Inexpensive Wifi Extender

If you're looking for a high intensity directional antaenna to get WiFi from point to point, the Directional Bi Quad at Seattle Wireless seems to be a great option. Easy to build, cheap, and made from materials already found in your home!

Directional Bi Quad

Potential Improvements

• Encase the thing in a tupperware to keep it rainproof.
• Print a mounting bracket so pointing isn't so difficult.

Cookies! - Maker Monday, Holiday Edition

For years my grandmother would make all of her children large tins of cookies for Christmas; before she moved and stopped making them, I made sure to get her recipes. The secret is either love, or butter, I'm still not entirely sure. What I am sure about is how well they can smooth over rough family situations:
 

Butter Cookies:

Bake Time	10 min / batch
Bake Temp	375°
Number	4 dozen (48)
Prep Time	15 min

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup (2 sticks) of Butter
• ½ Cup Sugar
• 2 Egg Yolks
• 2 Cups of Sifted Flour
• ½ Teaspoon Vanilla (or other flavoring of your choice)

Optional Ingredients:

• Food Coloring
• Cookie Sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F
2. Soften butter.
3. Cream together butter and sugar.
4. Add egg yolks, mixing well.
5. Gradually add flour, mixing after each addition.
6. Add flavoring and food coloring of your choice.
7. Follow one of the two methods below.

• Log Method
  • Divide in half.
  • Wrap in waxed paper.
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
  • Shape each half into 15-inch log; wrap in wax paper
  • Cut cookies off of log.
• Cookie Press
  • Use your cookie press normally.

8. Put dough on cookie sheet, around two inches apart.
9. Bake in oven for ten minutes or until lightly brown around edges.
10. Remove from baking sheet immediately.
11. Let cool on wire rack.

 

Grandmothers Oatmeal Cookies:

Bake Time	10 min / batch
Bake Temp	350°
Number	4 dozen (48)
Prep Time	30 min + 1 hour stand time

Ingredients:

• 3 Eggs
• 1 Cup Nuts
• 1 Cup Raisins
• 1 Tbsp. Vanilla
• 1 Cup Butter
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 Cup White Sugar
• 2 ½ Cup Flour
• 2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
• 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
• 2 Cups Quick Oatmeal

Directions:

1. Beat eggs.
2. Combine Eggs, Raisins and Vanilla, Let stand 1 hour.
3. Preheat Oven To 350°.
4. Cream Butter and sugar.
5. Add flour, baking soda, and cinnamon.
6. Stir in oatmeal, nuts, and raisins.
7. Roll into 1” balls, flatten slightly, then bake for around 10 min.
   
   

   Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies:

   Bake Time	12 min / batch
   Bake Temp	375°
   Number	4 dozen (48)
   Prep Time	15 min

   Ingredients:

8. 2 Cups of Sifted Flour
9. 1 Teaspoon Soda
10. 1 Teaspoon Salt
11. 1 ½ Teaspoons Cinnamon
12. 2 Cups of Quick Cooking Oatmeal
13. ½ Cups of Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
14. ½ Cup Granulated Sugar
15. 1 Cup Shortening (Room Temp)
16. 2 Eggs, Unbeaten
17. 1/3 Cup Milk (Sweet or Sour)
18. 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
19. 1 Cup raisins or dates
20. ¾ Cup chopped nuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Stir together, flour, soda, salt, cinnamon.
3. Add, oatmeal, sugar, brown sugar, shortening, eggs, milk, vanilla.
4. Beat on medium speed until blended (around 2 min).
5. Scrape bowl while beating.
6. Add raisins, and nuts.
7. Beat on low speed until blended.
8. Bake on greased sheet around two inches apart.
9. Cook for 12 minutes, or until browned.

Original Toll House Cookies:

Bake Time	10 min / batch
Bake Temp	375°
Number	7.5 Dozen
Prep Time	15 min

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Shortening
• ¾ Cup Granulated Sugar
• ¾ Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
• ½ Teaspoon Water
• 2 Eggs
• 2 ¼ Cups Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 12 Ounce Package Of Semi Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 Cup Chopped Nuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Combine shortening, sugar, vanilla, and water.
3. Beat until creamy.
4. Beat in egg.
5. Add all dry ingredients except nuts and chocolate, mix well.
6. Mix in chocolate chips and nuts at a lower speed.
7. Drop tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet.
8. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes.

Sugar Cookies:

Bake Time	8 -10 min / batch
Bake Temp	375°
Number	4 dozen (48)
Prep Time	15 min + refrigeration time

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 Cup Butter
• 1 Egg
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
• ½ Teaspoon Almond
• 2 ½ Cups Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Cream Of Tartar
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

Directions:

1. Cream together butter and sugar.
2. Add egg and flavoring.
3. Stir in dry ingredients.
4. Chill until workable.
5. Preheat oven to 375°.
6. Bake 8 – 10 minutes.