#MEwx warm, sunny a bit more muggy and Melting Moments cookies

Good morning Augusta

This morning we have sunny skies with  highs in the upper 70s with light and variable winds, becoming south around 10 mph this afternoon.

Tonight we'll have clear conditions with lows in the lower 50s. South winds around 10 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable.

The readings from my weather instruments are:

Our outdoor temperature is 63.3°F, the humidity is 82% and the dew point is 57.7°F.

The wind direction is West Northwest between 0.0 MPH and 0.2 MPH.

The Relative pressure is 30.36, the Absolute pressure is 30.16 and rising with a weather graphic indicating sun.

Visibility is 10.0 miles / 16.1 Kilometers with sunny skies.

The UV rating is  2 out of 16, The moon is 21.4% illuminated, the moon is waning crescent, Sunrise is 4:54 am↑ 55° Northeast, Sunset is 8:25 pm↑ 305° Northwest,

Moonrise is 2:25 am↑ 81° East, Moonset is 3:49 pm↑ 283° West and we'll have 15 hours 31 minutes of daylight today.  

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

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.