickers Bites after baking.  Cool in pans.

·         Add zest and juice of 1 lemon and ¼ tsp. lemon extract instead of vanilla.  Mini chocolate chips enhance the lemon flavor.

·         Use half shortening and half butter/margarine.  They won't be as crisp but they'll still be a great cookie.

·         If you don't have an egg, don't worry; they'll be okay without it.