Christmas Cookies 2015

10 more batches crossed off the list.  With the new year upon us, I figured out I only made 43 batches this year - that's nine short of my yearly goals.  I better step it up in 2016 - no having babies to slow me down this year.  I did look at last year's post; I mentioned that I was going to experiment with videotaping the cookie baking and vlogging.  I guess that got away from me.  I'm sorry, I have no excuse.  Maybe it will happen this year.  Although if I'm vlogging, then I'm under the added pressure of looking good while I'm baking; that may be too much to ask.
On a side note; one accomplishment we did make this year was exploring child modeling.  Because of all this baking and posting pictures; Joey ended up being a poster child for PeaceCycle - an organization in Haiti that makes bags, aprons, clutches among other things from water bags that are littered all over the country. www.peacecycle.com  Because they are using a picture of Joey in a peacycycle apron, we toyed with the idea of Joey being a model for advertising.  The problem is that he doesn't warm up to people all that quickly and can be a little temperamental with the camera - so in other words, a typical model.  

With all my baking this month, all I can say is I'm sure glad for Norwex.  It makes cleaning up powdered sugar messes, frosting disasters, and rising dough (into the holes of my mixer) so much easier.

Can you match the cookie to the descriptions below?  #220 was talked about in the last blog (the ones in the lower left hand corner)

#221 Frosted Snowman
A fun three ball snowman.  Not as tricky to make as you would think.  Just roll three different sized balls from the dough and place next to each other on the cookie sheet - and voila!  they bake together.  The decorating was the time consuming part.

#222 Dipped Pecan Spritz
These were a big hit this hear.  So many people told me how much they love Spritz cookies.  I had never heard of Spritz until I started this project.  Thank goodness for the cookie press.  Basically ground pecans mixed in with the dough (thank goodness for the food processor) - bake and dip in white chocolate or regular chocolate.

#223 Fruitcake cookies
Just like fruitcake, nobody wants this cookie.  These have a little bit of everything: oatmeal, coconut, dates, red and green cherries, and pineapple.  A little out there.
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#224 Pinwheels and Checkerboards
This was the cookie exchange cookie - 10 dozen of this complicated cookie - but I get two kinds of cookies from one dough - just requires separating the dough into four different sections and dying them different colors.  If you're interested - check out the recipe below - they're beautiful, but I felt pretty plain as far as taste goes.

1 1/4 cups butter, softened                                    1 tsp baking powder
1 cup brown sugar                                               1 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar                                                      1/4 tsp baking soda
2 eggs                                                               Red and green food coloring
1/4 tsp vanilla                                                     1 square (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
4 cups flour

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Divide dough into fourths.  Tint one portion red and one portions green.  Stir chocolate into another portion.  Wrap chocolate and plain portions in plastic wrap; chill for 1 hour or until easy to handle.  

For pinwheel cookies, divide red and green portions in half.  Roll our each portion between waxed paper into a 9-in. x 6-in. rectangle.  Refrigerate for 30 min.

Remove waxed paper.  Place one green rectangle over a red rectangle.  Roll up tightly jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; wrap in plastic wrap  Repeat. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.  For checkerboard cookies, divide plain and chocolate portions in half.  Roll our each portion between waxed paper into a 6-in x 4-in rectangle.  Cut each rectangle lengthwise into eight 1/2 inch strips.

Now this is where it got tricky for me - stack the strips into groups of four (so choc, white, choc, white - do that eight times so that you have 8 stacks of choc, white, choc, white).  Now take four of the stacks and put them together alternating chocolate and vanilla on top - now repeat with the other four stacks.  Press it together gently.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least two hours.

Unwrap and cut pinwheel and checkerboard dough into 1/4 in slices.  Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 375 for 9-11 minutes or until set.  Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

#225 Danish Crispies
Perfect timing for the Star Wars movie - these look like Princess Leia's hair.  I felt like a regular baker with these cookies.  They looked like decadent cinnamon rolls.

#226 Frosted Ginger Creams
This is another one of those cookies that I feel I've already made.  A soft ginger cookie with cream cheese frosting on it.

