No Fuss, no muss

I stuck to my plan to a T (almost).  I didn't bake more than 1 batch a day (technically), I didn't bake on the weekdays (pretty much) and I didn't have a melt down (just my body melted down instead of my sanity).  9 batches a holiday season might be the right number.  You can ask Mike, but I think I did pretty well.

1st Weekend of Christmas (Dec. 6-8)
#123 Cherry Chocolate Nut Cookies
A soft chocolate chip cookie with cherries in it.  This cookie isn't supposed to be red, however  I didn't drain the cherries well enough, so it came out with a festive red tint to it.  This cookie was hit and miss. It was bland to me, but to some, it was their first choice out of all the cookies this season.

#124 Eggnog Thumbprints
These were Mike's favorite of all nine I made.  So much so that he told people they weren't very good so they wouldn't eat them.  Me, I didn't like them, but I don't like nuts.  This buttery cookies is rolled in chopped walnuts and filled with a butter/powdered sugar/rum and milk.

#125 Two Tone Butter Cookies
Joey has had his first cookie!  His reaction: ho-hum.  Joey loves all food; well he may not love ALL food, but he eats ALL food.  He loves avocado and oatmeal.  So he didn't show any particular excitement over this sugary treat.  However, the stinker went nuts over Ms. Jamie's (daycare) cookies.  Her husband (my cousin) was holding Joey as he (my cousin, not Joey) was eating a cookie.  Joey lunged for it and looked rather disgusted at my cousin when he didn't share.  I guess I'll have to find a different cookie in my book that Joey is willing to rate 5 smiley faces.

2nd Weekend (Dec 13-15)
#126 Holly Wreaths
This year I baked a couple of batches just to get them out of the way - didn't think they'd actually be too good.  This was one of those batches.  I used my cookie press - love that tool, makes baking go quickly. Someone actually thought I bought those cookies, couldn't fathom how I made them.  Granted, it was a middle aged man who probably doesn't spend much time in the kitchen, but still; he called me an artist.  In the picture, these are the cookies with a red hot on them.  I was supposed to attach the red hot and green cherries (as leaves) with a drop of frosting; which I did, but I only had yellow frosting - so it doesn't look quite right.

#127 Surprise Package Cookies
People are so suspicious. People who know what my project is all about, are still so wary.  This phenomenal cookie had me wrapping an Andes mint in regular cookie dough.  On the top of the cookie, I took melted andes mint and drizzled it all over.  People wanted to break the cookie in half to see what was inside; I think that takes away the fun so I didn't let them do that.  Granted people have things they don't like - as long as coconut wasn't the surprise, as long as peanut butter wasn't the surprise, as long as mint wasn't the ... whoops.

#128 Nutmeg Sugar Crisps:
See #126 - another one I just needed to get done. They're very plain.  Made with powdered sugar along with the usual suspects in a cookie with just a bit of tartar and nutmeg added.

3rd Weekend (Dec. 20-22 - though I started preparing Th. night)
#129 Angel Wings
This is the cookie I should be called an artist for; fussy preparation.  First make the dough, divide it into 4 balls, refrigerate overnight. Roll ball in sugar, roll it into a rectangle, sprinkle with cinnamon, mark the middle, jelly roll each side into the middle , freeze.  Slice and bake.  Yes, that was probably tedious to read, but they were tedious to make.  I compare the taste to the cinnabon cereal (which I love).

#130 Chocolate Mint Crisps
This also needed advanced preparation.  I broke my rule here a little bit.  I baked the above batch on Friday (and you saw how much went into baking those) and I prepared this batch on Friday as well.  But I didn't melt down, so we're all good.  These are a chocolate cookie with melted Andes mint spread on top - yummy.

# 131 Meringue Kisses
So this is when my body melted down, I got the flu and I was in danger of not finishing my 9 batches.  It was the weekend we were leaving for IN as well.  Saturday night, after trying to pack, clean, finish wrapping, and hopefully get to this batch - my body gave out.  So I did what any reasonable person would do - I brought the ingredients and recipe with me to IN - that's what any reasonable person would do, right?  This is what we call dedication.  I'm glad I made these, they're another favorite.  It's kind of self-explanatory - meringue wrapped around a chocolate kiss.  It's all good.

I'm all caught up now for 2013.  Usually after the holiday season I take a week or two off from baking; not sure when I'll be back.  Happy New Year!

501 to go

This is the last update before the big cookie season.  I'm promising myself that I'm not going to end up on the kitchen floor sitting in flour, powdered sugar in my hair and in tears; not that that's what happened last year. This year, I'm really going to try not to put any expectations on myself.  It's taking me the whole 9 months of Joey's life to learn that I should not try to bake when he is awake.  I made progress just today.  I baked one batch of cookies while he took his afternoon nap, and I made the pie (it is Thanksgiving after all) after Mike got home.  I may be a slow learner, but I figured it out.  Though I'm still exhausted now.
So this Christmas, I promise myself I will only bake on the weekends.  I promise myself I will not try to bake more than one batch in one day.  And if I don't get to a batch, it's okay - right?
You are all my witnesses; stay tuned to see how well I stick to these promises.

#121 Scandinavian Pecan Cookies
Last week we had international night at my school.  We had a huge potluck; families were expected to bring food to represent their culture.  Naturally, I made cookies.  There are a lot of cookies in my book that represent cultures.  Italian Christmas cookies, German chocolate cookies, Greek cookies, and many varieties of Mexican cookies.  Yeah, I'm none of those cultures.  I'm mostly Swedish and Polish.  There is just one cookie in my book that represents my heritage.  Scandinavian Pecan cookies.  And true to the Scandinavian culture; they're rather plain.
I have to share.  It was very (not sure the right word here: cool, inspiring, ...) to see the different families sharing their different cultures.  Specifically watching the Jewish student teaching the Muslim student how to play Dreidal.

#122 Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies
These are for my mother-in law's birthday, which was actually a couple weeks ago, but she's coming to town, imagine my voice going up an octave on that last part.*
Mike picked these out; he says his mom would like them.  I kind of wonder if it's Mike that will like them?  In this cookie - milk choc. chips, semi-sweet, coconut, and dipped in white chocolate.  They look kind of gourmetish.


Happy Thanksgiving All!

*I actually enjoy her visits.  I feel like I get a little pampered.  I get a bit of a break.

