Cadbury Cookies

It just hit me!!  I haven't posted anything yummy this week!!  Easter is next week and no food posts!?!  It isn't a very good excuse but my mind is a little preoccupied with my upcoming move.  Lucky for you, this girl can ALWAYS find time to bake a cookie!  I'm sure all of you have been sitting in front of the computer and thinking...enough with the fluff...let's get some good stuff on this here blog...stat!!  Ok, ok...let's just say that I saved the best for the last because these cookies are full of Cadbury goodness and who could resist that??  Nobody...I didn't think so!

I started with one of favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes and instead of the chips I added chopped mini Cadbury eggs!!  To make them you will need 1¼ cups of sugar, 1¼ cups of brown sugar, 1 cup (or two sticks) of margarine or butter...softened, 1/2 cup of shortening, 1 Tablespoon of vanilla, 2 eggs, 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1½ cups of Cadbury mini eggs that have been chopped.

Preheat oven to 350° and in a mixer beat both sugars, margarine, shortening, vanilla and eggs...

Mix in baking soda and salt with 1 cup of flour and then add the additional 3 cups of flour 1 at a time until combined well...

Chop your Cadbury eggs to your desired size...

Add to dough and stir in...

Scoop on to greased or Silpat lined baking sheet...

Bake for 10 minutes and let cool on cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes before moving to cooling rack..

The are chewy, chocolaty and delicious!  A perfect addition to your Easter dinner or anytime.  Sweet Easter-

Thursday Thoughts-Week 13

Week 13-  Life isn't fair...look ahead and move on!!

Am I the only parent who is constantly hearing..."That isn't fair"...???  I think that each of my children say it at least 1000 times per day!  Whether it is who gets to sit in the front seat...who gets the first turn on the computer...who has to bring wood in...who needs to take the dogs out...you know the drill-pretty much anything and EVERYTHING they are asked to do!  I'm quite sure that as a child I was exactly the same way but as a mother they are bad words to me.  I try to be a sympathetic mom but my tolerance for these 3 words is not very high! 

The fact is that life isn't fair!  The good guy does not always finish first!  Butt kissing can get you places but not the right places!  Doing the right thing matters but isn't always rewarded!  I must admit it is hard to swallow...even as an adult I find myself struggling with this concept but it is life and we should look ahead at the good and move on...not dwell on things out of our control!  That is what I hope my children can take with them and understand.  Sweet lessons-

Just Jack...

I realize that I might be slightly obsessed with my sweet dog Jack!! 

But what can I say????  He makes my family happy and look how stinkin' cute he is!!!

I couldn't resist sharing this photo that Tale's took of him over the weekend!!

Sweet puppy-

Mamu's Birthday Celebration

I know I have said you before...but I am going to say it again...I LOVE my grandparents.  Papa Leo and Mamu are just amazing beyond words.  I wish I could spend every second with them but life happens and then I must settle for moments...very special moments.  This Saturday was one of those moments.  We celebrated my Mamu's birthday with a surprise brunch at my parents.  It was such a good time...lots of great food, family and laughter.  I always wonder if my grandparents ever imagined what the two of them would create when they fell in love? 

My dad made "Albertson Hotcakes" and fried eggs...

Then everyone else brought something...

There were lots of delicious things...

Cinnamon Rolls...

Strawberries and cool whip...

But the most important thing that everyone brought was their love for my sweet Mamu.  It was evident with every hug, kiss, pat and I love you that she received...

Happy Birthday Mamu...you are so precious and wonderful!!!  Sweet love-

New Baby Gift Idea...Initial Wall Art

I seem to have a handful of friends having babies these days (I love it).  It makes me reminisce about that time in my life and wish I could transport myself back there.  I love babies and although I can't have anymore...I am certainly happy to be able to surround myself by others.  Although it was an exhausting time in my life...I absolutely loved it!!  Babies are so precious and until you have one of your own you never really understand how much you will love them or how much they will consume your everything (in an amazing way).  Being a mom is the single most important thing that I will ever do and I am so glad that I was blessed with my precious babies...who really aren't babies anymore. :( 

A couple of weeks ago I showed you a fun gift idea that I made for a baby boy (Onesie Cupcakes) but two of the new babies are sweet girls.  I wanted to do something different for them and these turned out extra adorable.

I started with two 8x10 canvas that I purchased at Micheal's, two pieces of fabric, ribbon, buttons, stapler and my very loyal glue gun.

I began by cutting my fabric so that it would wrap around the canvas...

I then began stapling the fabric tightly, starting on one side and moving to the opposite...then fold the last two sides to make a nice edge...

The ribbon comes next...begin at one side and then make your bow and secure on the other side...

Now for the pattern.  I used color coordinating buttons and glued them onto the material with my glue gun.  I made a heart on one and an initial on the other...

I love the way each of them turned out...

I hope that they find the perfect spot on the wall of their precious nurseries.  Although they are two separate gifts they would also look great together.  Sweet babies-

Thursday Thoughts-Week 12

Week 12- If creativity is messy then I am VERY creative.

I'm quite embarrassed to be sharing this photo but I'm just keeping it real.  This is how incredibly messy my craft room is.  I thought this quote was fitting and made me feel a little bit better for being so unorganized.  For some reason it is one of my most favorite places to be but my least favorite to keep tidy.  I am always on a mission when I enter and that leads to lots of clutter EVERYWHERE.  It is also where I store my holiday decorations...so it wears many hats.

I'm hoping in my new house that I can be a little better organized.  I can't wait to show you a picture of the carpet in that room...it is GROOVY!!  Perfect for the glitter explosions that seem to happen a lot to Tales.  Sweet mess-

No-bake Cookies

Is it bad that yesterday my diet consisted of 7 (yes you read that right...7) no-bake cookies and a diet coke?  I did drink some hot tea and water but that was it...chocolate cookies and soda!!!  I swear that sometimes I just really don't know what comes over me!  They were just so good and nostalgic...it reminded me of my sweet mama and when she used to make them which I have decided is a perfectly good reason to eat 7 of them for my entire daily caloric intake...right???  Please agree with me because that is basically all I have for an excuse!

Now I worry because they take like an entire 10 minutes to make that I might mindlessly find myself in zombie mode whipping up no-bake cookies every single day.  What in the world will I do then?  I'm really worried and because I don't want to be alone...I am sharing my over indulgence with all of you!!!

When I say they only take 10 minutes I might be exaggerating because it could be more like 5 (even scarier).  To make them you will need 1 stick of margarine, 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar, 3 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa, 1/2 cup of peanut butter, 3 cups of oatmeal (I used quick cook) and 3 Tablespoons of milk...

In a sauce pan melt together margarine, sugar, milk and cocoa until it comes to a boil.  This way the sugar will dissolve and the cookie won't be gritty.  While that is melting put 3 cups of oats and 1/2 cup of peanut butter in a large bowl.  Once the mixture in the sauce pan is ready, pour it over the oats and peanut butter and stir.  From there it is just a matter of scooping them onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and letting them set up...which only takes about an hour...

Seriously they are that easy and I know that most of you have all ate them and most likely even made them before but I am telling you....MAKE THEM AGAIN!!!   Join me in the no-bake cookie diet and enjoy yourself!  Sweet cookie-

Easter Decor and Fun News

I decorated for Easter on Sunday but not in the same over the top...crazy way that I normally do.  Why, you ask?  Well because that life decision that I had mentioned this last week, that I really couldn't talk about yet...I can talk it about it now and it is pretty exciting!!!  I am buying a home...no more renting for me although I will truly miss this beautiful mantel...

I used my Easter banner that I sewed last year with a few new finds and some coordinating ribbon on my candlesticks...

These are two of my new items.  I found the bunny at the Goodwill for $1.00 and Happy Easter sign at a fun place in Medford, Oregon called, Real Deals...it was only $3.99.  Together they are so cute...

For my table I just added a bag full of plastic eggs that I already had and a wooden sign that my mom gave me years ago...

Here is my favorite bunny with a little grass and atop of an old crate, perfect on my buffet...

I couldn't forget my new subway art and a little jar with a couple of plastic eggs...

Simple and yet sweet was the look I was going for and because I should be moving around Easter I didn't want to over do it and have a ton of extra stuff to pack up.  Next year I will go all out!  Sweet news-

Life changes and fun

I have been busy making life decisions and having fun this past week.  When this happens the week flys by but I find myself completely exhausted! 

I spent the last weekend with 18 other ladies celebrating the upcoming marriage of my good friend Katy.  The adventure began Friday with the trip to Sunriver, settling in and waiting for everyone to arrive.  The house was AMAZING (good job Kristen)!!  There was a hot tub which I always love.  Enough room for everyone and it was filled with fun times and good conversation...who could ask for anything more?? 

Isn't she just the cutest bride-to-be EVER????

I have also been contemplating a HUGE life decision.  The kind of decision that keeps you up at night (which I don't need any help with) but in a good way.  I can't really say what it is yet but you can be sure that when I know...you will know too!!  I like to share like that. 

Lastly I want to give a huge shout out to my parents!!!  They truly are so amazing!!!  I hope someday that I can be there for my children like they are for me...Thank you...Thank you...Thank you!!!  Sweet week- 

Double Chocolate Mint Cookie-Perfect for St. Patty's Day

In honor of St. Patty's day I made a delicious cookie just for you to try.  If you like mint...then you will love these!  Whenever I bake something with mint I think of my sweet mama.  She loves a good bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream and always has.  Besides the touch of mint...the best thing about these cookies is that they are so stinkin easy to make because (drum roll please)...they are made from a cake mix...need I say more?  I didn't think so!  Quick, simple and easy on the taste buds, these cookies are extra fantabulous (if that is a word).  I love this cookie recipe because it can be changed up to make a variety of different cookies and I absolutely love when I can do that!!  I use this cookie to make homemade oreos, ice cream sandwiches and a chewy double chocolate cookie (recipes will appear soon).

Who wouldn't love a soft chocolate cookie slathered with a thick layer of mint cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips (my favorite)?  Believe me when I say that this cookie is as delicious as the day is long.  To make the cookies you will need a chocolate cake mix, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup of oil...

Preheat oven to 350° and mix the three ingredients together.  It will be a thick dough...

I used a small scoop to make the cookies and then used my finger tips to pat them down a bit...

Bake for 7 minutes...do NOT over bake!  Let cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes and move to a cooling rack...

For the frosting you will need 4 ounces of cream cheese (softened), 1/2 stick of margarine (softened), 1 1/2 cups of powered sugar, a few drops of green food coloring and 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract...

Cream together the cream cheese and margarine...

Add the powdered sugar a little at a time or you will be covered in white...

Lastly add enough food coloring for your desired shade of green and the peppermint extract.  Depending on how minty you prefer the frosting to be you could always add more extract.  Once the cookies are completely cooled then frost with the peppermint cream cheese mixture and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips...

These are perfect for St. Patrick's day or any day.  I think my children will have some happy teachers tomorrow!!!  Sweet mint-

Venison-Stroganoff

I was lucky enough to get together with some great friends a while ago for dinner and I was in charge of the main course.  I didn't want to go to the store and spend a lot of money...so I turned to venison.   For those of you who enjoy my venison recipes (as I do) here is another one for your dinner table.

I love cooking this time of year.  A warm and comforting meal is so nice on a long and cold day.  I love to get home stoke the fire, put on some groovy music, change into something comfy and settle in the kitchen.  With venison in the freezer I have been trying to come up with new and tasty ways to use it and save a little money at the meat counter.  This recipe will not disappoint (in fact I even converted a non-venison eater with this meal) and can be adapted to the crock pot for those busy nights. 

Venison Stroganoff can be served over mashed potatoes, rice or pasta.  With the warm meat, tender mushrooms and creamy sauce it is so delicious.  To make it you will need 1 pound of venison, 2 tablespoons of flour (for thickening the sauce), 1 8 oz. carton of sour cream, 2 teaspoons or 1 cube of beef bouillon, 1/2 cup of beef broth, 2 tablespoons of margarine, 1 carton of mushrooms (sliced), 1/2 of an onion (chopped), 1 clove of garlic (minced).  Please note:  I doubled the recipe because I was feeding a crowd.

First you need to cut the venison into strips.  If you slice the meat when it is still slightly frozen then this process goes really quickly and easily...

For the sauce you will mix together the flour, sour cream, beef bouillon and beef broth.  I also added 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper at this time and set aside...

Chop onion and mince garlic, set aside...

Melt butter over medium high heat and cook meat in two or three batches and set aside.  I like to season each batch of meat with a sprinkle of kosher salt.  Note:  If you cook it all at one time then it doesn't brown properly...

