#MEwx Cool temps, cloudy, breezy and Chocolate-dipped "S" cookies

Good morning Augusta.

This morning we have mostly cloudy skies, becoming partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Winds are north 10 to 15 mph gusting to 25 mph.

Tonight we'll have partly cloudy conditions, becoming mostly clear. Chance of frost in sheltered locations after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s with north winds around 10 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable.

The wind direction is East Southeast between 3.2 MPH and 7.4 MPH.

The Relative pressure is 29.92, the Absolute pressure is 29.72 and rising with a weather graphic indicating clouds and sun.

We received 0.03 inches of measurable rain here over the past 24 hours.

our outdoor temperature is 43.7°F, the humidity is  72% and the dew point is 34.2°F.

Visibility is 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers with some blowing leaves.

The UV rating is 0 out of 16, the moon is 53.6% illuminated, the moon phase is in its third quarter, sunrise is  7:11 am↑ 108° East, Sunset is 5:33 pm↑ 252° West, Moonrise is 11:26 pm↑ 58° Northeast, Moonset is 2:23 pm↑ 304° Northwest and we'll have 10 hours 23

Minutes of daylight today.

 

Let's shift back to cookies.

 

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED "S" COOKIES

Serves:  36 cookies

1 cup butter or margarine (1 cup reduced calorie butter)

¼ to ½ cup sugar (¼ to ½ cup Splenda)

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. almond extract or 2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups sifted flour

2 cups finely chopped or ground walnuts or other nuts—small Cuisinart is good for this

To dip: 

2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces

¼ cup milk

Optional dippings mounds

Chocolate or colored sprinkles

Shredded coconut

Red and green sugars

 

• Mix 1 cup butter with ¼ cup to ½ cup sugar.
• Add ½ tsp. salt, 2 tsp. vanilla, 2 cups flour and 2 cups finely chopped walnuts.  Mix well.
• Chill dough until easy to handle.  Heat oven to 350.
• With fingers shape dough into "S" shapes or balls.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until light brown.  Cool on wire rack.
• For dipping:  melt 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate pieces over hot water.  Add ¼ cup of milk.  Beat smooth.
• Prepare little mounds of "dippings"---chocolate or colored sprinkles, shredded coconut, red and green sugars, etc.
• Dip ends or sides of cookies in chocolate and then in mounds you have prepared.
• Place on wax paper to dry.

 

Exchanges:  1 carbohydrate, ½ lean meat, 2½ fat

Calories:  185; fat:  14 g; protein:  4 g; carbohydrates:  13 g; fiber:  1 g; cholesterol:  21 mg; sodium:  123 mg

 

For healthier version item in parenthesis are substitutions.

Exchanges:  ½ carbohydrate, ½ meat, 1 fat

Calories:  101; fat:  6 g; protein 4 g; carbohydrate:  9 g; fiber:  1 g; cholesterol:  0 mg; sodium:  45 mg