Cookies for the Fall

I think I need to be careful; I feel like I'm flirting with danger - or at the very least - flirting with taking way too much on.  In the last ten days, I have made four batches of cookies.  So here's an update, because I may take a few weeks off.

#117 Butterscotch Raisin Cookies (10/16/13)
 Mike went down to Indiana over this weekend and he brought Joey with him.  Yes, he took my infant son away from me for three nights, four days, and took him on a plane.  How do you think I can get Mike to do this more often? : )

I requested Mike's help in determining which cookie his dad would like best for his birthday.  Mike chose well.  My mother-in-law didn't expressly say she didn't like my previous cookies, but implied that she actually liked this cookie.

#118 Goblin Chewies (10/19/13)
It's Halloween time. .However, I only have about three or four more specific Halloween cookies.  So this is the only specifically Halloween cookie I made this year.  They are goblin chewies because it has a goblin face it in it.  It's chewy because it has orange slices chopped up inside the cookie.

#119 Cocoa Chocolate Chip (10/19/13)
These come from the Big Batch Bonanza chapter.  I made this batch (plus 118 and 119) for all the events I have in October: 2 Halloween parties, retreat away, Joey's Halloween party at daycare, and then I usually bring Halloween cookies to school.  Someone at school asked if I'm not baking as much (because they haven't seen any batches this year).  I'm actually baking more than I have in the previous year - I just have so many more functions that I never seem to have enough for school.  With these three batches; I'm still not sure I have enough to bring to school this week.
These were a thin chocolate chocolate chip cookie. 

#120 Iced Pumpkin Cookies
This recipe is the epitome of why I do this project.  I would never have made this recipe - just doesn't look good to me.  This cookie called for canned pumpkin, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, granola, walnuts, white chips and cranberries.  Just sounds too much to me.  They were actually quite good.  I got several requests for the recipe. 
Last weekend I did just fine with Joey being gone.  This weekend, not so much.  This is a crafting retreat I've done several times.  I wasn't going to go this time, because I knew it might be hard to spend two weekends away from Joey after working all week as well.  However, my sister-in-law really wanted me to go, so she wouldn't be the only young person there.  So I decided to go for one night.  Then she got sick and cancelled.  However at this point, I'd already made plans to get help from my mom to make Joey's costume.  I left early Saturday morning.

cookies for tennis

Say what you will about teenagers; especially teenage girls, but they sure are appreciative of fresh baked goods.  The tennis season is finally over.  For the past four months I've had tennis for four days a week.  We had one of our best albeit dramatic seasons.  A team that we have never even scored one point against before this year, we lost only by one this year.  It was actually tied, and one of my girls hit a winning shot to tie her match up, but as she did so, she fractured a bone in her foot and had to forfeit the rest of the match, causing us to lose by 1 - so sad.  We had a few injuries this year - she was out for the rest of the season.  We had a bloody nose, two girls hit in the eye, and one girl punched in the head.  Yep - she was two points away from going to the finals in a doubles tournament, but her opponent wasn't handling losing very well.  The opponent jumped the net and got into my girls face; and then hit her in the head.  Unfortunately my girl then defended herself and both girls were disqualified.  I've never heard of fighting happening at a tennis match. 
I'm ready for a rest now.

Of the past five batches, four of them were for my tennis team. 

#112 Crisp Sunflower Cookies 
September 2013
So my girls tennis team had some serious issues when the boys tennis team comes around.  They get all flaky and can't concentrate.  So I needed to solve to this problem.  My girls team challenged the boys team to a tennis game (not a match, just a game that we play during practice).  Keep in mind I actually coach both teams.  I announced that I would bake a batch of cookies for whichever team won.  The boys were victorious.  However, I got what I wanted.  For the rest of the season, the girls were much more focused when the boys came around.  What's better, the two tennis teams bonded and kind of functioned as one. 

#113 Big Chocolate Cookie
September 2013
To play sports for the Mpls high schools, you have to pay a $60 sports fee - pretty reasonable considering most suburban high schools charge upwards of $100.  I told my girls that for each of them that had their sports fee turned in by the 13th, they'd get a big chocolate cookie.  I actually had to make a double batch of this recipe, because it only made 1 dozen and I have more than a dozen girls on my team.  I don't normally make double batches, because I figure if I need a lot of cookies, I'll make a recipe with a bigger batch, or make two batches and get to cross off two recipes. 
It worked, all but 3 girls got their sports fee in by then. 

#114 Banana Nut Bars
10/4/13
It's craft show time again at GA church.  As usual the church ladies sell yummy Lutheran church homemade bars - so I contributed as well.  I would say they went over pretty well, there were only 2 left by the next day. 

We had the individual state tournament for tennis this morning.  I sent six girls.  My two singles team and one of my doubles teams won their first round.   I made two recipes for this morning's tournament.  It was an early morning and lasted several hours, so brought snacks for the girls to eat. 
#115 Apple Walnut Bars
A nice recipe for fall.  Diced up apples, diced walnuts; they were gone in a hurry.  
#116 Double Chocolate Biscotti
This probably goes best with coffee, but I don't drink coffee.  The biscotti definitely came out tasting like biscotti, but again, is probably best for coffee drinkers.  I think I'll freeze the rest of it and save it for when I have some people over ... for coffee?  I think I better learn how to make coffee. 

Taking on too much

Yep, I'm back at school, back to tennis coaching, and am "sleep-training" Joey so I'm lacking sleep, but I still have managed to make a batch of cookies.  Though in hindsight, I shouldn't have tried.

#110 Citrus Cookies
This is another short-cut creation cookie - very cute - the cookies look like orange and lemon slices.  I meant to get a picture, but the kids at Joey's daycare ate these cookies up before I could.  Just a refrigerated tube of dough, orange peel, orange extract, topped with frosting (and lemon peel and extract for the lemon cookies). 

These cookies may have came out better but I  used an air bake cookie sheet.   I'm not sure what the "technology" in it is to make it different from regular cookie sheets, but I'm not sure I like it.  The cookies come out super soft and don't remove very well. 

#111 Dipped Sandwich Cookie
So on the Friday of labor day weekend, I had to wait for my husband to get home from work before we went to the cabin.  I felt that I could use the day to get a lot done - like grocery shopping, library, babies r us and Once Upon a Child.  Prepare for leaving the cabin.  I felt I could get some cardio exercise in and toning done.  I also felt I could mass prepare baby food for Joey and make a batch of cookies, all while taking care of Joey as well.  I don't know why I thought I could accomplish all that, and I don't know why I even tried.  I was doing just fine until Joey decided to wake up after napping for only an hour and was only happy if I held him (and even then, only sort of happy).  When Joey woke up, I was in the middle of preparing spaghetti squash and sweet potatoes for him and had started the batch of cookies.  So despite what my daycare person said about spaghetti squash being the easiest thing - I found it time consuming.  Apparently it's a lot easier with a food processer rather than just a tiny magic bullet.

