rainy weekend afternoons

there's no point in going outside, when you could be baking cookies and watching movies.



so, the fred astaire indoctrination continues. when i was a kid i used to watch musicals with my dad, so it's a double dose of nostalgia. and i always wanted to learn to tap! no luck finding a teacher in my small town, though.

this afternoon we watched the 1935 classic top hat. this has always been one of my favourites, and i was really enjoying the gorgeous 1930s decor and gowns, especially as i nursed a bit of a hangover from going out the night before to a 1930s-themed party - finally, a chance to dig out my authentic silk chifoon 1930s gown! doesn't look like much on the hanger, but put it on and wow. i resisted the urge to wear my opera cloak and break out the austrian-made deco horn cigarette holder of the same era, for fear of damage. but the dress turned a lot of heads, and my hair thankfully cooperated.

but enough about that, back to top hat. there was much gorgeousness to behold, but i found myself more enticed by the costumes of matron madge than the more obviously showy dresses ginger rogers wore as dale tremont. specifically, what really caught my eye was this gorgeous backless satin number:




back to the cookies, i've had a hankering lately for my nemesis, the butterscotch chip. so i decided a batch of scotchies were in order, modified to accommodate the kiddo's oat allergy.



barley scotchies

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 1/2 cups toasted barley flakes (looks identical to rolled oats)

cream together the butter and sugars, beat in eggs and vanilla.

sift together next 4 ingredients. add to butter mixture in batches, mixing well.

stir in butterscotch chips and barley flakes.

drop by tablespoonsful on a cookie sheet covered with waxed paper. bake about 8 minutes at 375 f.



so lovely with a glass of milk. between the cookies and fred astaire, i could be a kid again.