#227 Jam Filled Wreaths
Very pretty cookie with raspberry jam poking through.  I went to 4 different stores to find a simple circle cookie cutter - you would think during the holidays I could easily find cookie cutters - not the case. If you're ever looking for cookie cutters - go to Michael's first.

#228 Apricot Cheese Crescents
I thought this was going to be a disaster (and disgusting).  The outer layer is made from butter, flour and cottage cheese.  Yep - cottage cheese.  Then you roll all the crumbly dough into 1 inch balls - I just made my balls whatever would stick and stay together.  Then the next day you take these balls and roll them into circles - fill it with apricots (that I cooked down), press the ends together and decorate with pecans and sugar.  The first few were awful to put together, they just crumbled when I tried to roll them out (the trick, flatten it with your hand) - but some of them actually look like the crescent it's supposed to - and they taste good.

#229 Evergreen Sandwich Trees
Another multi-step, lots of work cookie - but very good.  Christmas trees (that are like pie crust) filled with green frosting and a green glaze - very good.

Cookies for Santa

Why yes, yes that is a Christmas cookie

I'm feeling very efficient.  Not only am I typing up this blog post on the same day that I made 2 out of 3 of these batches, but I've started the Christmas baking (so yes, that is a Christmas cookie).  I also have all my outside lights put up, I'm decorating inside tomorrow, our Christmas letter is started and my Christmas shopping for my kids has been done since October.
Now, I also have a lot of guilt.  I was raised in a strict "no recognition of Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving" household.  Growing up we always decorated outside on Black Friday (occasionally we were brave and went to Target to check out the deals on lights), and we spent the next two days inside.  However, we are traveling this Thanksgiving so won't be around, and I'm having a holiday party here on the 1st - I need to get some sh*+ done.

So here they are:

#218 Coconut Shortbread
I got to go away for a whole weekend.  3 days and 2 nights away from my kids.  Is it okay to say I didn't miss them at all?  Of course when I got back I brought them to the park and spent some quality time with them, but wow - I needed that break.  It was a crafting retreat - so I brought cookies to share.  I made these because I figured they wouldn't be our favorite but a group of older ladies would love them.  I was right.  I guess it is the perfect cookie to have a morning coffee with.

#219 Special Chocolate Treats and #220 Swirled Mint Cookies
For my Holiday (Norwex) party I needed a couple of cookies I could bake now and throw in the freezer - as we discussed, my lack of time.
 Does anyone actually like going to all these parties people have?  31 bags, the nail thing party, Usborne book parties, now Norwex.  I have to say, I was invited to a Norwex party - I didn't really want to go, but went because it doesn't take much convincing to get to leave the two kiddos at home with daddy and get to miss bedtime duty.  "Ooops, sorry honey - got to go - so and so is having this party and I really feel like I should help her out".
So I went - and I'm completely sold on the product.  This stuff cleans well - with just water.  Better than well - I'm amazed.  I cleaned the sliding door windows and Joey walked into the door - that's how clean.  Mike swears I'm going to quit teaching and become a Norwex consultant.
So I'm sorry my friends - I'm having a party - I gotta get me some more Norwex.

For #219 - I told Mike it better not be a 5 - because there were some problems and it was messy.  Unfortunately, they are a five (from both of us).
#220 - also a tedious cookie to make.  I thought I had learned my lesson about picking 2 difficult cookies to make in one day - I guess I forgot.  At least those 2 are now done for the holidays.

So I'd post the recipe for both, but that is not all that efficient - especially since the cookbook is on another floor right now and dinner is going to be ready in 10 minutes - so here's a picture instead.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is probably my most favorite holiday.  It should be more fun with children though, right?  So why am I muttering f-bombs under my breath and wanting to pull out my hair?  Halloween has become a two day affair in this household.  We had our daycare party yesterday, visited Great Grandma and Grandma yesterday (and her new puppy).  Then today visited the other Great Grandma, two Aunties' houses and Grandma and the puppy again.  Thank God for nap time.  I'm exhausted and Halloween hasn't even started.  Only four more hours till their bedtime.

