Scullery Wench! She's like a botte of Rum.....

Something strange has happened. I made oatmeal raisin bars last night. Because some of my previous bakeries-things have been a touch too sweet for some palates, I was very withholding with the sugar. I displayed admirable feats of restraint. Thus this morning, I was very excited to taste them. Early, early in the wee hours of dawn, before the sunlight breached the earth's horizon, I slithered into the room where the trays of oatmeal alcohol raisin were cooling from last night, while carrying a huge knife. Knowing my tract record with being clumsy, it might not have been such a wise idea looking back. Luckily nothing happened. No slips of the wrist. I still have all of my fingers and toes.

From tray 1, the one with the darker finish on the baking tray, the oatmeal bars were good, but just a little not sweet enough. I ate a corner piece so it might have gone unattended to when the raisins were being rationed out to all the nooks and crannies. But my final analysis determined that it was just a little too healthy tasting. From Tray 2, which has a shiny metallic finish and is much more worn (loved), it was perfectly perfect in sweetness, raisin-ness, that touch of booze, that scent of cinnamon. The batter for both trays came from the exact same mixer bowl. I made one batch and divided it into 2. After spreading the batter to the edges of the tray, I sprinkled a little more brown sugar on top, for a bit of crunch and just in case it wasn't sweet enough on the inside.

So how did this happen? How did I end up with two completely different tasting trays from one batch of oatmeal cookie batter? Was it the magic oven that somehow transmorgraphied something? I'm hoping it was just the edge bits and that it will all become the same happy, booze-induced cookie-bar in the middle. We'll find out this afternoon. The trays are still sitting and waiting for my attention. But first, since it's nearly 8am, I've got a lecture to not pay attention to.

Good morning, my little scullery wench (name of oatmeal cookie). Have you scrubbed the galley and tied down the hatches? Arrrrrgh!