Fork and Beans

Making food fun for the family

Brooke’s Russian Tea Cookies

by

Fork and Beans virtual Advent calendar:

Being injured depresses me.

This wrist issue has really thrown a wrench into my plans.

Being hopped up on pain meds has left me unable to think clearly,

not to mention that my plan to make all of my Christmas gifts

has gone straight down the drain this year.

I hate it when things don’t go as expected!

Maybe if I sing a little bit, it will cheer me up:

Bummer.

It didn’t work as I had expected.

Today I am feeling more quiet than usual.

I have been sitting here at the computer for what seems like hours,

trying to figure out what to say only to find that my mind is blank.

Blank.

How do I have nothing to write about?

I even fell back asleep while trying to draw something out of me.

Anything.

Apparently, I bored myself.

So I’m not even going to fight it today

and just go straight to the recipe.

And since I know that all of you are just the greatest,

you will understand and let it slide just for today…

Make sure to check out Brooke’s original and gluten-filled version!

These cookies are a delight.

I love the process of making the tea-infused butter

and the way that it slightly flavors the overall taste.

I topped mine with a bit of powdered sugar

just because I am fancy like that.

About Cara

Based in Chicago with her husband and son, Cara is the creator behind the site Fork and Beans: A place where kids can have fun with their food.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mia

    Hi there!

    I just tried making these cookies and they taste amazing! Unfortunately though, for some reason mine hardly flattened at all. My balls were all about 1/5 an inch to 1 inch big. The oven was definitely at the right temperature. But after 10 mins they were still very round and hardly browned :s I flattened them a little and let them bake a few more minutes. Of course after I finally took them out and let them cool they were a bit dry 🙁 Help!

      • Cara

        Arg Mia, I made these 2 years ago and it was a remake of someone else’s recipe so I am drawing a blank here on what I did. Something tells me that I must have flattened them out as well. I’m not sure though. Maybe next time try not rolling them into balls but just spooning them onto the sheet? See if that works and let me know! Sorry–I wish I was more helpful 🙁

  3. GiGi

    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Oh Cara, did you write something. Injuries and all, this is still a very pretty post. I am saying affirmations for you….and as always sending you healing vibes. xo Injuries suck.

  4. Richa@HobbyandMore

    hang in there.. cant imagine how it must be with the pain..
    Take good care of your wrist. and yeah chick flicks or cuddly puppy movies.
    i like the idea of tea infused cookies… yumm!

  5. naturalnoshing

    Hang in there Cara! No need to apologize love, you don’t have to be chatty today if you don’t feel like it. Sounds like you need a big (gentle) hug and some time just to be, or maybe a chick-flik, biscotti and some good coffee? 🙂 how sweet are you to post a recipe even when you don’t feel like it?!? I know the feeling but you are fabulous my dear, don’t let it get to you – I hope your wrist heals soon and that you feel much better asap!!!!

    • Cara

      I think I accomplished all 3 on your list today…and wouldn’t you know it, it really DID work 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement, my favorite Nora.

  6. Alicia

    Sorry to hear about your wrist, I hope you’ll feel better soon! Gosh, I just love simple, delicious cookies like these. I also like how the butter is infused with the tea; very cool!

    • Cara

      I thought the butter/tea infusion was a fantastic idea, as well. Brooke knows what she is doing 🙂 Thank you so much for the well wishes, Alicia–I really appreciate it.

          • Katharina

            That´s cute :3 I can list some things, that “influenced” me : the song “Moskau” by “Rammstein” (for further information just type it in Youtube ^^), a presentation about Russian movie-history I had to elaborate and give at school, the book I found someday and already told you about, … Russia just fascinates me 🙂 Are there some locations you’re really into ? (if that is a correct english sentence ^^)

          • Cara

            Eek! I forgot to respond to this–I’m so sorry! England was the country that I had an affinity towards and so when I visited about 8 years ago, it only solidified why I dreamt of the place prior to visiting. That’s about it. Now I just daydream about a city in California that I one day wanna live 🙂 I get it though–there are just some things that you cannot explain. They just call to you in your sleep 🙂

  8. Brooke

    I’m sorry you wounded your hand and broke your mind… =( Pain meds make me pretty spacy, too. I hope you are feeling more yourself very, very soon!

    • Cara

      Meh. Thank you. Today I am going to officially stop feeling sorry for myself. No more of this, “Why am I always getting hurt?/Why me?” b.s. Time for shopping! That will cheer anyone right up 🙂

  9. Kelly C

    Hi Cara! Sorry to hear about your wrist! When I was young I sprained my ankles all the time and had crutches alot so I feel for you. It definitely slows you down! I’m impressed you even made the cookies, that’s dedication to your blog! I don’t know if you read Ricki Heller’s blog but she just posted the other day about her bone density scan and improving her numbers, thought it might interest you since you were saying you we’re told you were pre-osteoporosis. http://www.dietdessertndogs.com/2011/12/05/two-announcements-an-update-and-a-question-for-you/ hopefully it can hlp and get you out of the bubble wrap! Dont be afraid to take a break! I swear we will all be fine and love you even more when you come back!