#215 Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies
As I reflect on how busy I am as I collapse into bed, and lay awake at 4 am (a nightly occurence) I decide this is the perfect time to start investigating an addition to our house.  Because 4 am decisions are by far the best.
So Auntie Sarah came over - the same Auntie who conceived up the castle/shed/play structure  - to help us plan what we might need in an addition and possible ways to do that.
So Joey and I whipped up this short-cut creation to have for dessert.  A chocolate chip cookie mix with a junior mint melted on top.

#216 Favorite Frosted Brownies
It's Halloween party time at my brother's house.  Not sure if I blogged about this or not before - his house caught fire last year (shortly after the Halloween party); it was set (on accident) by their masonry (as they remodeled their house).  So this year's Halloween costume: Mike was the masonry and I was the fire.
So I'm running out of Halloween themed cookies from the book.  So I took a brownie that calls for decorating sprinkles and put Halloween themed sprinkles on.  It counts.  Except, after spending the day making the brownies, preparing the batter for #217, going to a neighborhood Halloween party and then preparing my fire costume; we got to the party and I realized I forgot the brownies.
So we've had Halloween themed brownies here at the house for the last week.

My Elephant and Peanut

My "Fire" hands

#217 Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip
Another batch I would've never made and the world would've missed out.  This cookie gets a first round bye.  This is a Big Batch Bonanza cookie (20 dozen) and the staff at my school ate them all.  Enough said.  Recipe below.

1 1/2 cups butter, softenend

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup molasses

4 cups flour

4 tsp baking soda

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp each ground ginger and cloves

1 tsp salt

Dip:

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

2 cups pumpkin pie filling

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 to 1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 to 1/2 tsp ground ginger

In a very large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add the molasses; mix well.  Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Shape into 1/2 in. balls; roll in sugar.  Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 375 for 6 minutes or until edges begin to brown.  Cool for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

For dip, beat cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth.  Add pumpkin pie filling; beat well.  Add sugar, cinnamon and ginger; beat until smooth.  Serve with cookies.  Store leftover dip in the refrigerator. 

It's just a castle

So we've been building a play set in the yard.  Just your typical play set - a 120 square foot/8 foot high castle complete with turrets, guard towers, a rock wall, cargo net, and twirly slide.  Attached by bridge to tree house/platform with slides, climbing stairs, fireman pole and whatever else we can think of attaching.  When your sister is an international award winning tree house designer, you don't do typical.
So for the past few weekends, we've had the work crew here building.  So I made some cookies, naturally.

#213 Chewy Peanut Butter Crisps
You can't go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter.  But these were made a little differently.  The recipe called for only peanut butter, sugar, evaporated milk, cornstarch and chocolate chips.  They still rated high, but they weren't my favorite peanut butter/chocolate treat.

#214 Frosted Banana Bars
Tomorrow is the annual craft show at church - gotta put a plug in for that.  I can't say if these are good or bad yet - I have to go to the show tomorrow, pay my $1.50 to get the bar that I made, then I can rate them.  I hope they're worth a buck fifty.



See our castle below.  And, oh, the castle, it's a shed (that you can play on the top of).

You're supposed to be happy - it's a wedding

August was a busy month for cookies, I think I made five batches that month - so catching up - here's a few more.


Tomorrow's the big day for my friend Adelia - she's getting married. I should be at a rehearsal dinner since I'm one of the bridesmaids, but instead I'm here, an hour and a half away, eating pancakes.  I bet the food is better there.

It's amazing how weddings, these supposedly happy wonderful times in a person's life can bring out the worst in people.  Throwing a wedding is incredibly stressful - I've seen two sets of friends have relationships seriously tested because of the wedding.  I can see why being a wedding planner is such a lucrative business.

As a bridesmaid, I feel my role tomorrow will be to keep the bride calm and to tackle the drunk Uncle (nod to "Friends" - do you get the reference?)

 Anyway, two of the below batches were for the bachelorette party that the awesome Maid of Honor threw.

#210  Raspberry Almond Bars
Mike and I were not huge fans of this pie crust bottom with raspberry filling and a custard like top.  However, everyone at the party loved it.  That makes me wonder if I should include it in the final tournament.  Mike and I have certain tastes - and it's an understatement to say we are picky - I wonder if I should give some exceptions to some cookies and let them in if they have enough backing from others.

