Sitting here doing my online Art homework
(that’s right, an online Art class. Okay it’s an Art history class but that’s still funny to think about) and thinking about how delish this cookie that I’m munching is and how I want to share the recipe with you while also trying to decide which painting of the “Sacrifice of Isaac” should have won the Bapistry Competition in the 15th century is…fun. I chose which one I thought was the best, what do you think?
 |
| Lorenzo Ghiberti’s “Sacrifice of Isaac” |
 |
| Filippo Brunelleschi’s “Sacrifice of Isaac” |
As I finished my discussion essay and hit the submit button, I thought of how baking is such an art. You have all these things that you work together to make delicious AND pleasing-to-the-eye goodies. Does that make me an artist? Well…yeesssh. I think my hodge podge cookies are pure art and wonderfullness so I am an artist of baking.
Remember the cookie I ate for part of my post-midnight run snack? That’s what I was munching on working on Art homework. 🙂
 |
| Perfect end to a perfect run |
Really, hodge podge cookies are not hard to make. All you need is a base recipe..a simple chocolate chip cookie base will suffice and here’s the fun part: you can put any number of delicious things in place of the chocolate chips! This is the one thing that seems to be safe in altering baking…the flair! (Don’t try to alter things like the flour, baking soda, sugar, number of eggs, etc too drastically because you may end up with a mess.)
I did an oatmeal cookie recipe because I was feelin the depth and texture that oats bring to cookies.
 |
| Scotches |
 |
| Almonds |
For these cookies I chose some butterscotch chips and almonds to throw in as the flair. I also decided to add a little protein powder. Protein powder is one of those tricky ingredients in baked goods that you don’t want to mess with too much, but I have safely and deliciously substituted 1/4 cup protein powder in place of the same amount of flour in cookies. They seem to bake about the same, but when you add more…a different texture arises so beware.
 |
| See…art! 😉 |
*Flair* possibilities:
- chocolate chunks
- Chocolate and Mint Chips
- nuts: almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, and more
- Roasted Sugar-covered Almonds from the Farmer’s Market
- craisins
- chocolate heath pieces (use less than a cup otherwise they stick to the bottom of the cookie sheet)
- m&ms
- butterscotch
- peanutbutter chips
- {insert creative flair here}
Did you decide who should win out of the two artists featured above?
Well the real winner was Lorenzo Ghiberi (the top panel) and he was actually the youngest of the artists to enter in the contest!
I liked his the best because I think the way he uses the hill to tell the story of Abraham leading his son to the top of mount Moriah to sacrifice him, was THIS CLOSE to killing Isaac, then the angel stops him and shows him a goat in the bushes he can sacrifice instead, was beautiful. {Oh and there’s a naked guy haha got my vote! ;-)} The winner got to have their bronze panel on the new door of Florence’s baptistery facing a very prominent church, The Florence Cathedral, where I am guessing thousands would see the work of art. Not too shabby…this would be the equivalent of advertising back in the day?
Do I sound intelligent in the ways of Art? I hope so! I have two more assignments I need to finish tonight before beddybye so off I go!
Have a blessed night all!
~Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut~
