Oh Cookies!

These are only a few of the twelve dozen cookies I exchanged with friends Thursday evening. I hosted for the third year in a row, a small cookie exchange. A chance for moms to hopefully enjoy a relaxing evening during the rush of the Holiday. Although, I did add to their rush by asking each one to make twelve dozen of the same kind of cookie to come to my house to exchange them. All happily obliged and I didn't have to find one fill in, at all. I LOVE good friends!


And I LOVE cookies! Now I need some company to come and enjoy these with me. Hurry up Wednesday. Or Grandpa and JJ aren't going to get any.

I exchanged cake pops. Make one cake. Cool. Crumble it into a bowl and add one can of frosting. I prefer Duncan Hines. You can make any kind. Vanilla. Chocolate. Strawberry. Mixed. Vanilla remains my favorite. After you mix it all together put in the refrigerator, until you are able to make one inch balls easily. Put balls in freezer, freeze. Dip lollipop sticks in melted candy coating and stick into each ball. Let the candy coating harden and dip the entire pop into the candy coating. Put into styrofoam and let harden completely. Enjoy!

You can find a picture way back here. And a link to a good cake pop website!

Cake Pops

And we are off to Seattle. Unfinished CAKE POPS included. I dreamt that their candy shell cracked last night. That during my speech/toast a large crowd was starring at me with blank faces, wondering what I was trying to say. And Michelle looked stunning! That's all that matters. Cheers to my big sister and her big day - - 10.2.10.

Canned.

Who'd of thought? Certainly not me. Never once has canning fruits been on my to do list. Now I can't wait to eat the fruits of my completely effortless labor. And can some more. This week on the list: peaches. If I push it, I may try some green beans because those look yummy! Healthy and hey kids, this- is- exactly- where- our- fruits- and- veggies- came- from, good!

I won't can ALL the peaches. I made some muffins and bread already. The bread is fab, here's the recipe.

1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 1/4 cup peach puree- 4-5 peaches blended with 1 tsp lemon juice and 1/2 cup sugar.
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cup flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and mix. Add peach puree and dry ingredients. Pour into 2 loaf pans and bake at 325 for 55 minutes or less.

It really is a wonderful life!

Welcome, Change.

Now that I am done bitching voicing my opinion nonstop about Mason going to school fewer days than his three year old sister the first week, guess I had to vent here, too. I'm ready for the week to roll on, we have changes taking place, people!

First up, big bro starts at a new school. Central Elementary, FIRST grade. Long, shaggy hair and all. Right after we squeeze in a lock cutting appointment.

MaKenna is off to Heidi Ho. Good thing, we weren't ready for a year without it! She is so excited for school. And ready to be a pre-schooler.

Morgann's going to find herself in a new place, too. Another friend of mine will be watching the kids.

*A little fruity pizza fun. Purchase a pre-made tube of sugar cookie dough, roll into little pizza's. Bake as directed. Whip 8 ounces of cream cheese, a half of a cup of sugar and 2 teaspoons of vanilla together. Frost the cooled "pizza's" and chill. Just until your kids are ready to decorate with fruit topping of their choice.

Just Enjoying the Sunshine, here.

*Next up? More Morgann birthday part-ay pictures!

Snack Day

Monday Mason is in charge of snacks! He requested Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars, easily the best dough I've ever consumed. Oh. The bars are good, too. And quite simple to make. Just add the following ingredients and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
1/2 cup of butter, sugar and brown sugar (beat those first until light and fluffy).
Add 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla and beat some more.
Next put in 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup of quick cooking oats, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a dash of salt. Mix it all together, make sure to try the dough here. Spread in a GREASED 13x9 pan, sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake. And wahlaah, your done. Yum. Kindergarten snacks, just like that. And just because I feel the need to go back, already. I can't believe Mason is in KINDERGARTEN and FIVE years OLD! He looked sooo kindgartenish on his first day. My little boy.

Blah, blah, blah

We just baked the best Oatmeal Raisin and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies! We'll be taking them to our annual Mt. Hood ski weekend, this Wednesday!

I'll share my little cookie secret...turn the oven down 25 degrees from what the recipe says & cook for just a minute less. Every cookie turns out perfectly chewy!
And those cute little aprons? They were handmade by my friend Sara.

Strawberry Goodness

Yum. This is a great recipe. My Aunt Donna shared it with me. So here's to passing it along. Tomorrow I'll share pictures and stories of the Jones Family Reunion, that had over 120 guests.

Crust
1 1/3 cup uncooked oats
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup melted butter

Filling
3 pints of strawberries
1 cup of sugar
3 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp lemon juice
dash of salt

CRUST Directions- Heat oven to 375. Combine oats, flour, sugar and butter until crumbly. Firmly press into bottom and sides of pie plate. Bake in pre-heated oven about 5 minutes, chill.

FILLING Directions- Mash 1/2 of the strawberries, combine with sugar into sauce pan. Mix together cornstarch, lemon juice and salt until smooth--add to strawberry mixture. Bring to a boil, boil 3 minutes stirring occasionally. Mixture will be thick and clear. Slice remaining strawberries and fold into cooked mixture. Cool to lukewarm. Spread into chilled piecrust. Chill overnight. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before cutting. Top with whipped cream.