#211 Mocha Walnut Brownies
This always happens, I make something for an event and then decide it's not going to be enough, so then I make a 2nd batch.  As it turns out, the raspberry almond bars were more than enough.
Also, I learned, my mom makes a weak batch of coffee.  This recipe called for 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee.  The advice I was given was put in a heaping tablespoonful of coffee grounds to 1 cup of water.  The advice I was given later by other coffee drinkers was to double that amount.  So these mocha walnut brownies tasted like normal brownies.

#212 Maple Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
So best acquaintance Tanell came over with Joey's buddy Kole and as we often do together, we made cookies - we were bringing them to the cabin for Labor Day.  Apparently Joey is an excellent little apprentice.  I guess I take it for granted that my 2.5 year old can be given directions and just follow it.  He knows what we need to make cookies and gets it out.  If I ask for baking soda, he opens the fridge and gets it.  I've learned this isn't normal.  But my little guy is such a little thinker and talker - the kid never shuts up.  He's like a little adult.  I'll say "Joey, whaddya think, which cookie should we make?"  He replies "Hmm, let's see".

Anyways, wish us all luck tomorrow and pray for good weather - though I hear a little rain on your wedding day is good luck.

If I don't get a chance tomorrow, I wish you all the happiness in the world tomorrow Adelia.

1/3 of the way done

It's official, after 45 months and 25 days, I made it 1/3 of the way through the book, plus 1 extra.  So I'm on track to finish this project in 12 years, which was my original arbitrary deadline for myself.  I'm actually 2 months ahead of schedule.

So, a reflection of the last four years:
 - still no regrets
 - there have been some surprisingly great cookies - the whole reason I do this project (check out 209 in this blog)
 - I've only sat down on the floor and cried once because of the self-imposed stress I put on myself (I was also 8 months pregnant, so there may have been some pregnancy hormones involved).
 - bring on the next eight years

#205 Vanilla Chip Cherry Cookie
This is a chocolate chip cookie, but replace the chocolate chips with vanilla chips and add some chopped maraschino cherries.
Cooking tip: -if a cookie spreads too thin (like this one did), replace part of the butter with shortening.  This tip comes straight from this book (it gives all sorts of troubleshooting advice).

#206 Peanut Chocolate Whirls
Beach day with old Daycare.  Generally I am not a beach person, I think they're kind of gross - as evidenced by the fact that we had to relocate the beach party because the original beach we were going to go to was closed due to high levels of e-coli.  So yeah, I stayed out of the water, but Joey had a blast.
These cookies were amazing.  Mike says they get a first round by in the end of cookie cookbook tournament.  

1/2 cup shortening                                          
1/2 cup creamy pb
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

In a large bowl, cream the first 3 ingredients.  Beat in the egg, milk and vanilla.  Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface, roll into a 16 in. X 12 in rectangle.

In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth.  Cool slightly.  Spread over dough to within 1/2 in of edges.  Tightly roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side.  Wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for up to 30 min.

Unwrap and cut into 1/4 in slices with a serrated knife.  Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  Remove to wire racks to cool.

#207 Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
We have spent a lot of time at the cabin this summer.  I love getting to enjoy summer with the kids.  And to be frank, summer is a lot more enjoyable when I don't have to deal with them : ).  The cabin gives me that opportunity - Joey spends the entire day outside playing in the sand - and if he has some accidents - not as big of a deal when it's done in a swimsuit.  And Jessie, she likes to be outside - so just put her in her swing - out on the deck.  And this picture perfect image is achieved by the 3rd day at the cabin - the day it's usually time to go home.  The first two days, Jessie expresses her unhappiness in changing her schedule and routine.  Joey completely forgets where he is and what he's doing and has accident after accident.  And it takes me three days to actually de-stress.  So this time, we went up for five days - and it was really nice.  It's great having older nephews who like to play with my kids and occupy them.

This cookie was another fiver - vanilla pudding mix added to the recipe.  Although, the baker suggests trying it with chocolate pudding some time.  I'll do that - probably in 8-10 years.

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 pkg (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped walnuts (now I did 1/2 without walnuts because I'm sick of all the cookies having nuts in them, but I feel I need to remain true to the recipe)  I liked it without walnuts, but others loved the ones with walnuts in them.

