Japan Time

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

I am, in fact, a cookie baking genius. Or I just have too much time on my hands. Either way...

It's Christmas time in Japan. The decorations are out, the stores are playing Christmas music, there are Christmas parties happening. And so, just like every year at this time, I feel the need to bake Christmas cookies. Namely, peanut butter cookies with Hershey's Kisses on top. My mom and I used to make them when I was a kid and it just wouldn't be Christmas without them.
Of course, with only a toaster oven, a microwave, and a burner in my apartment, the idea of baking cookies was a little daunting at first. But, with the translating help of my manager today on my break, I bought the necessary ingredients to make those peanut butter concoctions of goodness.

(crazy Japanese ingredients)

I didn't have any measuring cups, so I had to eyeball all the cups and teaspoons.

Here's the thing about my toaster oven. It doesn't even have temperature settings like American toaster ovens. There's just one temperature - 860 watts, whatever that means.

Since the whole thing is heated by a coil in the middle of the oven, the cookies were coming out a little...uneven, to say the least. So, I devised a plan to put the two rows of cookies on separate sheets of tinfoil. When one side was getting too done, I took them out, turned the tinfoil around so the not-done sides were facing the center, and put them back in the oven.

Okay, so even with the whole tinfoil turning stroke of genius, they definitely still aren't the best peanut butter cookies with Hershey's Kisses on top that I've ever made. But, I made them in a toaster oven, for goodness sake. Cut me some slack.

4 comments:

Kris Locker said...

they are beautiful i think :)

Wendy Min said...

AMAZING!! I almost flew to Japan today to get one!

You should write a book: 860 watt toaster oven cookbook.

Anonymous said...

I am impressed that you made cookies in your toaster oven! I have been thinking about trying to make them, but haven't actually tried. They looked great :)

I hope you enjoy your time in Japan, I work for the same conversation school in Takasaki. It does get easier, by the end of my third week I felt pretty comfortable. Have fun :)

Kori said...

Oh that's awesome! When we were living in Mississippi all we had was a toaster over and I made cakes in it, lol. I'm glad you're having at least a little fun.
:-) We miss you here.

Love,
Kori