Tuesday, January 8, 2008

I have made a LOT of cookies in my lifetime. I've tried all sorts of recipes and I think this one is the best. They're so soft and sweet. Use the good chocolate chips and you'll be in for a treat.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
These chocolate chip cookies are chewy in texture because they rely on room-temperature butter that is beaten with the sugar until fluffy.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 3/4 tsp. salt 16 Tbs. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla extract 12 oz. valentine chocolate chips*Preheat an oven to 350°F. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Over a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter on medium-low speed until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the brown and granulated sugars, increase the speed to medium and beat until slightly fluffy, about 1 minute, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in the vanilla, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Reduce the speed to low, gradually add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the chocolate chips. Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto the prepared pan, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to the rack and let cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough. Makes 36 cookies.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

1.02.08


I didn't take one picture the entire Holiday season. We were too busy having fun or too lazy laying on the new couch in the basement to care. Lunch was fun girls. Skiing all four days was freezing. Parties were exciting as ever. New Years was a late night or early morning I guess, I'm still recovering. Poker and Ping Pong until five am is hard to bounce back from. I hate January so one of the New Year's resolutions is to let January come in a little more graciously. I realize that no matter how hard I fight it, January still has to come. Another News Year's resolution is for us gals to get together more often. What ever happened to the once a month Monday's? Mere your back on in charge of that. PS. Love the socks. Wear them everyday. Almost beat Grant in Ping Pong in them so I think they're lucky. (I'm not going to mention he was playing me left handed). Happy New Years Girls.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

12.18.07

I am going to go private so please leave me your email if you want to view my blog. If you left your email last time, I claimed going private, you don't need to again .

Thanks.

Monday, December 17, 2007

12.17.07

We went ice skating at the Gallivan Center Friday night. It was quite the show.

Friday, December 14, 2007

12.14.07


http://www.mrfrench.com/, The French Paper Company, has some really great Christmas gifts that you won't find around town. I'm a sucker for stationary which they have plenty of and these bird soaps seem refreshing and holiday-ish and who wouldn't like a package this cute.

12.14.07








Christmas photo's by Hayley A. Chloe and Scout liked the solo portraits.


Tuesday, December 11, 2007

12.11.07

Since I've been talking about building for the last 9 months, I'll post these pictures of the house now that it's finished.
These are pictures of our bedroom and bathroom.







A kids bathroom.



Upstairs hallway.



Another kids bathroom.






Craft Room.






Guest Bathroom.



Mudroom.


Entry.


Our Christmas tree that looked perfect when it was sitting in the Forrest surrounded by other trees. Once we cut it down and brought it home, we've discovered it's terribly crooked.


Living Room.



Kitchen.