In a large bowl, cream butter, sugars and pudding.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls (seriously, they're supposed to be small), 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  Remove to wire racks.  

#208 Crunchy Macaroons
So my friend is getting married and I'm a bridesmaid.  I asked her if she wanted me to throw her a shower, or if the other shower encompasses all the people she would invite to a shower.  My shower turned out to kind of be a back-up shower for the people who couldn't make the first shower (I know).  So I had a nice kitchen-themed shower for my friend.  It almost turned into a bit like the shower Phoebe and Rachel threw for Monica on the show Friends; you know, the one where they forgot to invite Monica.  The day before the shower, I texted my friend and said, you know the party is at 1, right?  She did fortunately, the maid of honor told her.  Whoops.
So these cookies - Mike and I gave them a 2, but others just love them.  The maid of honor's mom seriously ate like 1/2 of them.  They're made with rice krispies.  So there may be a flaw in our system of just Mike and me as official raters - because there's been a few cookies that we don't rate very high that others love.  But we say; it's because we've tasted them all and can compare them against each other, so we know what the truly great ones are.

#209 Apricot Coconut Treasures
This was another cookie for the shower.  The two cookies I made I purposefully chose because they looked fancier and to me fancy cookies are what's needed for showers.  This is another one of those cookies I would never have made, but have turned out to be a five (by both of us).  Who would've thought, apricot preserves with coconut wrapped in a pastry puff-like shell would be so good.  I would like to post a pic, but as I said, it was for the shower and I was running around up to fifteen minutes before the start of the shower wrapping gifts, putting together favors, assembling the games, decorating the table, pulling out dishes and putting out food (all the while not ready myself), so no pictures were taken.

Again, I hate the long post and most probably don't read this far and I'll really try to do a better job of posting only about one or two cookies at a time.

Quickies

We've hit the middle of the year and with lots of cabin weekends, I seem to be back on track with getting some cookie baking in.

#201 Strawberry-Nut Pinwheel
The cabin is not an ideal place to bake cookies.  There's only one cookie sheet, a hand mixer and frankly, there's a lot more to do besides baking cookies, like trying to relax - which is darn near impossible when there's 20 people up at the cabin and the kids want you to bring them swimming.

So this cookie is a slice and bake cookie.  Made the cookie dough at home and stuck it in the fridge.  Baked the cookie up at the cabin.  I was a little worried about this one since I didn't roll up the dough very tight, but it worked out fine.  Roll out the dough, spread strawberry jam, - homemade jam courtesy of my mother-in-law - and roll it up.  Sometimes the slice and bake cookies are almost easier than the drop cookies.

#202 No bake Cookie balls
Another good cookie to make at the cabin, don't need a mixer and don't need to turn the oven on.  Chocolate chips, powdered sugar, vanilla wafers, walnuts, orange juice and corn syrup make up this cookie.  Orange juice in a cookie, that's a first.

#203 Peanutty Chocolate cookies
So yeah, I'm back to baking, but it's constantly a rush to get things baked - we're just fitting it in.  Kind of like this lame excuse for a blog post, but frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.  I like the baking.  And if I actually had time to myself and wasn't constantly taking care of others, then I'd write better.  Because this is a writing I would not accept from my students.  It doesn't delve into any detail of what's going on.  No small moment story.  So maybe when I'm back in school and if I have a group where we write everyday, then my writing will improve.
Anyway, this short-cut creation cookie was just perfect for my girls only cabin weekend.  I wasn't aware just how much I needed a break until I went up with my friends (got even less sleep because baby Jessie needed to come with me and I stayed up late with the girls even though Jessie still got up early).  
But these cookies were oh so good.  Peanut butter and chocolate, always a good mix.

#204 Toasted Coconut Cookies
As my husband occasionally says, didn't you already make this cookie?  There seems to be some repeats in the book, but since the book contains recipes sent in from people all over the country, there's bound to be some cookies that are similar.  But this one, after tasting it, I feel like I've had it before.  I hope I don't ever bake one and then forget to number it and record it.  This one is soo good though, so it might be okay if it gets baked twice.