    • Cara

      Thank you for linking up the post here! Someone was just telling me about that yesterday too but I totally forgot to check. You are wonderful! Thank you for your sweet and thoughtful words. xo.
      P.S. Why were getting sprained ankles all of the time as a kid, if you don’t mind me asking?

      • Kelly C

        Because I’m a total clutz! Haha! I fell when I was young, they said it was just a sprain and didn’t cast it. Turns out I really did break it, it’s really hard to tell on kid xrays apparently. So because it never set right there is a little fragment of bone floating in there and it’s also more susceptible to breaking. One time, no joke, I fell up a flight of stairs. Next one I got fell on in gym class and the last time I slipped on some ice. I’m probably just asking for it now but it hasn’t happened in a while. I do have my own removable boot cast downstairs and had crutches too since it kept happening.

        • Cara

          Oh Kelly, you and I sound like we were made for each other! I have a boot cast and crutches in storage as well…just in case 🙂 I am a total clutz too and the fact that there is another person just like me makes me so happy! TWINS.

  11. Laurel

    Tea infused Russian Tea cookies – really interesting. And you missy don’t need to be chatty when you’re in pain. As much as we’d miss you, you could even take a day or two off. We just want you to feel better. Paraphrasing from the Alchemist “Don’t explain. Your friends will understand and no one else will believe you anyway.” xoxo

    • Cara

      A day off? NEVER! haha. Okay, that is a bit absurd. Believe it or not, this is what keeps me going some days. It keeps me pre-occupied and takes my mind off of things. I love it too much to take a break…yet. Come next week, well, I am sure that will be a different story 🙂 Love the quote, by the way.

    • Cara

      Man, this is the great part about having a blog. On “off” days, all these great people like yourself have such the kindest words towards me. Thank you, Caitlin.

      • Caitlin

        you are such a sweetheart, cara. and we all care about you 😉 you’re so welcome and your blog is such a positive place to visit 😉

        • Cara

          Man, I don’t even know what to say to that other than THANK YOU. You have no idea how your words just brightened my day 🙂

  13. coldandsleepy

    Mmmm… tea-infused cookies. Those sound so good.

    And I hear you about the brain blanking. It happens sometimes. It’s hard to blog when you’re not feeling it but know that you’ve brightened up at least one day (mine!) by posting anyway. 😀

  14. Nobody

    Hi Cara… i really wanted to e-mail you, but couldn’t find an e-mail address on your page. i’m also subscribed to a blog called Crackers on the Couch…. what’s the deal between you and her? i’m just curious, because you two always post the same recipe- just one vegan, and one not. forgive me if i’m making some sort of bloggy faux-pas, and feel free to delete this comment, i was just curious.

    • Cara

      Hi nobody! Ah yes, I have been a bit lazy about explaining this in every post so I can totally see how this might be confusing. Brooke (Crackers on the Couch) had this fabulous idea to do “The 12 Days of Christmas Cookies” where she is showcasing 12 of her top cookie recipes. She knew that she has a lot of gluten free readers (and some vegetarian) and so she wanted me to post alongside with her with my converted versions. I loved the idea so much because who doesn’t want more cookies in their life?? ha. Definitely not a faux pas by any means–a totally logical question!
      P.S. If you ever want to email me, you can do so at myforkandbeans@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you at any point!

      • Nobody

        OH! sorry. 🙂 i’m very absent minded and tend to forget things, so when you mentioned it earlier, it completely slipped my mind. (as a matter of fact, i’m probably following her blog because you posted a link to it!) *headdesk* thanks for the explanation. of course, i WAS hoping for something more dramatic, like a split personality or something…

  15. Jacqui

    I am so sorry about your wrist, Cara. Please take care of yourself.. and don’t worry about being “chatty”. ((HUGS)) BTW.. the cookies look yummy!

    • Cara

      Thank you Jacqui! I really appreciate that–hugs right back to you. Besides, the cookies speak for themselves don’t they? 🙂

    • Cara

      Thank you, Cara! Don’t you just hate when you feel restricted by an injury? I at least have good access to the majority of my hand, however it just bothers me when I am slowed down, however. Thank you so much for your encouragement. You have no idea how much it means to me! xo

      • think.care.act-Cara

        I know. I had a similar experience right before my final exams. But sometimes this might also be a chance to allow oneself to rest a little, especially before Christmas when everyone seems to freak out!

        • Cara

          You know, that’s funny you say that because when it happens (which as I have said it happens often), I always think how this is a good excuse to slow down and take it easy.
          I like you, Cara–so glad that we found each other through VeganMoFo!

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