When we moved back to Colorado, almost 3 years ago now, it was a hurried, stressful move. My husband’s work wanted him to relocate to Denver but wouldn’t hurry up and give us any information whether the relocation was approved or not. So there I was frustrated and anxious about whether I was supposed to pack up a 5 bedroom house or not.
Finally the word trickled down from the upper management and everything was a go, but they wanted him there the following week! I was in meltdown mode at that point. We had a week to find a place in Denver, rush back to Houston and pack up the house, find time to shock the family with the move, drive two cars up to Denver plus the moving truck. Thinking back on it now, I just don’t know where I found the energy. I single handedly packed up my house because my husband was in Denver and only flew down for two days to load the truck and drive it up.
We sold our house in Houston, a house where I had picked out everything and had my granite kitchen island, my fancy back splash and pendant lights, where I had rooms for everyone and everything; I packed it up in 5 days and left.
We ended up stumbling across this home we’re in now, quite by accident. We had less than a week to find a place to live. My husband and I had driven up in my car to find a place to live and for him to start work. We had a hopeless time of it, no one called us back and the rental homes we did see were just awful. At this point, I was totally discouraged and was questioning and second guessing this move.
We happened across this house and though it was in a state, it had the rooms we needed. The landlord informed us that the tenants had left in the middle of the night and broken the lease. Apparently, these ne’er do wells, were growing marijuana in the basement and a few days before, the police had raided the place. When we saw the house, the windows were broken, doors off the hinges and lots of happy leaves on the basement floor (plants however were all gone). Even though the house was in a terrible state, the landlord assured us that he could have it ready by the time we moved up, and after I saw the view of the mountains from the master bedroom balcony, I was sold.
We had promised ourselves that we wouldn’t move again until we were ready to buy again and we don’t want to buy quite yet. Of course, the landlords want to sell the house. So, guess what we are doing next week? I am not looking forward to it. I just hate packing and moving and unpacking and trying to settle in again, it’s all such a headache. To make matters worse, the house we are moving into has a very small kitchen :(. I had to sacrifice my kitchen to get more living areas.
I am quite sure I will be MIA for a few days until I get my internet going and such, but please think of me and send me some happy thoughts! I am so going to need them.
What I will also need, are a lot of sweet things to get me through the stress. Things like these delicious, brown butter, white chocolate and pecan cookies, that I made a couple of weeks ago. I find that I don’t bake many cookies because I am always baking something else, but I do like cookies, especially with a cappuccino or latte. The children were asking for cookies so I made some time to bake some for them. Of course, I had to experiment a bit and this experiment turned out so well! The cookies had an amazing toffee, butterscotch-y taste and the white chocolate added just the right amount of sweetness. They were quite lovely and lasted a day at our house!
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 30-36 cookies
- 2¼ cups/350g plain/all purpose flour
- ¾ cup/165g granulated sugar
- ¾ cup/170g brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups/340g white chocolate chips
- 1 cup/100g chopped pecans
- 2 sticks/227g butter
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preheat the oven to 375℉/190℃ (if baking right away)
- Line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper or liners and set aside.
- To make the brown butter, place the butter in a small stainless steel saucepan and put on low heat.
- Slowly melt the butter and allow it to cook further until the butter solids are turning golden brown.
- Be careful because if you raise the heat too much, the butter can burn suddenly.
- Once the butter is nicely brown and fragrant, set aside to cool.
- Mix the flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl.
- In a mixer or with a hand mixer, beat the eggs until pale and thick.
- Add the sugars and beat until combined, pale and thick.
- Add the vanilla extract.
- Add the flour mixture and mix gently.
- Add the browned butter (I didn't strain the milk solids, they add a nice toffee taste) and mix through.
- Add the pecan pieces and white chocolate chips and fold through until evenly distributed.
- Chill in the fridge for about 10 minutes, at least.
- Using a cookie scoop, scoop out the cookie dough and place on the prepared baking sheets.
- Allow for room to spread, about 2"/5 cm apart.
- Bake in the centre of the oven for 11-13 minutes, until golden around the edges.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then remove from the baking sheet onto a rack to cool.
As we are talking about cookies today, I want to take a moment and tell you about a wonderful coffee festival going on in the UK. Of course, this will be for my UK readers, but if any of you are visiting the UK this summer maybe you can swing by and check it out. The good folks organising the festival asked me include a link for their site and I said since it’s about coffee, and I LOVE coffee, that I would give them a shout out.
