December 16, 2010

• Cookie Bake

  Ok, I had to turn off my YouTube video's of Celtic Woman Christmas music so I can concentrate on what to write here! LOL!! 

  Today was the promised "cookie baking" day! This is a highlight every Christmas! Last evening because we had church, I hadn't got the kitchen all cleaned up, so I told Danny, jokingly, that I was going to get him up at 6:30 to wash dishes and get the kitchen cleaned up. He was like "Ok"!  I said, "I'm just joking", but he was serious. So I woke him up at 7 to help me finish up what I hadn't got done. Then we sat down and had our morning coffee and breakfast together. That was rare but fun! I need to spend more one on one time like that with my kids.

  

  After breakfast we refilled some containers with items I had stocked up on the day before....

  

  ...and got everything out and ready to go!!

  

  The table was empty and ready to be filled with baked cookies [and can you believe I forgot to take a picture when it WAS full??] 

  

  Some "pumpy" music to listen to!! Mmhmm!!

  

  Tamara joined us about that time {she needs her beauty sleep...or else she might look like a bear!!}  There is that rare exciting occasion that it's okay to wake her early for!  She asked if she could work in her pj's and I said, sure why not? Whatever's comfy on a day like this!!

  

  The kids mixed up mint chocolate chip cookies while I was making waffle cookies...

  

  And they really enjoyed licking the beaters between each batch. Some tasted better than others.... 

  

   I got this handy little "ice cream" scoop at Target for $1 and thought we'd try it on cookies....it worked for some kinds...seemed perfect for the chocolate chip cookies! The kids loved using it anyway! 

  

  They got the job of unwrapping the Hershey Kisses for the PB Blossom cookies.

  

  Waffle cookies  A childhood favorite!

   This waffle iron has a little story behind it. It was my Mom's. 
    I wanted one like hers because I knew how to operate it [from living at home] and I wasn't sure about these newfangled ones. So I searched online and found one or two that were in decent shape yet, on Ebay. The nicest one was $30. I decided to wait and keep looking around instead of quick buying one just because I wanted one! Not long after that [this was in 2007/2008] my sister Chris and I went up to PA to help Mom with their moving yard sale. Lo and behold, Mom had her waffle iron in with her yard sale things!!  So I was sure glad I waited!! I think she just let me have it if I remember right! So, waiting paid off and I am enjoying using it!!

  

  I still need to make icing for them and then the kids will decorate them with sprinkles! 

  

  This was a new for me recipe....Molasses Sugar Cookies. They are yummy, just got a little to brown! 

  

  The usual Chocolate Crinkles....

  

  Pecan Puffs...these were also a new recipe for me. They were okay, but they stayed in the exact shape they got plopped on the pan, and because they didn't spread out, they seem a little doughy!

   Let me just stop and insert this little bit of information. Yesterday when grocery shopping, I needed to buy more flour. I saw this White Lily brand of flour that was on sale for $1.39 (?) a bag. So since I was trying to save where I could, I bought it. I now think that was a big mistake! When I poured it from the bag into my Tupperware container it was VERY lumpy!! I thought, no biggy, we'll just have to sift it. Well, I am almost convinced I got a "bad" bag!! Almost ALL the cookies I made today [whether I sifted the flour or not] did not turn out nice like they usually do!!  So I kind of feel like I have a bunch of flop cookies!! If they LOOK nice, they have a flat taste, and then some just look down-right nasty! The only ones that got good were the mint choc. chip and the PB cups.  *sigh*

  

  Mint Chocolate Chip....Mmmmm, now those are good!! 

  

  PB Cups {another MMMM} 

  

  So there's our stash...

  

  And here are the flops.....

  

  Thumbprint Cookies that don't taste right and got way too flat! 

  

  And my poor PB Blossoms. They got so flat, they looked like someone ran over them with a MAC truck! *hefty sigh* They were so flat, I about couldn't even put the kisses on them!  They DO still taste good though. 

  

  So I think I am going to try a few more yet....another batch of PB Blossoms, more choc. chip and possibly cut outs.....

   If you care to share your recipes for the PB Blossoms or the cut outs, that would be fine by me!  

   

   While I was finishing up the cookies, the kids made up their own version of the 12 Day's of Christmas.....very entertaining, to say the least!! 

  We had a good day and I am happy to be sitting down resting now! My feet and back are not happy with me. I think I may need to go to the Chiropractor or something. I've been having tight muscles in my upper and lower back for weeks and it's about to get the best of me. I can hardly put my head down, it pulls so bad. I think a massage therapist is really what i need to see!!

   Dan finished up his school work for this semester and will be having a month break!! WOOHOOO!!!! I am so happy and so is he! He is looking forward to a little "time away by himself" this weekend! Just time to unwind and spend some time with his Father! Then next week, the projects begin...and I am not being a strict taskmaster! These are projects he "wants" to do! 

   Merry Christmas to all  my friends/readers! Hope it's a blessed time for you! 

   

  

  • 9:16 pm
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