So the cookie that needed to be rationed at the cabin - a dipped sandwich cookie.  A cookie with a lemon filling that is then dipped in melted chocolate.  You wouldn't think lemon would go with chocolate, but it works.  It had to be rationed because though the recipe said it would make 2 dozen, it only made 16 cookies (we had 17 people at the cabin), people had to just sample.

So at the end of this project, we plan to do a final four like tournament with all the favorites. We now have another project to do at the end, enter these cookies in the MN state fair and let the judges decide.

Just call me Little Debbie

Time is getting shorter (with Joey taking 45 minute naps) and sleep is getting scarcer (with Joey getting up 3 times a night) - so a short quick update post.  I almost feel as if Joey's a newborn again; though he just turned six months.  He's eating every 3 hours and getting up several times a night.

Help!

#106 Raspberry Swirls
I find myself drawn to the slice and bake cookies a lot lately. Maybe it's because I can do each section in little chunks of time, which is what I seem to have lately.  This batch calls for taking the dough and separating into two balls, then rolling each ball into a 9 x 12 rectangle.  On each rectangle I spread a mixture of raspberry jam, coconut and pecans and then rolled each rectangle up jelly roll style.  These are a hit with some people and a pass with others (my 2 and 3 year old nephews passed - and the 2 year old eats frozen sausages).

#107 Double Chocolate Orange Brownies
Nobody could guess the secret ingredient in these brownies (orange extract).  My husband says it's hard to mess up brownies - I'm still unclear if he was saying that I messed these brownies up, or that brownies are always good.  He ate a few, but they didn't disappear quickly.  Just give me good old fashioned chocolate (or fudge) brownies and I'm good.

#108 Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies
You know those Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème cookies?  Yep, that's what these are, but better (according to my friends) because I don't put any weird additives in them to increase their shelf life.  These did not linger.

#109 Lemon Basil Cookies
A short-cut creation cookie.  I find myself rarely baking from this chapter because I want to save these cookies for when I'm short on time.  Well, I decided if I'm not short on time with a 6 month old (who acts like a newborn) while coaching high school tennis and about to go back to teaching, when am I short on time.  I used a lemon cake mix in this cookie - my mother-in-law likes it (she likes lemon) I did not.  Ingredient: Lemon cake mix, cream cheese, butter, coconut, lemon juice, pecans, grated lemon peel, egg, and basil.  It's mostly a cake cookie - no crunch at all.

I'm officially 1/6 of the way through all the recipes; it only took me 1 1/2 years.  Hey, that's ahead of schedule.  My goal is to make 52 batches a year; thus ending this challenge in the year 2023.  If I stay on my current schedule I'll finish in the year 2020.

Batch #103
Cream Cheese Filled Cookies
Mike tried these cookies and said, "They taste like they have a cream cheese filling"; so I think the these cookies are aptly named (btw, Mike liked the cream cheese filling, this got 5 smiley faces).

These were kind of fun to make, though involved.  All the batches in today's post came from the slice and bake chapter (remember, I'm trying to knock out some recipes from these more complicated chapters).  It's a regular cookie, but after baking, I immediately put an indentation in the cookie, then topped each cookie with this cream cheese filling.  Then after they're all cooled, I topped it with a chocolate drizzle.  Just a word of advice, don't put hot chocolate in a plastic baggie.  Or if you're using a plastic baggie to pipe chocolate, don't use the off brand name.  I had holes popping up all over that bag, chocolate everywhere.

Batch #104
Chocolate Coconut Neapolitans
These look fun, and they weren't too bad to make.  Split the dough into three, add red food coloring to one, coconut to another, and chocolate syrup to the third.  Then layer each section into a loaf pan and freeze.  After baking these, I dipped them into melted chocolate so they'd get that hard chocolate covering on it, yum!  Another 5 smiley from Mike; I'm not as free with my 5 smiley face ratings.

Batch #105
Chocolate Icebox Pinwheels
These look fancy, and they are.  Pinwheels are hard to make.  With this one I had to divide the dough into half and color one half with chocolate.  Then I had to divide the halves into fourths and make eight triangular logs.  Alternating 2 chocolate logs and 2 vanilla logs in order to make a circular log.  A perfect circle they did not make.  Very yummy though.

Now, I'm taking a break, at least a week long break, unless something comes up : )

A day in the life...

I've been trying to figure out how to establish a wider audience for my blog.  One friend said I should contact Taste of Home (the editors of my cookbook) and market it to them.  However, I've come to the conclusion that I should not be a professional writer - let alone a professional blogger.  I've been finding lots of ways to distract myself from the actual writing of the blog.  That friend that suggested I get a bigger audience - I've been "researching it" for about four months now.  It wasn't a quick easy answer, so I'm still "researching."
Also, I have three cookies to write about (I made two of the batches two weeks ago), but I keep finding things that need to be done.  This morning, there was nothing on my to-do list other than write blog.  So far I've gone for a walk, gave Joey a bath, took pictures of Joey, sorted Joey's clothes, worked on my abs, got a haircut.  Did you know Facebook changed again?  Yeah, I know that news is a few days old, but I only ever check FB on my ipad, and it didn't change on my ipad.  I don't check FB on my computer because I hate my computer.  It's new.  I did not get it by choice.  Did I mention already how my son spit up all over my MacBook Pro?  I now have a windows laptop.  The reasons we went with ASUS (imagine that word dipped in loathing) - 1 - they're less expensive, so when Joey spits up all over this one, won't be as expensive to replace.  2 - my scrapbook program doesn't work great on Apple.  3 - I'm getting a Apple laptop from work in the fall (it won't be mine, but it'll be mine for nine months of the year).  But I hate Windows!  Like just now, I was just typing away and all of a sudden, I was typing in the website address box - what's that about.  Earlier, when I was shopping on Amazon (yeah, I did that today too), I was about to confirm my order and it just restarted - I had to do the whole order over again.  Also, if I brush the mouse pad, the menu screen pops up.  Moral of the story - MacBook Pro is worth the money.  I cannot wait until September (only for that reason); I'm enjoying my summer.