The Chorlton Coffee Festival is taking place in Chorlton (NW UK) June 28th-30th. Check out their website for more information.
Have a great week everyone. I hope to keep in touch in the coming weeks, just wish me luck.
Oh wow… I would be terrified to move in less then a week. How did you do that? It must have been so difficult and now you are moving again! I hope everything goes well and you ll get to love the new place. So sorry to hear that your kitchen will be smaller. Hey don’t worry as long as you have an oven and something to bake such as these brown butter choco pecan cookies you ll be fine. All the best!
We moved a while ago, and have settled in now. Took some time and long, tiring days but its done. Thanks for the well wishes!
Good luck with the move. I think that if you pack enough of these awesome cookies, the effort will not be as much! Brown butter does wonders!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes recently posted..Mozzarella and Pesto Grilled Naan Bread #TwelveLoaves
Thanks Paula. I’ve been settled for a while now but still finding things to do.
This looks so pretty and appetizing! Love the colors!! Great summer food right here
Thanks! They were delicious!
Best of luck with your move Nazneen
The cookies look great…brown butter is new to me, need to find out more about it
Suchi recently posted..Meeting Gordon Ramsay at Royal Doulton’s Pre-Launch Event At Bread Street Kitchen
Thanks Suchi, I’ve moved now and settled in already!
I totally feel your pain! I hate moving. I used to move almost every year when I was in college and at the beginning of my career. Wish you a smooth packing and moving. I’m sure these tasty Brown Butter White chocolate and pecan cookies will keep you energized for a while. I can’t wait to try them. I know my kiddos will love them. Thanks for sharing.
Amy Tong recently posted..How to Make Azuki (Red Bean) Paste (自家製紅豆沙餡料)
I hope the moving goes okay for you dear – its always such a stressful situation. Sending you positive thoughts and hope the cookies are taking care of some of the stress
dixya| food, pleasure, and health recently posted..Marvelous Life #MIMM
Moving from one house to another is a hassle and you certainly need sweet things to get through. I wonder how you found time to post soba noodles. But anyway don’t worry take your time to unpack and I’ll be in touch.
The cookies look super delicious. Did you say, brown butter? Never tried but I can almost taste the white chocolate chips and pecans after looking at the picture.
Balvinder recently posted..Shahi Paneer
I got tired of packing Bal!! I wanted a break so I wrote a few lines. The recipe is easy so it didn’t take long to type up. Brown butter is wonderful! Lovely toasty buttery flavour.
Just perfect. I absolutely love browned butter!
Miss Messy recently posted..Vanilla Chai Tea Cake
Thank you Miss Messy!
ooh these sound amazing! i love cookies so i will be making these this weekend!
milkteaxx recently posted..peanut butter choc chip cookies!
Thanks milktea, hope you like them!
Nazeen, I feel for you and am sorry you have to move again. However you are a super women and did it in record time last time so you are a pro. I hope you made a double batch of these cookies as they are delightful and will be a great stress buster to help you through the packing process. Take Care of yourself and don’t let the small stuff get you stressed as it is all small stuff. Take care, BAM
Bam’s Kitchen recently posted..Veggies in a Blanket with Red Pepper Pesto
Thanks Bobbi, your encouragement means a lot! I am lucky to have such wonderful friends xx
Oh these are beautiful cookies Nazneen! And I hope they will bring you comfort during this stressful time. I think moving is one of the most stressful and emotional upheavals that can happen. But you will get through it. I will be thinking of you and wishing you the best of luck with it all! And can’t wait to see you back online! (Sending a big hug your way!)
Anne@FromMySweetHeart recently posted..Guilty?
Thanks Anne. Keep sending happy thoughts and I can get through this!
I’ve had my share of moving so I can understand what you are going through. Good luck, hang in there and have these cookies for some consolation.
Yummy!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com recently posted..Methi Malai Chicken
Thanks Kiran! Your support helps a lot!
These cookies look irresistible, Nazneen! I love the flavor, and here in Texas, pecans are easy to come by and I love to bake with them often. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Georgia! Yes, pecans are abundant in Texas. Thank you for stopping by!
I could sell my soul to get those whitish, buttery, pecan-y cookies
Next time you move, buzz me. I’d help you with whatever you need. Just make a jar full of those adorable cookies 
nusrat2010 recently posted..Shrimp Malaikari (Shrimp in Creamy Coconut Gravy)
Thanks Nusrat! I’ll keep that in mind!