Recipe:  
1/2 cup butter, softened                                   1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup shortening                                            1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup sugar                                                   3/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar                                         1 1/2 cup quick oats
2 eggs                                                                1 1/2 cup coconut flakes
2 tsp vanilla                                                      3/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups flour

In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening, and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.  Fold in oats, coconut and nuts.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets.  Bake at 375 for 10-11 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool 2-3 minutes before removing to wire racks.  

200 down

We've reached a milestone, Joey is potty-trained; mostly.  Oh, and I've baked 200 cookies - which isn't quite a 1/3 of the way done - 8 more to go, then I'll be a 1/3 of the way done.

So potty training, that pretty much sucks.  Can anyone explain to me why kids have setbacks.  Everyone keeps telling me, he'll have setbacks (and we have), but why?  Why is my kid trained and have no accidents for 4 days and then has an accident (sometimes 2) a day for 5 days straight? Why!!??

We did the naked method for three days.  According to that method, we failed.  By day 3 he needed to be 75% successful, we were 56%.  On day 4, I said screw it, and put underwear on him, which he immediately peed in.  However, that was the breakthrough.  Snoopy had to come off; he was so upset that he was successful the rest of the day.  But then the next day he had 3 accidents.  Anyways, we are mostly potty trained - on any given day.  Today, not so much.

#199 Macadamia Almond Delights
School's out for the summer.  When can I go back?  This 24/7 mommy thing might not be totally for me.  I love moments and I love getting to do fun things with my kids every morning, but I'm done by like 1 - which is fine if they take naps (which Joey mostly does), but baby Jessie has been needing a lot of assistance with napping.

Anyways, these cookies were for the end of the year teacher party.  I don't really have anything else to say about that.

#200 Pecan Grahams
Down to Indiana for our summer trip.  We'll see how that goes - 10 -12 hours in the car with a 2 year old and a 3 month old.  Pray for us.

Ground pecans and crushed graham cracker makes up the majority of this cookie.  I can't say how it tastes, I haven't tried it yet - just came out of the oven.  And with that said, baby girl is still sleeping and I have about 10 minutes before she's awake to do some mad dashing around the house in order to maybe complete one of the half dozen odd jobs I've been able to start but not finish yet.

Nope, never mind, she's awake.

A new normal

Preface- I had this all typed up the way I wanted it, but stupid internet stopped working, nothing would save, so I'm back to the first draft that did save - and I'm way too dang tired to try to type it up again and can't remember what I had and just want to get it posted and be done with it, since I've been trying to get it posted for three days now.  I'm done!

Baby girl is about to hit 3 months and maybe has decided that life is not such a horrible thing.  She even gives us smiles and laughs.

So,  back to baking.  The 2 year old still loves to bake, though he'll pass on it if Dad offers him a lawn mower ride.  He is equipped with his own play oven, two aprons and spatula.  Everyone says he's going to grow up to be a cook - he did watch Seseme Street for the whole hour for the first time - it may have been because it was a cooking themed Seseme Street.  However, if my interests as a two year old predicted what I would've been; I would've been a lion (I remember telling my Mom I wanted to grow up to be a lion).

# 195  Fudgy Macaroon Bars
We've been making a lot of bars lately, they go quicker than cookies.
So my friend, that I hadn't heard from in about four years, called up out of the blue.  She had moved back to the cities and is now an Usborne book consultant.  Yep, you guessed it, would I host a book party.  They are quality books and we ended up getting a lot of books, but they're a little expensive and as a teacher I have access to a lot of quality books for not a whole lot of money.  Plus, we already have a ton of books.  My biggest thing is I hate hosting these parties.  I love having parties and having people over, but I don't want anyone to feel as though they have to buy anything.  So I sent out the invites - to about twenty or so people.  I got 3 to actually come.  No one wants to come to these types of parties.  Even my SIL, got an invitation (not from me, but from someone else) - she went because she felt obligated to.  I haven't met anyone who actually likes to go or host these tupperware like parties (except maybe the CABI people - those clothes are great - but no one comes to that party when I host it)

Anyways, I made these bars for the Usborne book party.  They were wonderful.  Brownie type base, coconut middle, brownie topping with a little choc. frosting.

