Do you have food in your blackberry??

I resisted the urge to get my blackberry for a long time. I didn't want to be that in touch with my world.....it's overwhelming enough as it is! But, I succumbed to the peer pressure of the wireless sales guy, and got a lovely new shiny blackberry a few months ago.

This blackberry has changed my life...although I'm not sure if it's for the better. I can receive email (check), message with my best friends who are miles away (check), and manage my work and personal calendars which are synced to this little black device (check). I've even gone so far as to put my meal plan each week into the blackberry - lest I forget what I was making for supper when I finally find my way back to my kitchen.

The blackberry recently has been used on drink nights for S and the neighbor husband to coerce me into making their favourite cookie. These 2 grown men would be more than happy if this was the only morsel of baking to come out of my kitchen....EVER. When I say I'm going to bake one or the other is hounding me for peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. If one happens to be out of hearing range for the conversation, the other one chimes in with lots of encouragement that it be THAT cookie day. Finally we came to an agreement...that cookie will be made every 6 weeks (this is not that week). But, next week is, so I'm bound to have some very happy people around my oven.

The point of this is today I felt like being lazy. Super lazy....think not moving from the couch because it's rainy and I'm reading the new Dan Brown book (loving it!). I was all settled in.....cup of lemon tea, blanket, music in the background, book open on my lap.....and then I felt it. That little tingly vibration from deep in my pants pocket. OK....normally any time my pants are vibrating I'm happy to find out why. Oh who am I kidding, I'm happy to let them vibrate! But, I dutifully pulled the blackberry out to see this reminder pop up:

"CINNAMON BUN COOKIES"

Ah yes, I was going to bake a cookie that was fated apparently. Not only did I come across them in a Taste of Home magazine, but also at Stick To Your Hips blog the same week. But...meh...I'll hit cancel and delete the reminder...I mean, it's nice to be lazy.

And then 15 minutes later, another vibration and another reminder for these damn cookies. I must have had it in two different calendars and two different times for this stupid little device to be taunting me and throwing my laziness right back in my face.

And you know what? I caved. I hauled my ass off the couch and peer pressure from the blackberry made me make the most delicious cookie I've tried in a long time. And you know what??? They were damn easy. The pastry is almost like a pie crust. Butter, cream cheese, vanilla, salt and flour. Mix it all up and into the fridge for an hour. Spread the sugar and cinnamon mixture on after rolling the dough out, roll up and refrigerate for another half an hour. Slice and bake. Pre-baking I was kind of just annoyed that I had allowed my lazy day to be interrupted.


Post baking I was in love. The dough is flaky and tender. I'm contemplating trying this out in an apple pie recipe next week! The cinnamon/sugar combo......exactly as you would expect it. Delicious, light and sweet, these cookies are going to be made often!

And people say peer pressure is bad!

Cinnamon Bun Cookies
adapted from Taste of Home

1 cup butter, softened
One 8-ounce pkg cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

In a large bowl beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until fluffy. Combine the flour and salt and gradually beat it into the butter mixture.

Divide dough in two and wrap each tightly in plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour. Combine cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a rectangle - about 1/4 inch thick. Spread the sugar mixture to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Roll up tightly - starting at either the short or long edge. (Starting at the short edge will give you a fatter log, and bigger cookies.) Wrap log tightly and chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Slice logs into 3/8 inch slices and place two inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack