Chocolate Chip Cookies [What's Cookin']

It's only been over the past several months that I've rediscovered baking, but I really love doing it. I don't think I ever realized just how quick and easy it can be to whip up a batch of cookies. I've tried quite a few cookie recipes lately, but I always keep coming back to one. It's sooo good. It's a recipe that I found and modified from one of the recipes in my Giada's Family Dinners cookbook. It makes a pretty big batch, so most of the time, I'll bake a few and then freeze the rest of the dough to bake later (you know, when those late night cravings hit).

Ingredients:
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips

Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper. Finely chop the oats in a food processor. Transfer the oats to a medium bowl. Mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars in a large bowl until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and stir just until blended. Stir in the toffee, hazelnuts, and chocolate chips.

For each cookie, drop 1 rounded tablespoonful of dough onto sheet, spacing 1-inch apart (do not flatten dough). Bake until the cookies are golden (cookies will flatten slightly), about 15 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Enjoy!

Snaggletooth

It finally happened. Abby has been so anxious to loose her top teeth, and she let her daddy pull the first out tonight. I think that the next one isn’t far behind. She thought it was very important that I take a picture of this momentous occasion. Isn’t she cute?

Quick, Cheap Meals [What's Cookin']

There are just some nights (more than I'd like to admit) where I just don't feel like spending a lot of time or money on dinner, and I don't want to go out either. So I've started a list of meals that are quick, easy, and cheap.

Sesame Chicken ($10)
Historically, I've made this from scratch, but last night I just didn't feel like it. The solution?

1 bag Fully Cooked Sesame Chicken from HEB (in frozen section) - $6.99 (5 servings)
1 bag steam in-bag Edamame (in frozen section) - Under $3 (My kids think it's cool popping the beans out of their pods)
2-3 cups rice (steamable or 5 minute rice) - Under $1

Pizza
Even the homemade version (unless you make your own crust) doesn't take a lot of time or money. Just use your favorite toppings! Here are two of our favorites...

Tomato Pesto (with our without chicken)
Your favorite pizza crust (we use the Pillsbury canned dough that's with the biscuits)
Basil Pesto
Roma Tomatoes
Fresh Mozzarella
Grilled Chicken Breast (I get the little $3 bag of pre-cooked strips)

Burger Broccoli (Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. It's good!!)
Pizza crust
Pizza Sauce
1/2 c. broccoli, steamed
1 lb. ground beef
Shredded mozarella

What are your favorite quick and easy meals? I'd love some new ideas!

Madison Joy

Most everyone has seen this on Natalie's blog, but my precious new niece, Madison Joy, was born Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011! She is beautiful and tiny and sweet and I already just love her to pieces!

Mustache

If you give a boy a quarter, he'll... buy a mustache.

Here's your laugh for the day. :)

January

In my mind, I've had several blog posts all laid out for all the things that happened in January, but alas, it has all been reduced to bulletpoints.

Last month...

I planted 4 types of herbs,
started a compost pile,
emptied out my inbox
and cleaned out 2 kitchen cabinets (baby steps!),

Ate at the new Boardwalk on Bulverde with the Romero ladies and the Espinozas. Fun and yummy!

I spent several afternoons at the park,
coffee and good times with friends,
went out for breakfast with Jason, Nat, and kids,
and tried not to eat out much. Failed.

Carson stopped sucking his thumb (10 days and counting).

I turned 29,
was surprised with lots of wonderful treats from lots of very wonderful family and friends,
and finally took a new profile pic with my webcam.

Went to a fabulous 3-day photography conference with my super MIL.

I made biscotti for 3 of my neighbors,
and got to know a few of them better.

Also got my husband to "tweet" on a somewhat regular basis,
and he discovered frisbee golf.

I stressed and worried a lot.
But then there was dance night in the living room.
(There are so many things I should apologize for in this video... but it makes me laugh. Where did my kids come up with this stuff?!)



Got a new laptop (after tossing my crappy 1.5 year old computer).

Did lots of work up at RCCC NW,
began (once again) to see God's hand moving in this church,
had several first timers visit our preview services.

I know that so much more than this happened, but it was one of the craziest months of my life so far, and I'm kinda glad it's over. :) Looking forward to seeing what February holds. I know that my new niece will be arriving any day now, so that's something to look forward to!