4 squares (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate                                             1 cup butter
2 cups sugar                                                                                         1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt                                                                                            1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs (lightly beaten)

Filling
3 cups coconut                               1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla                                   1/2 tsp almond extract

Topping
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips                1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth.  Remove from the hear; cool slightly.  Stir in the sugar, flour, salt, vanilla and eggs.  Spread half of the batter into a greased 13 X 9 in. pan.

In a large bowl, combine the filling ingredients.  Spoon over chocolate layer.  Carefully spread remaining chocolate mixture over filling.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until the sides pull away from the pan.  Immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Allow chips to soften for a few minutes, then spread over bars.  Sprinkle with walnuts.  Cool completely before cutting.

#196 Lemon Glazed Pecan Slices
Baby girls baptism.  Went well.  Nothing to report here.  These are like lemon bars, but better.  As Joan Hallford (the baker from which the recipe came) from Texas says A tart lemon icing pairs well with these decadent bars that resemble pecan pie".

#197 Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
It's the beginning of summer - Memorial weekend up at the cabin.
These cookies are a bit odd - really soft and chewy, but I wonder if they wouldn't be better if they weren't so soft and chewy.  How do you make a cookie not so soft and chewy when they are supposed to be soft and chewy.

#198 Rhubarb Custard Bars
MORE RHUBARB - is what Joey kept saying as we had to keep going out to the garden to pick rhubarb.  This recipe calls for 5 cups of rhubarb (finely diced) - I'm loving my food processer.  You need a lot of rhubarb to make 5 cups worth.
Annual Neighborhood Block party.

If you don't read any of my posts, this one may make you a fan

As I type this, I'm standing at my kitchen counter bouncing our new 5 week old daughter in her carrier.  It's a little difficult to type one handed while bouncing.  It's also difficult to bake cookies with an infant who doesn't like to be put down and a toddler who insists on helping.

Baby girl is a little bit different than our first baby.  If you've read The Baby Whisperer, our first was an angel baby - meaning - he was the easiest baby in the world.  This baby is a "touchy baby" - meaning she pretty much doesn't feel safe or secure in this world and needs constant reassurance.

BB (before baby):
#192 Full of chips cookies
Our last hurrah when we were feeling good about adding another human being to this world, full of cockiness and with the attitude of "we got this, we're seasoned pros" - I made this batch of cookies.  When you put in chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, vanilla chips, m&m's and reese's pieces - a cookie is a hit.  You want the recipe?  Remember my current situation - bouncing baby and 1 handed typing?  Comment on this post - show me you're out there - and I'll get back to you in 3-6 months.  You want it real bad.  Buy the book: Taste of Home cookies.

AB (after baby)
Situations and events arise in which I must bring a dish or treat.  They're really should be an exemption of mothers - if you've had a baby in the last year, you don't need to bring a dish/treat to share to the potluck and/or event.

#193 Oatmeal Kiss Cookies
Darn daycare program and potluck.  Yes, I enjoyed seeing my son "perform" even though the 2 year old sat on the stage and didn't sing one word, only clapped and said "Yay" after each song, but see previous - making cookies is hard with an infant who doesn't let you put her down.  So I made this batch while said 2 year old was at daycare - only had to carry baby in carrier while I baked this cookie.  Thought I was all set until my dad decided to come over to measure my house to draw plans for my house.  So: baking cookies, carrying baby and helping dad measure.  These cookies - peanut butter blossoms but instead of a peanut butter cookie with a kiss in the middle, an oatmeal cookie with a kiss in the middle.

#194 Cream Filberts (did you know: filberts are hazelnuts)
So Thursday morning, I have both kids.  But I'm feeling good - I just read some Baby Whisperer and I'm feeling confident about my new-found communication skills with my baby.  Really, understanding how she communicates with me.  So I tell the 2 year old, we're putting baby down for a nap and then we'll bake cookies.  Here's how that goes:
Baby lays down, drifts off to sleep with my hand on her belly
Wash 2 year old hands
Baby cries
Baby drifts off to sleep with my hand on her as 2 year old empties cupboard full of bowls
I clean up bowls
Baby cries
Drift off to sleep yada yada yada
Get mixer out and shortening
Baby cries
Same old - 2 year old gets into nuts, eats them and feeds them to dog
Wash 2 year old hands again
Baby cries
Mama hits cupboard in frustration - 2 year old is surprised - Mama says "let's go for a short car ride.