Once all of the meat is cooked through then add the onion, mushrooms and garlic to the same pan until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms have cooked down...

Then add the meat and sour cream mixture to the mushroom and onions, heat through.  I added 1/2 teaspoon of parsley flakes for a little color at this point...



I served it over mashed potatoes with a slice of moist cornbread and it was awesome...



To make in the crock pot:  Add the sliced venison (you can brown it if you choose), mushrooms, chopped onion, garlic, beef broth and beef boullion in the crock pot and turn to low for 6-7 hours.  About 30 minutes before serving mix the sourcream, flour and black pepper in a bowl until smooth and add to the crock pot.  Let it warm and thicken for 30 minutes and serve...easy and delicious!!!

This is now one of my favorite venison recipes.  One of my friends didn't know it was venison until after we ate dinner and couldn't believe it because she is not a venison lover...well she is now...at least when it is in this stroganoff.  You could definitely use beef strips in the place of venison if you choose.  Sweet dinner-

Tuesday Thoughts-Week 11

Week 11- Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

I ABSOLUTELY love this one!!!  Being yourself and expressing yourself are two of the most important things that you can do.  You should NEVER have to compromise yourself for others.  Those who love you and respect you will love you just the way you are and those who don't...well they weren't meant to be in your life.  Sweet self-

A night without our baby...

I'm going away for the weekend to celebrate a friends upcoming nuptials.  That means that I needed to find homes for my precious children and baby Jack (our Yorkie).  Lucky for me, my children have so many wonderful grandparents!!  I couldn't do it without all of their help!  My sweet mama and dad have Jack for the weekend and because I am leaving at noon I needed for him to go to their house last night.  So this meant an entire night at home without our baby...

I guess I just didn't realize how much our lives revolve around this little dog!  We were lost without him (and that is an understatement)!  Taters said his night was ruined the moment he left.  Tales was sad that she had to sleep without him and I listened for the jingle that his tags make when he runs around the house all night long.  About every 5-10 minutes one of us would say how much we missed him and wished he was there...it was pathetic!

I finally gave my mom a call to check on him and realized that Jack was having the time of his life at her house.  Playing with his brother Gibbe, sitting on my dad's lap and hanging out at grandpa and grandma's is like a mini vaca for Jack.  I'm sure by Sunday he will be ready to come home...or at least I hope so??

I can't thank my sister enough for giving us this little bundle of joy who completely consumes us...in the very best way possible.  We miss you Jack!  Sweet Yorkie-

Thursday Thoughts-Week 10

First of all I can hardly believe that we are already into the 10th week of the year.  Time if flying by WAY to quickly!!  I wish we could slow it down a little more!  I could get an extra good night kiss from my babies, sleep in a few more minutes every morning, eat extra candy and maybe resume the snow ball fight that the kids and I started last weekend...you know...the important things that I would do if time would stop zooming before my very eyes!!

Thoughts Week 10-  Live without Pretending,
                               Love without Depending,
                                Listen without Defending,
                              Speak without Offending.

Words to live by.  Words I wish everyone would live by!  My greatest hope is that my children will grow up and I will have taught them and showed them how to be this way.  Sweet living-

Holiday Confusion

So my poor little house has a major case of holiday confusion.  It is a real ailment...I promise you!!  The inside is decorated for St. Patty's Day and my front door is now adorned with an Easter wreath!  I feel really bad...what a dilemma that must be for my home.  What are we celebrating?  Does the lady that lives here have some issues?  These are the questions that I am SURE my home is asking and probably my kids but they never say a word.  They are used to mommy's craziness!  The rental...not so much.  As much as I feel bad I just couldn't help it...my wreath was calling me for a makeover.  The poor thing has had red berry garland on it since early December.  A change was needed ASAP!  It was an emergency!

To make my front door complete I use the same grapevine wreath all year long and just update it for the holiday or season.  This year I found these cute speckled eggs at Joann's for 40% off and knew it would make an adorable new outfit for my wreath.  I just used my glue gun, raffia and a little ribbon to finish it off.  Here is how I did it...

I used my hot glue gun to randomly adhere each egg to the wreath...

In some areas I added two...

Once I was happy with the layout I added a little more raffia and some seasonal ribbon.  Look how cute it is on my front door...

Poor little house anyway...soon enough it will be time to decorate for Easter and then all will be well again.  Sweet wreath-