Okay cookie #100

#100 Chocolate Macadamia Macaroons

Oooh - someone just texted me -

Had to find my phone.  Shoot, my friends (Tanell and Megan) can't come over tonight for game night.  That's what else I did today - try to arrange a game night.

Anyways #100

shoot - Joey's waking up.  That boy does not nap. We do the whole same routine everyday - and everyday after about 30 minutes of napping in his crib, he decides he's done.  But he's not done, he's still crabby - so after much much much time of trying to convince him that he's still tired, he falls asleep in his swing.  I work on him napping from about 12-5 everyday and usually only get him to sleep for 1.5 hours of that time.

Okay, back from feeding Joey.

#100 (for real this time)  Chocolate Macadamia Macaroons - or as Mike's cousin calls them - baked no bake cookies.  Shoot, I said I would facebook her the recipe - better do that before I forget.

Okay so like no bake cookies basically - coconut, macadamia nuts, sugar, cocoa, flour and salt -  - then egg whites, corn syrup and vanilla - baked.  Then after cooled, dipped in melted chocolate.  Very good and I don't even like macadamia nuts.

Made these for my sister-in-law's birthday

#101 It was my brother in-law's birthday as well.  We went down to Indiana (not for their birthday, but for the 4th).  I hate when I ask someone what their favorite cookie is and I'm told - they're not picky.  Just tell me some ingredients you like.  My sister-in-law did that.  She knew what she liked.  She got a cookie that she really liked.  My brother-in-law "donated" his cookies to a family party.  If I was told what he really liked, I bet he would've kept them.

He got a cookie from the Cookie Cutter Delight chapter (I have to use up some of these recipes).
Apple Cutout Sugar Cookies
I'm not so great at the rolling out part, I always roll too thin.  This is a sugar cookie with powdered sugar/corn syrup icing.  Mike said it's like a cracker with icing on it (I rolled it to thin).  I gave my brother-in-law this cookie because he loves our mother-in-law's Christmas sugar cookies.  Just a tip - don't try to make a recipe of something someone loves that someone else makes - just go with something totally different - you'll always lose.

#102 Orange Slice Cookies
I joined a Mom's meet-up group - not that I'm ever actually available to go to their events.  They always have things in the morning (that's when kids are awake and not crabby I've learned), but I coach tennis in the morning, so alas.  However, they had a pot-luck picnic - so naturally, I brought cookies (from the Big Batch Bonanza chapter).  Orange Slice cookies - yes, cookies that have those orange slices in them.  I don't understand why the store sells bags of just the orange slices and no bags of just the green slices, or the red slices (my personal favorites).  It's like Starbursts selling a whole bag of just yellow or orange starbursts - nobody likes those - everyone likes the red and pink starbursts.
Anyway, the cookies were a hit - well, at least with one person.  Mike told me though - when one person specifically goes out of their way to say how good a cookie is, then at least 3 or 4 other people thought that too, they just didn't say it.

Okay - now all caught up.  Of course I know I'm making another batch tomorrow for Grandma's birthday and another batch for the softball potluck this week - wonder when I'll get back to blogging about that.
 

The Chapters in the Book

Either I haven't been keeping up with my posts, or I've baked so many cookies in such a short time.  I have four batches to share.

It was Mike's first Father's Day, so naturally he gets a batch of cookies (of his choosing).  Only thing is, we got rather busy so he didn't get his choice until a week later.

Batch #96 was for our Dad's.
Toffee Almond Sandies
These were good cookies, but apparently don't ship well.  We sent them to Indiana for my father-in-law and for my sister-in-law's birthday.  I hope they shared with you Kay!

#97 Chewy Ginger Drop Cookies
This was NOT Mike's choice.  He does not particularly care for ginger cookies.  This was another batch that I whipped up on short notice.  My Mom and I visited the current matriarch of the family .  Thought it would be nice to bring cookies on our visit.

#98 Caramel Fudge Brownies
This is the recipe that looked good to Mike.  Actually, he picked out a few others first, but I said no to them because they looked like ones that kids would like.  I'm probably being silly, but I'm trying to save the really good looking ones for when Joey is older (and for other future children).   I don't want to leave just crummy cookies.  This is a 12 year project, that means it's another 10 1/2 years before I make any of these cookies again - I don't want Joey to be 10 1/2 before he gets yummy cookies.
So I bought the ingredients for this recipe and had them out on the counter.  Mike came home and excitedly asked "Does Joey get to start eating baby food? Is he getting prunes?" (2 jars of baby food prunes sat on the counter)
My reply: "No, that baby food goes in your brownies"
Mike was a little less sure about his pick.
The brownies did turn out well (Mike gave them 5 smiley faces).
So if you're ever looking for a delicious treat that makes you regular, ask me for this recipe.
(They did assist us both in that regards).

#99
My conundrum lately is I seem to be choosing cookies from the same 3 chapters (they're the easiest), but I'm worried that I'll be leaving myself only difficult cookies to make (and less appealing ones).
This latest batch I made for a picnic at the Roseville parade.  It was another last minute cookie.  I didn't want to make a whole lot (had to make them during Joey's nap) - this batch made 4 dozen, I needed to have the ingredients in the house, and I didn't want to make a really yummy cookie that I need to save for the future for our kids.

Just in case you're wondering.  The chapters are:

Cookie Jar Favorites
Chock-full of Chips
Easy Drop Cookies
                                 (These are the 3 chapters I keep drawing from)
Timeless Slice and Bake
Shaped Sensations
Cookie Cutter Delights
Snazzy Sandwich Cookies
Unbeatable Brownies
Delectable Bars
Shortcut Creations
Christmas Classics
Big Batch Bonanza

I need to do a better job of drawing recipes from The slice and bake cookie chapter through the snazzy sandwich cookies.

Summer's here!

#93 Cherry Coconut Bars
It's officially summer, (even though there were seven days of school left at the time I made these), it's Memorial Weekend at the cabin.  My dad decided that we should all bring something to share for a Sunday brunch - a brunch to rival the Jax brunch.  If you've never had the Sunday brunch at Jax restaurant in NE Mpls, you are missing out on something pretty special.
So everyone brought things to make for Sunday brunch (except my Dad of course).  Mike even decided to make pies.  This is going back to the post about how Mike is finding all these pie recipes he'd like me to bake, but how I'm a little busy making cookies.  On Saturday night at the cabin, Mike starts to make his pies.  He asks my Mom, where's the saucepans.  She points to the cabinet - then he asks "What is a saucepan?"  Oh oh ...
Nevertheless, he made two Amish Sugar Cream Pies - my family was impressed.  Mike said if we had ever had real Amish pies, we wouldn't think much of his pies.
Sunday brunch was very good.  My 12 year old nephews manned the stove making omelets (their specialty), there was Polish sausage, some pastry things with a fancy name I do not remember, egg bake, baked oatmeal, pies of course - but not nearly enough food to come close to rivaling Jax.

