Good moring, GUSdarlings. This diary will be a rambling mess and lacking any humour. Like many here, I've been following the compounded tragedy in Ferguson, MO. For the first time in 2 1/2 years I thought about having a cigarette. The thought was momentary and passed but I wondered why. I've read about other horrifying things and not wanted to light up.
Then I thought about the fact that I am completely detached by miles from Ferguson; also by race of most of the residents. I don't live a day to day fear of my child leaving the house and not returning. I don't experience the terror of being picked up for nothing and having the crap beaten out of me and thrown into a cell until someone can come up with enough money to bail me out.
If I lived that life, I'd smoke every day -- all day -- because why not? I looked up the statistics for African Americans who smoke. The American Lung Association has some info from 2008 -- 12% of all smokers are African American. They are also the community most targeted by the frigging tobacco industry especially as to mentholated cigarettes.
Every single one of us who have quit, are trying to quit or want to quit know the temporary anxiety fix a cigarette offers. We have the benefit of a support group here -- a community which never makes judgments. I don't know what I'd do if I lived in a community where only judgments are made -- from the inside and outside.
I don't know why I'm writing this GUS diary in this manner, but I feel very sad for so many people who just need to know they are worthy of respect. And when you feel worthy of respect, you respect how you live your life -- your relief from anxiety or sources of pleasure won't make you sick.
Peace and blessings for the citizens of Ferguson which is basically everywhere USA. Peace and blessings for our brother Michael, his family and friends.
GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or thinking of quitting, please -- join us! We kindly ask that politics be left out.
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Pierre Hermé & Dorie Greenspan's World Peace Cookies
1 1/4 cup (175 grams) all-purpose flour (see note)
1/3 cup (30 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder (see note)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons (150 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cups (120 grams) packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon fleur del sel or 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
5 ounces (150 grams) bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chips (no pieces larger than 1/3 inch), or a generous 3/4 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips
Note: If measuring by volume, it's important to measure the flour and cocoa lightly, as follows: stir flour briefly in the container or bag, spoon into the measuring cup until it's heaped above the rim, then level it with a straight-edged knife or spatula. If you dip the measuring cup into the container, you'll have more flour and cocoa and a drier, crumblier, more difficult dough.
Sift the flour, cocoa and baking soda together.
Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy.
Add both sugars, the salt and vanilla extract and beat for 2 minutes more.
Turn off the mixer. Pour in the dry ingredients, drape a kitchen towel over the stand mixer to protect yourself and your kitchen from flying flour and pulse the mixer at low speed about 5 times, a second or two each time.
Take a peek — if there is still a lot of flour on the surface of the dough, pulse a couple of times more; if not, remove the towel.
Continuing at low speed, mix for about 30 seconds more, just until the flour disappears into the dough — for the best texture, work the dough as little as possible once the flour is added, and don't be concerned if the dough looks a little crumbly.
Toss in the chocolate pieces and mix only to incorporate.
Turn the dough out onto a work surface, gather it together and divide it in half.
Working with one half at a time, shape the dough into logs that are 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 3 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
If you've frozen the dough, you needn't defrost it before baking — just slice the logs into cookies and bake the cookies 1 minute longer.)
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 °F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. Using a sharp thin knife, slice the logs into rounds that are 1/2 inch thick. (The rounds are likely to crack as you're cutting them — don't be concerned, just squeeze the bits back onto each cookie.)
Arrange the rounds on the baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 12 minutes — they won't look done, nor will they be firm, but that's just the way they should be.
Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies rest until they are only just warm, at which point you can serve them or let them reach room temperature.
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