Moving is such a pain! A few years ago we moved three times in a bit over 2 years, one of the moves long distance. It’s going to be awhile before we move again! It takes me almost an entire day to pack the kitchen stuff alone (we have a lot). Anyway, definitely stock up on great cookies like this – you’ll need the treats! Good luck with your move.
john@kitchenriffs recently posted..Oven Slow-Cooked BBQ Spare Ribs
Thank you John. Everybody’s stories of moving are helping me a lot. It’s hard to pack up and move even just across the way.
Nothing like COOKIES to break the stress…happy belated cookieday! =)
The Squishy Monster recently posted..Dinner Challenge
Thanks Angela! I will need a lot of cookies!
I’m so sorry to hear of your moving dramas, Nazneen. We moved in March and I am still unpacking and trying to find a place for everything. It certainly is an exhausting and stressful time. I wish you well and hope the move goes as smoothly as possible xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted..The Oriental Hotel, Springwood
Thanks Charlie! Everyone’s wonderful words are helping me get through this xx
Nazneen, these look lovely! I hear you on hating to move. I have had to move from apartment to apartment a lot, and it really is no fun! I hope that your move is not too stressful and you are able to settle into your new place quickly!
Sarah @ SimplyScrumptiousBySarah recently posted..Eggs with Collards
Thank you Sarah! Your support means a lot!
Holy smokes! My hubby and his buddy can help. XXOO
I’ll talk to you soon Mariyam. Thanks.
Good luck my friend, I cannot say I have much experience but it is naturally a huge job with many challenges!
These cookies look perfect for giving you the strength you need!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..Time To Get Beautiful!
Thank you Uru. Your lovely words help a lot.
You have my sympathy, Nazneen. Moving, whether across the street or country, is never easy, especially when it’s not your decision. I hope you’ve made plenty of cookies to help you get through the next few weeks. I bet these tasty treats would do nicely. I’ll be sending positive thoughts your way, hoping this move is as smooth as a move can be. Good luck!
ChgoJohn recently posted..Where East Meets West: Wonton Wrapper Pastas
Thank you so much John. All these wonderful comments from my friends have really helped me feel more positive. I think I can do this.
Nazneen, my friend! I wish I would not live so far from you so I could help you to pack/unpack. I am so sorry that you have to go through this again. I’ll be praying for a smooth transition (as smooth as possible). The cookies sound delicious…My family and I would be happy to have a stack of them .
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You recently posted..Piña Colada Cheesecake Smoothie (Vitamina de Abacaxi com Coco)
Thank you Denise! Prayers would be very helpful indeed. I just want to get it done and get on with it. It’s so frustrating! Send me happy thoughts!
I moved 9 times in 6 years before moving into this house, so totally understand how hectic it can be. I hope it happens smoothly this time for you. I wish I could help you out packing or moving.
These cookies sound incredible and hopefully get you through
Sending happy thoughts.
Lail | With A Spin recently posted..Frittata Di Spaghetti – Spaghetti Frittata
Ugh…that sounds like us! Thank you for your offer and I wish all my friends were around, not to help pack or unpack, but to cook me delicious foods that they all post! Thanks Lail!
Oh Nazneen!!! I totally empathize with your predicament. Moving the family, even locally, is never happy. We have moved more time than I have lines on my fingers, and every move has taken a toll in some way. Possibly the most on my eldest son. It’s always hard. I am sorry that you have to go through this rigmarole all over again, that too at the cost of something which is so important to you. Good luck with everything, and hopefully you find a dream house soon enough to call your own. The cookies look delicious. I’ll miss you, but will look forward to see you again.
Minnie@thelady8home recently posted..2 Minutes eggless cupcakes – super moist and delicious.
Thank you Minnie! I am so glad that I am not alone in this and that most of friends have experienced it too. It helps! I hope to be back soon!
I know the feeling, we’ve moved quite a lot too! Good luck with it, pack lots of cookies! The title of the post speaks for itself, I think, what a combination!
LinsFood recently posted..Pesto Panna Cotta
Thanks Lin! I will need a lot of carbs to get me through!
Oh, no! So sorry to hear that you have to move again. One of the things I detest most in the world is moving. . . I’ve moved 5 times in 8 years … and have another move coming up in exactly a year… Wishing you lots of courage! Sweet, indulgent carbs are a must under these circumstances. Your cookies look great!
Needful Things recently posted..Masala Chai for Needy People
I absolutely agree!! Just send me happy thoughts, I will survive!