Anyways - cherry coconut bars - that I actually made to go with my Taco Salad lunch - pie like crust topped with if I remember correctly, kind of a creamy topping with coconut and cherries mixed in - kind of obvious.

#94 Glazed Peanut Butter Bars
I woke up last Sunday morning debating whether I should go to church or not.  Then I remembered it was the all church pot-luck.  Cripes!  I got up shortly after 8 - flipped through the book to find something quick and easy and something I had all the ingredients for.  I first searched the short-cut creations chapter in my book.  The problem with that is - it all calls for candy bars, sugar cookie mixes, or packages of cookies that you add stuff to - I didn't have any of that stuff.  Brownies were an issue too because most of them called for a frosting which would require the brownies to cool completely - didn't have time for that.  Ended up finding another "delectable bar" to make.  In my opinion, you can never go wrong with peanut butter, oatmeal, and chocolate.  These are similar to those peanut buttery rice krispie treats with chocolate on top, except the base of the bar is soft.  Both of us rated these a 5.
So got up at 8 - made these bars, ate breakfast, got myself ready, got Joey ready and got to church on time!  Ha!  (Mike was out of town, I was on my own).

#95 Ann's Chocolate Chip Cookies 6/8/13
Our first neighborhood block party - yay!  I'm rather outgoing and extroverted (that may be redundant),  so I'm very happy to be in a neighborhood that seems to be accomodating for people like me, instead of tons of people who keep to themselves. I'm all about community.  Parts of NE Mpls (where I grew up - and really still wish I was there) are like that, but it seems to be harder to find.  I want a neighborhood like I grew up in - the kids are outside all day going from house to house just playing - and everyone knows everyone.   I do not want a small town where the whole town knows what you're up to, just friendly neighbors that will stop and talk if they see you outside.
Anyway, I found a "big batch bonanza" cookie for the block party. I specifically stayed away from high allergy ingredients - so no peanut butter, peanuts, other nuts, etc and tried to find one kids would like - so ended up with chocolate chip.  It's a little different than your normal chocolate chip cookie - cinnamon and coconut are called for.  We both liked it - Mike said he would've gave it a 5 if it had the walnuts added (which were optional).  I told him kids don't like nuts (no kids in my family ever did) - he disagrees.

What do you think?  Do the kids you know like nuts in their cookies/bars, etc - or not?

Change is messy

To be a catalyst for change, you must be immersed in the process. This is how my sister started her sermon on a program my church supports and it's the theme for this latest batch of cookies.  Not that making a batch of cookies is changing the world at all, but it's a start.  Her point was being immersed in change is messy.  It can be ugly.  You find the mistakes.  You see the problems and you can lose sight of the big picture, but still, we need to be immersed.

My church participates in a program called Families moving Forward.  We work with two other churches to host four families for one week at a time, a few times a year.  FMF is a program for homeless families - staff work with these families by taking the necessary steps to secure permanent housing and employment.  The program is considered successful.  In the last year, 56 family units were served; 203 individuals (126 of whom were children).  The average length of stay was 60 days.  However, FMF helps 1 out of 150 people who are looking for shelter.

I understand the stigma of homeless people, but take a look at these facts.
MN has the least amount of affordable housing for  minimum wage earners in the midwest.
A single parent would need to work 87 hours a week to pay rent for an average 2-bedroom apartment.
Family homelessness is the highest since 2000.
Children who have been homeless are more likely to do poorly in school than their peers, even when their peers are equally poor, but have never been homeless.
75% of homeless children read below grade level.
Children who have been homeless are more likely to be slow in achieving developmental milestones and more likely to be physically ill.

I know it's easy to write off the homeless as lazy.  I know it's easy to not help.  But consider the possibility that there are homeless people out there who are doing everything they can to their capabilities to do the best for their family; and probably work harder than you or I have ever worked, and consider helping.

So batch #92
Double Chocolate chip cookies
I had to chase Mike out of the kitchen, because he kept eating the cookies.  He told me I need to make the crappy cookies when I'm giving them away.  I replied that these people have suffered enough, they get the good cookies.  He offered to go to the store to buy the E.L Fudge cookies if we could keep this batch.  This batch is going to the kids, no store bought cookies for them.

Happy Mom's Day

I totally realize that getting a break and enjoying some relaxing time on Mother's Day is the cliche, and that is never really the case.  As the card I got (from my mother-in-law) says "you've earned a quiet, relaxing, unstressful day ....You may not get it, but you deserve it".  But I did think I was going to get a little help around the house (just a little).

It pretty much turned out to be your average Sunday.  I got up at 4am with Joey to feed him, then at 7:30 had to push my husband to go bring Joey to me to feed him again.  After I got Joey changed and dressed, I brought him downstairs so Mike could watch him while I showered, etc, but Mike was gone. So I took a quick shower and got ready quickly.  I wasn't annoyed though, I thought maybe Mike snuck away to do some Mother's day surprise.  I found out after I returned from going to church with Joey on my own and coming home to find Mike asleep on the couch - he decided to go to a different church on his own.  I know, weird.  Then I handed Joey off to Mike (as he watched TV) so that I could get some things done around the house.  Not all that glamorous of a day.  To give Mike credit, he "helped" Joey send me flowers at work on Friday and Mike has taken up the hobby of baking pies and made two Snickers pies for a family bar-b-que happening tonight.  Actually, Mike wanted me to bake more pies, I told him I was a little busy with 623 other recipes.

I was shocked that I got flowers or any recognition at all, so I'm quite happy.  As my dad says, if you have low expectations, you'll never be disappointed.

#89 Ginger-cream bars
How does cinnamon, cloves, ginger, molasses and 1 cup of hot coffee sound (along with butter, sugar, flour, etc).  Doesn't sound good, does it?  It's not.  Good thing I made these for coffee hour at church - we weren't stuck with them.  I thought maybe it would be a bar that would again appeal to a "mature" palate - it didn't.  They were not a hit.