Fortunately baby falls asleep in car and we actually do get this batch made.

What is it: cookie with hazelnut inside with a frosted glaze on top.
Again, buy the book.

Okay, I'm done for now as I'm still at the kitchen counter, bouncing baby, typing 1 handed and now holding a pacifier in baby's mouth.

Slow Start

Happy 2015!

So I realize it's the middle of February, but I pretty much took a month off from all baking.  Instead I worked on my research for my thesis; I gotta finish that up before this baby comes. Do you realize this second baby comes in 2 weeks!  I've realized that, however, my mind has been on so many other things that I haven't really thought about this baby.  Oh well, second child syndrome or something.

Though I didn't bake hardly at all in January, February has been busier.  

I did bake two cookies in January, but it was for a Christmas party that took place on January 31st due to recurring sicknesses that necessitated constant rescheduling, so technically, here's two more batches that "I made for Christmas".

#186 Cherry Chocolate Chip Biscotti

This seemed like a winter cookie.  It would be great dipped in coffee.  

I really have nothing else to say about this cookie or events surrounding this cookie. - sorry

#187 Delicate Mint Thins

Right before the family Christmas party, my cousin asked on Facebook about girl scout cookies coming out.  Though I don't have any children of girl scout age, or even a girl, I though these cookies sounded like the Girl scout Thin Mints - or whatever fancy name they're using for the cookies.  Names like treffidoal or whatever that gives you no hint to what the cookie may actually be.  

Alas, I didn't trump the Girl Scouts thin mint recipe with this cookie.  They turned out very soft - when I think most people expected their to be some crunch.  It was a mint cookie dipped in chocolate.  They looked impressive.  So sorry readers, I guess you'll have to stick to paying $4.00 a box for your thin mints - I haven't found any replacement recipe yet.

#188 Chocolate Cappuccino Cookies

There must be something about the cold and winter that has me associating cookies and coffee.  Though I'm not actually a coffee drinker at all, these cookies just sound good.  I made this batch for a crafting retreat - figured it would be a good way to get rid of them, since as I mentioned, I don't like coffee.  Mike and I gave them a 3 - they look wonderful - but again, it's the coffee.  Maybe I should make them next time without the tablespoon of instant coffee.  Coffee drinkers on the other hand rated them: delicious.

#189 Beary Cute Cookies  

Our neighbors invited us over for a pizza party, so naturally, another excuse to make a batch of cookies.  These were fun to make - though rolling all the balls got a little time consuming.  I especially liked that multiple people commented on the effort I made to match the eyes.  

#190 Fire Truck Cookies

It's birthday season!  This time next year will be really birthday season with my son's birthday in February, baby's birthday about 2 weeks later, my brother's birthday 2 weeks after that, mine and my nephews birthday the end of March and my Dad's birthday right away in April.  Anyway, I go a little theme crazy it turns out when I throw a birthday party for my child.  This year's theme: anything to do with transportation.  A planes, trains, automobile, construction vehicle party.  I even made my first birthday cake (see below).  These fire truck graham cracker cookies from the shortcut creation chapter lent themselves well to the party.  However, shortcut my butt.  I think I spent more time on these cookies than all the 4 other cookies in this blog combined.  Do you know how hard it is to find black rope licorice?  I went to five different stores - no luck.  I decided black decorator's frosting (for the ladder and window) had to suffice.  If you like frosting - these cookies are yummy.  Graham cracker, red frosting, oreos, and a gum drop. (by the way, where can I find gum drops - not spice drops?  Cub - no.)  All the food was transportation related.  The hot dogs were called train rails.  We had Up in the Sky (blue with cool whip) jello.  We had train cars with the produce car, lumber car (pretzel sticks) and veggie car.  The fruit was green grapes, yellow pineapples and red strawberries on a fruit skewer to make stop lights.  The beans that Mom brought was construction debris.  We had stop lights for the condiments for the hot dogs and red, green and yellow chip dips (salsa, guacamole and cheese).  

I'm not sure how much Joey appreciated it, but I had fun - I think.  Joey does still drive the construction vehicles around (below) and says "cake"!