not so MANIC MONDAY

"i can't keep my hands out of the cookie jar..."

FLASHBACK january 23,2014

the bk and i  are killing some time. we stop by the parent's place. dad offers us cookies. mmmmm. i like cookies. these cookies are delicious! i leave with a bag full!!!

FLASH FORWARD yesterday

i want something sweet, but i don't want to spend all day, in the kitchen, making a mess. then, i remember dad's delicious cookies and how simple they are!! 20 minutes later, we have cookies!!

SUPER EASY AMAZING SPICE COOKIES

ingredients:

1 box spice cake mix
1 egg
1 stick butter (softened, not melted)
cream cheese icing (optional)

preheat oven to 350〫.  mix together cake mix, egg, and butter until dough forms. roll into balls (about an inch), flatten slightly. bake 8-10 minutes. frost while still warm. makes 24.

*my butter was not softened because i decided to make cookies last minute. i popped in microwave for about 10 seconds, until just soft.
**let icing set before storing in an air tight container.

ENJOY!!

not so MANIC MONDAY

"if you seek perfection in sugar confection..."

FLASHBACK february 15
dinner, drinks, and board games with friends is on the agenda. i want to take something. i can't show up empty handed. hmmmmmmm...time to check out my "toot sweet" board on pinterest. i find the perfect valentine recipe. blonde brownies with M&M's!! a treat to take AND an opportunity to give a pinterest recipe a try!!

FLASH FORWARD today
it's a boring monday. why not bring a little happiness to the people in your life? this recipe is quick, easy, and delicious! another pinterest success!!

VALENTINE BLONDIES

ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup to 1 1/3 cup M&M's (i used valentine colors, but you can use plain if you want)

preheat oven to 350〫. 
mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside. melt butter. combine brown sugar and butter until well blended. let cool slightly. add egg and vanilla. mix well. add flour mixture, a little at a time, until completely blended. spread, evenly, in 9X9 pan. sprinkle M&M's over the top. bake 20-25 minutes.
enjoy!!

and click here to follow me on pinterest!

not so MANIC MONDAY

"mamas in the kitchen with the mac n' cheese..."

FLASHBACK january 24, 2014
another mandatory friday night means we need to come  up with another dish for dinner. that means i get to try another pinterest recipe!! i find the perfect side dish involving 4 of my favorite things: beer, bacon, cheese, and pasta!!

TODAY
it's a comfort food kind of day. and my mandatory friday night side would actually make a delicious main course for a simple monday dinner. you should give this pinterest success a try!!

BEER BACON MAC AND CHEESE

ingredients:

12 oz thick cut bacon
2 tbs unsalted butter
1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground chile de arbol (or cayenne to taste)
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 c beer (i used great lakes christmas ale)
1/2 c chicken broth
2 c milk
1 tsp worcestshire sauce
1 8oz bag of shredded mild cheddar cheese
16 oz dry elbow pasta

boil pasta until al dente. drain and set aside. 
cut bacon into bite size pieces. fry, over medium heat, until crispy. set aside and reserve 2 tbs of the drippings, discarding the rest. 
melt butter in skillet with reserved bacon drippings. whisk in flour. allow to cook a minute or two to cook off flour taste. add spices and beer. bring to a bubble for about 3 minutes. add milk. when it comes to a bubble, add worcestshire, bacon, and cheese. whisk to combine.
add pasta. stir to combine. allow to cook over low heat for about 5 minutes.
pour into casserole dish. sprinkle with chives (optional). serves 4-6.

  

                         

enjoy!!!

bonus: kathy brought another successful pinterest recipe to mandatory friday night. click here to try CAKE BATTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. they were delicious!!!

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: INSTAGRAM EDITION

"kodachrome...they give us those nice, bright colors..."

this week has been about cider...and baseball...healthy eating (or not)....handbags and best friends...

^magners...for the irish in everybody^

^i love the city^

^the great debate...homestyle or curly fries?^

^healthy and sweet snacks^

^retro diet...my fave^

^thank you, michael kors, for knowing just what i like^

^baseball games and favorite ushers^

^my view^

^besties and baseball^

HAPPY INSTAGRAMMING!!!

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: INSTAGRAM EDITION

"shake it, shake, shake it, shake it like a polaroid picture..."











the past week has been all about good food, baseball, romantic walks, friendship, and pineapples.

^when pizza is healthy^

^riverboats on the ohio^

^a cardinal and her bk^

^ducks on a pond^

^haunted riverboats...it's a thing^

^big brother is watching you^

^beer and cookies are a good thing^

^everything is better in a pineapple glass^

^it was a hot and sunny day at the reds' game^

^yellow watermelon...a delicious and healthy treat^

happy instagramming!!

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: INSTAGRAM EDITION

"all i want is a photo in my wallet...a small remembrance of something more solid...all i want is a picture of you..." 

^always trick or treat at our place^

^when all the mexican restaurants are unexplainably closed^

^funny surprises from funny friends^

^saturday nights are for sangria and goat cheese^

^hydration is important^

^summer storms bring beautiful skies^

^baking can be fun^

happy instagraming!!

SCRUMPTIOUS SATURDAY

"peanut butter jelly...peanut butter jelly...peanut butter jelly and a baseball bat..."
FLASHBACK august 15, 2013
what? i know...just a few days ago...but i tell my stories how i want. so...
FLASHBACK august 15, 2013
what's your favorite cookie? bk "honestly? peanut butter.". really? bleck. but..you never eat peanut butter cookies. "because tah's allergic to peanuts, so i couldn't have them before. and then, we move in together. and you HATE peanut butter." yeah. i do. but that doesn't mean you can't have peanut butter. i mean...you do what you want...even if it does make me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
FLASH FORWARD august 16, 2013
i feel like i should surprise the bk and try to bake his favorite cookie. i search pinterest and find a "healthy peanut butter cookie" recipe that calls for applesauce and egg whites. off i go to the store because...surprise!!...there is no peanut butter in this house. bk will have peanut butter cookies when he gets home.

HEALTHY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

ingredients:
½ c unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
1 c peanut butter, crunchy
¼ c applesauce
1 c brown sugar
1 c white sugar
¾ c egg beaters
2½ c all~purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1½ tsp baking soda



whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. beat together butter, peanut butter, applesauce, brown sugar, and white sugar. add egg beaters and beat until smooth. stir flour into peanut butter mixture. refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 
preheat oven to 375〫. roll dough into small balls (size of a walnut) and place on ungreased cookie sheet, 2" apart. flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern. *hint: dip fork in water to keep from sticking* bake until just turning brown...about 10 minutes.
makes about 4 dozen cookies.

on a side note: i decided to face my fear of the dreaded peanut butter and actually taste one of my creations. so, after working a late shift and making everyone's handbag dreams a reality, i poured all the milk in the universe into a gigantic glass and ATE one of these peanut butter cookies. at first, i thought "hmmmm...not so bad." and then i couldn't get the taste of peanut butter out of my mouth and it will haunt me forever. however, bk claims this recipe a PINTEREST SUCCESS!!

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: INSTAGRAM ADDITION

"i've got your picture, i've got your picture...i'd like a million of you all 'round myself"









it's the little things that keep me happy around our house:

 ^bertie bots every flavor jelly beans from honeydukes^

 ^signs, signs, everywhere are signs^

 ^kitchen~aide mixers make life easier^

 ^coffee...it does the body good^

^halloween is everywhere...all year round^

and a little vine, cuz feeding our dog makes me smile:

what does it take to make you smile?