#90 Rhubarb-filled cookies
Mike doesn't like rhubarb, yet he gave these cookies 4 out of 5 : ), so that's saying a lot about these cookies.  I made these for my mom and mother-in-law for Mother's day.  It's a good thing my new house already has an established rhubarb plant, because I did not have enough in my freezer from the amazing rhubarb plant I had at my old house; (my old rhubarb was a rhubarb plant on steroids - it was ridiculously huge).  These cookies looked pretty (in the book) so I thought our mom's deserved them.  However, as usual, they don't look as pretty in actuality.

#91 Blond Brownie Nut Squares
Bar-b-que tonight.  I learned this morning that Mike and I are bringing the sole desserts.  Mike made two pies, but there are 18 people in my immediate family, probably not enough.  I whipped up these pecan brownies in about 20 minutes.  Taste verdict remains to be eaten.

Returning to work

"I don't normally like chocolate, but I like these" and "I like chocolate and these are great" are just a couple of comments about my latest batch of cookies.

Batch #88 Walnut Chip Cookies

I returned to work this week.  Picture Janice from Friends - Oh  My   God!  Thank goodness I'm a teacher and it's May - only 1 month of this craziness.  Frankly, work is the easiest part of my day; I know exactly what I'm doing; I have no interruptions, it's just easy - other than the fact that I can't see straight, my body keeps giving out on me, and my mind is a jumble.  That's alright, it's not like anyones future quality of life is depending on me doing a good job.  Oh .......wait.

Anyways, made this batch of cookies the day before my return to work as a way to thank my colleagues for having to deal with my substitute teachers.  If you're in the world of education at all, you know how awful subs can be.  My poor teacher roommate, one sub sat at the table and just stared in her direction.  She actually retreated to a kindergarten classroom to get work done - that's saying a lot - going into a room with 30 five year olds to get away from 1 man.  

I may have been a little over ambitious in deciding to bake cookies the day before my return to work.  No, over ambitious is the term I'd use to describe the decision to make a batch of cookies.  I think committable would accurately describe this batch of cookies.  From the chapter Big Batch Bonanza, this recipe made 12 dozen cookies.  But they were well received.  The entire batch was eaten by my co-workers by 9:00 in the morning.

Off to rest.  Actually I'm going to pull up my fitness magazines and look at different exercises and hope that just looking at the pictures of people exercising will help me start to fit back into my pre-pregnancy clothes.

Joey decided to be fussy - this is him "helping".  

I'm hoping baking while carrying a 16lb baby and swaying with him will help me burn those extra   

    calories that I get from eating all these little projects of mine.

The last 5 lbs.

I'm not sure that just reading about fitness while eating cookies that I've baked will actually help me lose these last five pounds.

I'm finding it hard to be motivated to work out.  Between MN's sprinter this year and constant sleep deprivation and just plain lack of motivation, any advice on how to turn this kangaroo belly into my pre-pregnancy toned stomach?  Right now I'm reading Lose that Baby Fat! After reading several magazines and books, I think I'm actually doing pretty well, but I'm sure like most first time moms, I thought it'd be a whole lot quicker.  I'm finding myself rather discouraged each morning as my clothing option choices each morning is maternity jeans, track pants, pajama bottoms or sweats.

I'm still baking cookies though, because frankly, I'm craving sweets.  I have to find a little willpower.  Hard to do when I baked batch number 85.

#85 Five-chip cookies (4/12/13)  5 : ) from both Mike an me
This cookie comes from the chock-full of chips chapter, and with the name being "Five-chip cookies", it certainly fits.  This cookie is a peanut butter cookie, with milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, vanilla chips and yes peanut butter chips.  It's a good thing there are gone, because I could not stop eating them (neither could Mike).  My niece Aubrey (aged 5) said they were the best cookie ever.  However sister Amelia does not like peanut butter, so she was not a fan.

#86 Lemon Tea Cookies (4/25/13)
#87 Chewy Almond Cookies
Off to a Crafty Women retreat this weekend, and yes, Joey gets to come too - the only Y chromosome allowed.  I didn't have high hopes for these cookies - precisely the reason I made them.  I chose these two recipes specifically for the crowd that I'll be with this weekend.  Most of the women I'll be with are (how can I say this without getting in trouble with my mom - who will be there) we'll say retired.
I ranked these two cookies a 2 and a 1, Mike ranked them a 3 and a 4.  I guess we know who in this household is leaning more closely to an old (ahem, I mean retired) lady.

Slice n bake cookies are a good type of cookie to make with a new baby.  Yesterday I made the dough for both types and today I baked them.  I've learned it's good to have projects that can be broken down into 30 minute time frames, as that's about the amount of time I can count on before the baby starts demanding attention.

Baby's are a time-sucker

On my last post, I talked a bit about how I have an easy newborn and that I can still get everything done and blah blah blah.  Yeah, ignore that.  It's not that Joey is difficult now, he isn't, but I'm not really sure where the hours in our day go everyday.  Why can't I get anything done?   Mike comes home from work and I say - all I managed to get done today was taking care of Joey (if I'm lucky I get a nap in - yes, I view this as an accomplishment - and a daily necessity).  Fortunately I have a good guy and he says "That's enough".

Last week I had to get a few things done, no option.  We had a Welcome Joey party for my family, so it was absolutely essential that the house get cleaned, the food get bought and cooked, and of course some cookies get baked.

I planned out my week (the week before the party).  I broke down the cleaning, cooking, shopping and baking into small manageable bits for each day. Yeah, That worked for Monday, then all of a sudden it's the day before the party and nothing else has gotten done.  Seriously, Joey eats for a little over two hours a day, yeah there's changing him and some holding him, but really, where does the day go?

And remember my good guy of a husband, yeah - he didn't really want to help with the cleaning.  He supposedly "cleaned" the bathroom - but then admitted later that he did the absolute bare minimum to see if I would notice later and then leave it for me to clean if it wasn't up to "your standards".  That didn't go over so well.

Anyways, I did manage to get a batch of cookies and bars made for the party.

#83 Chocolate Chip Crispies (3/22/13)
A chocolate chip cookie with potato chips thrown in - very yummy.  Mike rated them a little lower, 3 : ) - only because they were a little crumby (not crummy).

Have I mentioned how much I missed eating cookie dough.  I refrained from eating any raw cookie dough the whole 9 months of pregnancy - no more!  (No worries, I didn't lick my fingers and then handle the dough.  After doling out tablespoonfuls of dough, I scooped up a little extra and then ate that - no licked spoons, and I washed my hands after eating any dough).

#84 Black Bottom Banana Bars (3/23/13)
We both rated these bars 4 : ).  They're essentially banana bread (a very good, moist, sweet banana bread).  They're called black bottom banana bars because after making the dough, you separate it in half, and mix baking cocoa into one half.  So it's banana bread with half of it being chocolate banana bread.

Blog post done - check that off the to-do list.  Quite an accomplishment for the day, wouldn't you say!

For all you doubters

Yay, not pregnant anymore, at home with a 3 week old newborn.  I can't really complain about the pregnancy, I had it pretty easy.  And now... I'm told I have a pretty easy newborn as well.  I'm counting my blessings.  My new little guy (Joey) is not a screamer or a cryer.  He's not even too fussy.  He does wake up every 2 hours or so at night to eat, so I'm sleep deprived, but frankly during the day I'm a little bored.  I'm told that boredom is not a normal reaction for a new mother.  I'll stop talking now about how well things are going so I don't incur the wrath of mothers everywhere.

I have not stopped baking.  Today alone I made a turkey dumpling dinner, muffins and another batch of cookies.

I haven't exactly "taken it easy".  I have "taken it easy" by my standards, I was always very productive and kept very busy.  I'm still managing to get out most days and run a few errands, I take showers daily (I feel the need to mention this as I hear it's an accomplishment for new mothers just to get a shower in), I make dinners most days, and I take care of a newborn.  But I get help the next three days, yay!  It's off to the cabin tomorrow morning for all girls movie weekend (all girls meaning my sisters and mom - so very helpful people).  My goal is to truly "take it easy" these next three days.

Anyways: batch #82 Chewy Coconut Cookies
Cookies for girls movie weekend.  I'm not sure how to describe these cookies other than to quote the guy who "invented" these cookies.  This is a treat "that is crisp outside, moist and chewy inside, and mildly flavored with peanut butter".  That is exactly what this cookie is.  Imagine a cookie made from peanut butter, almond extract (I find that almond extract gives cookies a unique flavor and smell), a mashed banana, coconut plus all the other ingredients a cookie has.  That's what this cookie is.  I can't decide if I think it is wonderful or actually kind of gross.  One thing for sure, though the peanut butter isn't overwhelming, if you don't like peanut butter, you probably won't like this cookie.

Valentines and the Super Bowl

3 more batches and 3 more days.

3 more days until this baby is born - at least that's the plan.  Do you think my cookie productivity is going to go way down?  I'm ahead of schedule though for this year.  At this time last year I only had baked 26 batches.  I've already made 28 batches this year.  I guess that's really not that far ahead, I didn't figure out the math until just now.

I'm having trouble coming up with something to write that is clever and funny and entertaining.  This one just might be one of those boring blog posts again that I just complete in order to have it on record. I'm pretty sure blogging will be way down on the priority list after bringing life into this world this coming Wednesday.

#79 Valentine Butter Cookies
This cookie is yet another from the big batch bonanza chapter - 18 dozen cookies this batch.  Why?  Not really sure why I needed to make that many, other than that's what I've been doing lately.
I got to use my cookie press for this cookie, those things take some muscle, which is why I had Mike do it - he was better at it than I was anyways.  I still get credit for making them though, right?  I did some of the cookie pressing.  However, the cookie press to make a heart is in the shape of a Y. Yes, the cookies did come out heart shaped, usually, but all my hearts have a Y on it.  Why would I want a Y on my heart?  Y do you love me?  maybe.

Anyways: the verdict - delicious and addictive.

Super Bowl Cookies
Yes, I know, the Super bowl is before Valentine's day, but I froze the Valentine cookies because I knew I'd be busy this weekend (or way too tired to make Valentine's cookies) so I made them ahead of time and froze them.  Someone suggested that I should bring the 18 dozen Valentine's cookies to the hospital and pass them out to visitors.  I pointed out though that I'm a little nervous that I'll have too many visitors and people hanging around - cookies would only encourage more visitors and more hanging around.

#80 S'more Cookies
I feel guilty for making these.  I feel like I should save any potential 5 smiley face cookies for my own kids now.  Is that weird?  I just want to save all the good kid-friendly ones.  Then I realize I will probably have more than just this one kid, so then I won't be able to make any of the yummy kid friendly ones for like seven years (math based on how far apart we'll have the kids and factoring in that they won't be consuming much in the way of cookies till they're about 2).
These are a 5 smiley face kid-friendly cookie.  Very kid-friendly.  My nieces and nephews loved them. This delicious chocolate-chip-esque cookie (with cinnamon in it) is baked.  Then you take the cookie top it with a marshmallow and microwave it for 15 seconds - just until the marshmallow starts expanding - then top it with another cookie.  Wonderful!

#81 Meringue Coconut Brownies
I evened out my Super Bowl goodies with a treat that I felt would appeal more to the grown-ups (although everyone liked the S'more cookie).  At least a treat I didn't feel my own kid will be upset about missing.  These are good too.  A blonde brownie base with chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut sprinkled in the middle, topped with meringue.  I think I may have thrown a few people off their diets with this one - sorry Mom.

Alright, that's all you'll hear from me for a few weeks now.  Time to prepare to have this baby.

9 months and still baking

So I'm not sure if I'm in the "nesting" phase, but there's gotta be some reason that over the last three weekends I have baked 26 dozen cookies for absolutely no other reason than just to have some cookies in the house.  Even with me craving sweet chocolaty crunchiness, 26 dozen seems a little overboard.

#76 1/13/13 Chocolate Chip Butter Cookie
We just needed some cookies in the house, and I wanted some good ole' chocolate chip cookies.  This was a bit different than your average chocolate chip cookie, but they served their purpose.  Not much went into this cookie, just butter, vanilla, flour, powdered sugar and mini chocolate chips.  Quick, easy, and tasty.

#77 1/19/13 Rosemary Honey Cookies
So I found out my in-laws are coming up for close to two weeks when the baby is born.  Some may say  what now?  But I was always fine with them coming.  Plus I'm going for the amazing awesome daughter in law prize this year.  They give that out yearly, right!  RIGHT?!  However, my mother-in-law generously offered to make some cookies from the cookie cookbook to help me out.  I'm not sure how I feel about this.  I'm not sure if that counts - I feel like I have to make all 623 recipes. So I decided what I'll do instead is just continue making a batch every week up until baby and freeze some so that we'll have plenty of cookies here already and we'll have no need for more.  So I guess the 26 dozen I've made isn't just for Mike and I to eat.  I'll have some on hand for my in-laws and visitors to the house (I hope people come to visit me and the new baby - I'll have cookies for you if you help me from going stir-crazy).

So I really wanted to make another chocolate chip type cookie, or a chocolate gooey cookie, but I feel I should mix in recipes that don't sound as exciting.  I don't want to get half way through this book and then only have unappetizing recipes left.  Also, part of the purpose of this crazy endeavor is to find the best cookie.  It maybe that one of those recipes that don't look that good, will actually be amazing.  This one wasn't amazing to me - average, but Mike really liked it (liked it enough for 4 smiley faces).  See, now I know one of Mike's favorite cookies.  This recipe actually does call for dried rosemary and honey - crazy what some of these recipes call for.

#78 1/25/13 Mocha Fudge Cookies
I'm not really sure what possessed me to look at the Big Batch Bonanza chapter of the book and then to subsequently pick out an 18 1/2 dozen batch.  It was chocolatey though (I have been rather obsessed lately with chocolate), but not one that I was super excited to try since there's coffee in it.

Some may find this cookie amazing, depends on how much you like coffee - to me - slightly better than average.  So what's your opinion about nuts?  Generally, I don't like them.  This recipe called for walnuts.  Sometimes I add the nuts when they're called for and sometimes I omit them. I was going to add them today, since I wasn't anticipating loving this cookie and was mostly making it for other people (who come visit me) - but then after running back to the store for the 2nd time today to get the chocolate chips that I thought I had enough of, I realized I didn't have any walnuts, so I nixed the walnuts for this recipe.  Is the cookie still good without the nuts?  Or are the nuts really the essence of the cookie?  Did I steal the essence? (Note the vague reference to the TV show Friends).

Next week: Super Bowl Party - maybe even 2 batches next weekend (one will be brownies or bars though).

Christmas is over and so is my effort to bake 14 batches of cookies in about 3-4 weeks; I'll probably never do that again.  However, I did reach it - and only once did I sit on the kitchen floor and cry - and that was after the last batch made.

Why do we (or maybe it's just me) push ourselves so hard to make things so great and perfect all the time and especially at the holidays.  I did the decorating, the shopping, the wrapping, the baking, the parties (though I didn't host any this year, thankfully).  Men don't do any of that.  It was Thanksgiving weekend when Mike came down and said "Okay, I'm ready for Christmas" - he only had to shop for me.  Why don't men feel the need to create these perfect moments - or at least realize that women have these needs and be willing to help out?

Okay, enough of the residual feelings still lingering.  Here are the next 7 batches of Christmas cookies that I made.

                                         (All 14 batches)

#69 Whipped Shortbread
School decided to do a cookie exchange for whoever wanted to sign up.  I figured, that's a good way to share me cookies and get another batch done.  26 people signed up.  Did you know you're supposed to make a dozen for each person in cookie exchanges?  I have never participated in a cookie exchange.  Fortunately my school decided to do a 1/2 dozen per person - that's still 13 dozen cookies I needed to make.  So I picked this batch that supposedly makes 16-18 dozen.  I figured I was safe, that I would for sure have enough.  Nope, it only made 12 1/2 dozen; I supplemented with some other cookies I made.  Then of course, because I gave 13 dozen cookies, I got 13 dozen back (all different kinds), but I just don't need that many cookies.  Most were donated to different places, Grandma's nursing home, neighbors, etc.
The cookie itself isn't bad (3 out of 5) - I kind of liked it more and more as an alternative to all the really sweet cookies and treats that the holidays bring.

#70 Eggnog Logs (12/19/12)
I don't have much to say about these, all the recipes are blending together.  I remember they weren't too hard to make, other than they were another cookie that had powdered sugar frosting drizzled on top.  Making powdered sugar frosting is messy.  It's been two weeks and my counters still feel gritty, and yes I have cleaned them a couple of times now.  I didn't like these cookies much, but a lot of my co-workers and other people really liked them - maybe it was the rum extract.

#71 Chocolate Mint Creme Cookies (12/19/12)
These were very good.  Two chocolate cookies with peppermint (powdered sugar) frosting in between them.  But I think I made the chocolate cookies too thick - would've been better if they were thin chocolate cookies with frosting in between, it was a very thick (and too rich) cookie to try and eat.

#72 Poinsettia Cookies (12/21/12)
Why is it my cookies are never as pretty as the picture in the book?  This was a bit of work to do.  Make a ball (after you've made the dough and dyed it red), snip the top of each ball in half 3/4 of the way down.  Cut each half into thirds, carefully spread the wedges apart to form flower petals.  Yes, that sounds like a lot of work, but it really wasn't too bad - I'd take these over any cookie cutter cookie.  Oh, and then place a cherry half in the center of each cookie.

#73 Chocolate Snowballs (12/21/12)
These were fantastic - right out of the oven.  It's basically a chocolate chip cookie ball rolled in powdered sugar.  After they cooled and stored, not as good.

#74 Chocolate Pecan Thumbprints (12/22/12)
Mike was very excited to try these.  Dough rolled in pecans, then baked, then topped with melted chocolate chips.  Melting chocolate chips in the microwave, though faster, just doesn't turn out as well as melting them on a stovetop.

#75 Surprise Sugar Stars (12/22/12)
These sound amazing, and most people who ate them within a day or two of being made, loved them.  I however did not try this cookie until almost a week after I made them - I was too sick of sugar and cookies and not in the Christmas spirit.  The cookie doesn't last well.  This cookie was a cookie cutter and sandwich cookie.  Roll out the dough, cut into stars - or in my case snowflakes because I haven't stolen a star cookie cutter yet : ) - put cherry pie filling onto each snowflake, top with another snowflake and press edges together.  Bake.  Let cool and top with powdered sugar frosting and sprinkles.  The cherry pie filling eventually makes the cookie bottom very soft.

So I'm throughly tired of making cookies.  I might even take one more week off.  Although I was thinking I should make some cookies for a former co-worker who helped me learn how to use my new camera and helped me figure out some stuff on my computer.  I should bake another batch I suppose.

However, I also realized earlier this week that I am six weeks away from giving birth and that has left me feeling overwhelmed and panicked - maybe I should be focusing on getting ready for that and not baking more cookies.

We'll see.